Reefer Madness: Sex, Drugs, and Cheap Labor in the American Black Market 
asked by potato on November 18, 2006 3:10 AM
As much as 10% of the American economy, and perhaps more, is comprised of illegal "underground" enterprises, according to author and Atlantic Monthly correspondent Eric Schlosser. And while this segment is never discussed in the newspaper business pages, Schlosser tackles it with the same in-depth analysis and compulsive readability that made his Fast Food Nation a best seller. Reefer Madness spotlights marijuana, migrant labor, and pornography, three of the most thriving black market industries, and analyzes the often-tenuous place each holds in society as a whole. While each of the three could be the subject of its own book, Schlosser keeps his scope narrow by concentrating on the lives of the participants in the underground economy, especially Mark Young, an Indiana man given a life sentence for participating in a marijuana sale, and Ohio porn magnate Reuben Sturman. At just 21 pages, the treatment of migrant laborers in the California strawberry fields is dealt with more briefly but is just as compelling thanks to the first-person narrative of Schlosser's investigation. In telling these stories, which are both personal and universal, Schlosser deftly explores the manner in which his subjects are treated (and punished) compared to others in more above-ground ventures. Along the way, he asks hard questions as to what that treatment says about America. Schlosser writing is passionately opinionated, but this is no mere opinion piece: his perspective is amply supported by extensive research and clearly reasoned interpretation of data. His direct and forceful writing style makes the impact greater still. After reading Reefer Madness, readers are likely to be shocked, appalled, and flat-out bewildered by what's happening in the cracks and crevices of American business. --John Moe
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What are three of the perpetual hot button issues of 21st century American politics? Commercialized sex, illegal drugs and cheap labor would probably common choices of many citizens. Eric Schlosser examines the magnitude, origins, visibility, commonality and manifestations of these three mainstays of the American scene.
The book is divided into three chapters, each dedicated to one of these hot-button topics. The chapter on commercialized sex examines the history of prostitution, pornography, and the recent spread of nudie bars and topless bars in the USA over the last 100 years plus. Schlosser examines the origins of peep shows, the first girlie magazines pre-Cold War, goes over the founding of Playboy and Penthouse, and the current spread of pornography over the Internet. The chapter on drugs examines the history of marijuana primarily, with some side notes on the meth plague, cocaine, and other drugs to have swept thru the American street scene. The chapter on cheap labor examines migrant and illegal labor including child labor and sweathouse labor. Both industrial and agricultural labor are included. This chapter is a natural extension of Schlosser's first book: Fast Food Nation, in that it covers the practices of slaughterhouses and farms, and extends into factories not related to food.
Overall, a good book and worthy reading. Anyone in high school or above should find this book accessible, and enjoyable.
The book is divided into three chapters, each dedicated to one of these hot-button topics. The chapter on commercialized sex examines the history of prostitution, pornography, and the recent spread of nudie bars and topless bars in the USA over the last 100 years plus. Schlosser examines the origins of peep shows, the first girlie magazines pre-Cold War, goes over the founding of Playboy and Penthouse, and the current spread of pornography over the Internet. The chapter on drugs examines the history of marijuana primarily, with some side notes on the meth plague, cocaine, and other drugs to have swept thru the American street scene. The chapter on cheap labor examines migrant and illegal labor including child labor and sweathouse labor. Both industrial and agricultural labor are included. This chapter is a natural extension of Schlosser's first book: Fast Food Nation, in that it covers the practices of slaughterhouses and farms, and extends into factories not related to food.
Overall, a good book and worthy reading. Anyone in high school or above should find this book accessible, and enjoyable.
reviewed by redapple on November 22, 2006 6:05 AM
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In his second book, Reefer Madness, Eric Schlosser explores the inner workings of three underground kingpins: marijuana, migrant labor, and pornography. Many of his arguments bring up compelling concepts and intriguing ideas that question the function and necessity of these unspoken institutions. While each page is riddled with facts and trivia about this under ground economy, the book fails to live up to its predecessor, Fast Food Nation. Reefer Madness, which is comprised of three essays, focuses more shallowly on these three topics where as Fast Food Nation delves deep into the nitty gritty details of one. Reefer Madness would have been much better as three books than one, especially since Schlosser never really connects the three in any way besides the fact that they are handled under the counter. Even with that connection, pornography is legal and therefore not really all that under ground. Reefer Madness is an interesting read, however nothing in comparison the Schlosser's previous work.
reviewed by guitarplayer on November 24, 2006 2:04 PM
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If you're one of those people who enjoys your ignorance, stay away from Reefer Madness. Author Eric Schlosser uses a blend of anecdotes and hard statistics to paint a vivid picture of three shadier avenues of American life- the marijuana trade, illegal farm workers, and pornography.
