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  • Mr. Playboy

  • Hugh Hefner and the American Dream
  • Written by: Steven Watts
  • Narrated by: Ray Porter
  • Length: 18 hrs and 37 mins
  • 3.5 out of 5 stars (4 ratings)

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Mr. Playboy

Written by: Steven Watts
Narrated by: Ray Porter
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Publisher's Summary

When Hugh Hefner quit his job at Esquire to start a magazine called Playboy, he didn't just want to make money, he wanted to make dreams come true. The first issue had a Sherlock Holmes story by Sir Arthur Conan Doyle, an article on the Dorsey brothers, and a feature on desk design for the modern office. Hefner wrote much of the copy himself and drew all the cartoons. But the most memorable part by far was the set of pictures he bought from a local calendar printer of a scantily clad Marilyn Monroe.

In this wise and penetrating biography, intellectual historian Steven Watts looks at what Hugh Hefner went on to become and how he took America with him. Hefner became one of the most hated and envied celebrities in America, standing just barely on the wrong side of decency - with as many as seven million subscribers to his magazine.

©2008 Steven Watts (P)2008 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

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Life well lived.

I thought I knew a fair bit about Hefner. But the detailed account of his life and how major events cemented his beliefs and actions was a great listen.
Although few of us actually have the determination to constantly be outside the norms of society for an entire lifetime, even his most harshest critics have to admit that he lived life on his terms and unapologetically.

If the quest for most of us is to live your best life, then listen to this book as the author very well describes the life Hefner lived, which should serve as a master class in living your best life.

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