A fascinating chronicle of the history of the sex toy. Yes, it's a niche topic, but you'd be surprised about the legality or - illegality - surrounding selling and using sex toys until the not-too-recent past in some locales - ahem, Texas. You may also be surprised at the origins of some toys, for example "revolving jewels" employed internally in 1800s Japan. What you may not be surprised at, however, is that the biggest dearth of information and research surrounding sex toys was in none other than the very forward-thinking US of A. A great resource on a heretofore unspoken topic!

I"m taking a moment to say that I absolutely adore the cover of this book, and it brings me joy every time I see it. Buzz tells the tale of the humble sex toy, from antiquity to the modern day, including a full examination of the major sexual revolutions between the 1950s and current day. The book is very American focused, but the examination of LGBT, feminism and sexuality issues are relevant in any western democracy. Though I've always been aware of sex toys and their place in modern sexuality, this book was a really brilliant chance to learn the history of sex toys- something that I had never given much thought to, having naively assumed that all sex toys popped into existence at some unspecified point in history!

Interesting history of sex toys! Definitely a must-read for anyone who wants a strange combination of a history, culture, and feminism lesson. We should spend more time acknowledging women’s sexuality and realizing the history that begat women’s sexual repression. Why don’t we spend more time talking about sex and sex toys?!

This was an interesting look at the history of sex toys, though it focuses primarily on their history in America rather than worldwide. I was fascinated to discover that dildos sprang from prosthetic penises that had been developed for men who were disabled.

Lieberman touches on legal issues surrounding the marketing and distribution of sex toys in the past, which are fascinating - particularly as some of the issues are still unresolved in certain conservative states. A lot of focus is given (as it should be) to sex-positivity pioneer Betty Dodson, as well as some other prominent feminist figures who were less inclined to celebrate the development of dildos and vibrators, seeing them as another tool of the patriarchy rather than a means to sexual liberation.

Lieberman does provide some analysis of modern-day sex toy stores and their intersectionality (and/or lack thereof) with feminist philosophy. I think I went in expecting a slightly more academic take than what I got, but the information was still fascinating and valuable for anyone who is interested in the history of human sexuality.

I received access to this title via NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. While I appreciate the access, I did find that this particular galley copy was riddled with typos and grammatical errors, which slowed down my reading pretty thoroughly. I understand a few formatting/grammar/etc. issues in a manuscript, but I've never encountered 2-3 errors per page before now. That aspect definitely hampered my enjoyment of this title.

Loved this book! Lieberman has written a thorough, readable, and just awesome history of sex toys. I really appreciated her discussion of queer issues and disability issues within the sex toy world. Previous books I've read on similar topics barely covered queer issues and didn't even talk about disability issues.

The first person to receive a PhD in the history of sex toys, Hallie Lieberman has written a fascinating book that tells you everything you wanted to know on the subject, and more. For example, did you know that until as recently as 2008, it was illegal to sell sex toys in Texas? Obscenity laws there (and elsewhere) set the stage for decades-worth of headaches and careful maneuvering for anyone involved in selling them. Regardless of the specific topic—whether it's about manufacturing, advertising, or selling—there is always a story to tell on how things were done, and how they evolved over the years.

If you enjoy learning the history of how commonplace items came to be, this is an interesting read.

I am not a prude (well, not ENTIRELY) but thank the lord this was a digital book because even reading this on the train had me blushing.

Sex toys, everyone's got them. Sex toys, no one talks about them. Sex toys, where did they come from, who came up with the idea and who was the first person to use them. Hallie Lieberman has written a in depth history on those little bullets and rabbits that are in most nightstands. Like she discussed topics such as obscenity laws and tax evasion, she does this with a lightness that made this an easy to read book.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the opportunity to read and review this book.

The history of sex toys, written by the first person to earn a PhD in sex toy history. That's enough of a reason to check out Buzz! Lieberman has written a fantastic overview of sex toy history, especially in the U.S., along with the role sex toys have played in feminist movements, LGBTQ culture, and societal conversations around sexuality. I really enjoyed how she opened the book by explaining her interest in sex toys and the complications presented by obscenity laws. Overall, the book is very readable and engaging throughout.