I disagree with the other reviewer's criticisms that Schlosser does not do enough to give a clear focus to his work. The best muckraking presents facts for readers in a vivid way and then lets readers decide for themselves. The most compelling part of the book is the section on marijuana.
As Scholsser points out, marijuana is a ubiquitous substance in America today. I knew that much, but before reading I hadn't understood the extent to which it is cultivated right here in the USA. (I'd always imagined offshore Rastifarians motorboting the stuff in out of the Carribean, nicely toasted themselves as they come.) Schlosser paints a vivid picture of those who grow and distribute marijuana, and clearly demonstrtes the injustices that have been foisted on them. I don't want to give too much away, but how can a life prison sentence for smuggling drugs ever be justified? The focus on the "bad guys" humanizes a group that is too often demonized and who may, in the future, be recognized as entrepeneurs. Also very valuable to me were the comments the author gathered from law-abiding citizens regarding people who use, grow and sell marijuana. He has, I feel, done a good job placing the drug in the context of our culture, and shows how the market operates whether the government would like it to or not. Reading the essay, one is left with the impression that the government's enforcement of anti-marijuana laws has much more to do with politics that with protecting the American people. Having read the essay, I truly believe that if all anti-marijuana laws were repealed tomorrow, Americans would wind up safer, happier and richer than they are today. I dare anyone who disagrees with me to defend their position AFTER reading this book.
Whether you are a student writing a project on law enforcement or drug use, a law enforcement official looking for insight into your quarry, or simply a citizen who wants to be a more informed voter, I reccomend reading the first third of the book. It will show you how baffling, arbitrary, and counterproductive US marijuana policy is. Schlosser goes far enough in suggesting one solution for the marijuana "problem"- legalize it and tax it, just like cigarettes. It's up to the rest of us to become informed enough and implement this or another more sensible policy.
The other essays lack some of the verve and captivating qualities of "Reefer Maddness", but are a cut above the average and are worth reading if the subjects interest you particularly. They do have the same virtue of allowing the facts to speak for themselves.
I disagree with the other reviewer's criticisms that Schlosser does not do enough to give a clear focus to his work. The best muckraking presents facts for readers in a vivid way and then lets readers decide for themselves. The most compelling part of the book is the section on marijuana.
As Scholsser points out, marijuana is a ubiquitous substance in America today. I knew that much, but before reading I hadn't understood the extent to which it is cultivated right here in the USA. (I'd always imagined offshore Rastifarians motorboting the stuff in out of the Carribean, nicely toasted themselves as they come.) Schlosser paints a vivid picture of those who grow and distribute marijuana, and clearly demonstrtes the injustices that have been foisted on them. I don't want to give too much away, but how can a life prison sentence for smuggling drugs ever be justified? The focus on the "bad guys" humanizes a group that is too often demonized and who may, in the future, be recognized as entrepeneurs. Also very valuable to me were the comments the author gathered from law-abiding citizens regarding people who use, grow and sell marijuana. He has, I feel, done a good job placing the drug in the context of our culture, and shows how the market operates whether the government would like it to or not. Reading the essay, one is left with the impression that the government's enforcement of anti-marijuana laws has much more to do with politics that with protecting the American people. Having read the essay, I truly believe that if all anti-marijuana laws were repealed tomorrow, Americans would wind up safer, happier and richer than they are today. I dare anyone who disagrees with me to defend their position AFTER reading this book.
Whether you are a student writing a project on law enforcement or drug use, a law enforcement official looking for insight into your quarry, or simply a citizen who wants to be a more informed voter, I reccomend reading the first third of the book. It will show you how baffling, arbitrary, and counterproductive US marijuana policy is. Schlosser goes far enough in suggesting one solution for the marijuana "problem"- legalize it and tax it, just like cigarettes. It's up to the rest of us to become informed enough and implement this or another more sensible policy.
The other essays lack some of the verve and captivating qualities of "Reefer Maddness", but are a cut above the average and are worth reading if the subjects interest you particularly. They do have the same virtue of allowing the facts to speak for themselves.
reviewed by motivations on November 24, 2006 10:44 PM
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Wow, what an excellent and well-written book. It definately makes you examine our archaic mandatory drug laws and the exploitation of strawberry pickers in California
reviewed by faithfulone on November 26, 2006 4:58 AM