[Item #5259] Hustlers, Beats and Others. Ned Polsky.
Hustlers, Beats and Others
Hustlers, Beats and Others

Hustlers, Beats and Others

Garden City, NY: Anchor Books / Doubleday & Company, Inc., 1969. First Softcover Edition. Softcover. "This book is about the sociology of deviance. The differences among the chapters are in basic approach to the subject as well as in substantive content: One chapter reports on field research that relied heavily on participant observation, and another reports on field research that did not; a third chapter is a study in historical sociology; a fourth analyzes questions of research method; and the fifth is an exercise in theory." (from author's Preface) A landmark sociological study of criminal & "deviant" behaviors by Ned Polsky (1928-2000), who was a professor of sociology, critic (most famously of Norman Mailer's essay "The White Negro") & antiquarian bookseller. The chapters discuss & explore the subcultures of pool-playing & hustling (Polsky himself was a billiards enthusiast); criminal behavior in general; "The Village Beat Scene" circa 1960; & the sociological aspects of pornography. While somewhat dated, referring to "Negroes" & to homosexuality in terms of deviance & perversion, this is nevertheless an enlightening & informative study which has gone through several printings & versions. Originally published in hardcover during 1967, this is the first mass market-format softcover edition, first printing of 1969, with a brief additional preface by the author noting substantive changes & additions to the original version. An excellent working copy of this classic for the Beat-&-Beyond collector & scholar. In fine condition with mild-to-moderate shelf-wear, bumping to fine-edges & corners of front, back cover & spine; mild stress-creases (from thorough and contemplative reading, perhaps?) along leftmost fine-edge of front cover, else pristine. Fine. [Item #5259]

Price: $20.00