Scan barcode
Reviews
Naked at Lunch: A Reluctant Nudist's Adventures in the Clothing-Optional World by Mark Haskell Smith
lutheranjulia's review against another edition
3.0
Probably more like 3.5. The book read like vaguely connected essays for various magazines or journals rather than a cohesive narrative on the subjective. This impeded the readability of the work for me, slowing it greatly. Still an interesting and fairly accessible treatment of modern naturism.
cindyp's review
4.0
Nude hiking in the Alps? Grocery shopping au natural? Mark Haskell Smith takes participatory journalism to a new level when he sets out to find out why people are attracted to the “non-textile” lifestyle. This is a lively history of non-sexual nudism from ancient Greece to modern resorts in the US and the world. Greatly amusing, highly informative, sometimes cringe-worthy- you might just be enticed to try a “Nakation” yourself!
acesarrows's review
4.0
Naked at Lunch is part travelogue, part introspective memoir, and part sociological look at American culture, European culture and the concept of nudism/nudity/naturism. It's also very funny.
I thoroughly enjoyed it! Haskell Smith is a very funny writer and he brings a keen eye and a sly wit to his writing - a wink - that is quite enjoyable. He has the same thoughts and concerns that anyone would have when at a nudist resort for the first time, but he comes across as open-minded, genuine, curious and humorous about the whole situation.
From hiking naked in the Alps, to a naked cruise in the Caribbean, to resorts, beaches, and European nude enclaves (complete with swingers clubs) he tries it all (although not the swinging).
I really enjoyed his interviews with various academics on European views of sexuality (English vs. Italian), the history of puritanism in America, the idea of sexuality and nudity and how we have connected them in society, and more. I also really appreciated his discussion of a few court cases in the U.S. regarding 'public indecency' laws and how they are applied differently in every state, county, state park and jurisdiction. He also highlighted well the double standard between men and women going topless - how one is ok, and the other sexualized. He also tackled the issue of how public indecency laws are based on the view of the person writing the ticket, and not the original person's reasons for being naked. E.G. if I simply want to walk on the beach naked, without any sexual component, but a park ranger sees me and thinks of sex, then that would be grounds for a ticket for public indecency - it's based on someone else's perception of what a naked body represents, and not the intention of the nudist.
In fact, after all that - I would have really loved to read more about all that - and less about Mark's travels around various nude beaches. I was pro-nude beaches and non-sexual social nudity before I read this, and I still am after having finished it. In fact, I might be ever more pro-'whatever floats your boat' now.
Overall, though, this was a fantastic read! Quick, fun, witty, interesting - and sure to spark some great conversations with anyone who sees you reading it. ;)
With thanks to Grove Press/Atlantic for the advance reading copy!
I thoroughly enjoyed it! Haskell Smith is a very funny writer and he brings a keen eye and a sly wit to his writing - a wink - that is quite enjoyable. He has the same thoughts and concerns that anyone would have when at a nudist resort for the first time, but he comes across as open-minded, genuine, curious and humorous about the whole situation.
From hiking naked in the Alps, to a naked cruise in the Caribbean, to resorts, beaches, and European nude enclaves (complete with swingers clubs) he tries it all (although not the swinging).
I really enjoyed his interviews with various academics on European views of sexuality (English vs. Italian), the history of puritanism in America, the idea of sexuality and nudity and how we have connected them in society, and more. I also really appreciated his discussion of a few court cases in the U.S. regarding 'public indecency' laws and how they are applied differently in every state, county, state park and jurisdiction. He also highlighted well the double standard between men and women going topless - how one is ok, and the other sexualized. He also tackled the issue of how public indecency laws are based on the view of the person writing the ticket, and not the original person's reasons for being naked. E.G. if I simply want to walk on the beach naked, without any sexual component, but a park ranger sees me and thinks of sex, then that would be grounds for a ticket for public indecency - it's based on someone else's perception of what a naked body represents, and not the intention of the nudist.
In fact, after all that - I would have really loved to read more about all that - and less about Mark's travels around various nude beaches. I was pro-nude beaches and non-sexual social nudity before I read this, and I still am after having finished it. In fact, I might be ever more pro-'whatever floats your boat' now.
Overall, though, this was a fantastic read! Quick, fun, witty, interesting - and sure to spark some great conversations with anyone who sees you reading it. ;)
With thanks to Grove Press/Atlantic for the advance reading copy!
heatherr's review
4.0
The author of this book did a great job explaining what it is like to be at a nudist resort or activity and to take part even if it is something that you thought that you'd never do.
"There's a refreshing honesty to shopping naked. In the textile world, people always check each other out, imagining what the other person might look like naked -- don't be coy, you know you do -- but when you can clearly see the breasts of the woman next to you or the penis of the man standing behind you -- in fact, when all around you are bare breasts and dangling penises and buttocks and bodies -- well, a lot of the puerile fantasy that is commonplace in our society just disappears."
Buttocks Not Burkas! should be the new battle cry.
He talks about different societies' takes on indecency laws. Here's the situation in a lot of the U.S.
"So, essentially, if some random dude, like a park ranger, finds your breasts erotic in some way, then it's your responsibility to cover them. It's no longer your decision, but the dirty mind of a stranger, that decides if you're indecently exposed or not."
He discusses the history of different nudist movements. It was big in Germany between the World Wars.
"Hermann Goring declared that nudism 'destroys women's natural feeling of shame, and causes men to lose respect for women, thereby destroying the basis for any real culture.' Is he saying that real culture comes from women living in shame? What does that even mean?"
I learned a lot from this book. I feel like I can drop interesting factoids about nudism into conversation now. I like that after reading a nonfiction book. However, I do still have a few questions.
How are you not fried to a crisp?
This one was discussed. He was very worried about sunblock. I'm a burner. Just going to the beach requires spackling on huge amounts of sunblock. When I come out of the water I tend to lay with towels over me as a physical barrier to the deadly sun. I still burn.
What about chafing?
There is a section on naked hiking in the Alps. I don't like wearing a skirt without bike shorts underneath because my legs touch. How are people hiking naked? I went to their website for purely research purposes and checked out the pictures. Maybe I'm just fatter than everyone else but that has to be an issue. Do you just put on a lot of Body Glide and hope for the best?
Ladies, isn't playing sports painful?
I like quite a bit of scaffolding in the chest so my bits aren't flopping all over and getting in the way. Are other people's body parts just better behaved than mine?
Why are there no men at the Outdoor Co-ed Topless Pulp Fiction Appreciation Society?
Yes, there is a topless book club in New York City. They have a webpage. They look like they are having a great time with lots of activities.
Are you all just preparing for the destruction of Earth?
Everywhere you go in these events you are reminded to always have a towel with you to sit on. Am I the only one who thinks immediately of The Hitchhiker's Guide to the Galaxy's command to always carry a towel with you in case you need to hitch a ride off a planet? Coincidence?
"So what if people want to go skinny-dipping at the beach? If it really bothers you, maybe you need to take a long look at yourself and figure out why it bothers you."
Have you ever been to a social nudist event? Would you go?
This review was originally posted on Based On A True Story
More...