--- product_id: 267422671 title: "Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream" price: "฿3229" currency: THB in_stock: true reviews_count: 12 url: https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/267422671-mr-playboy-hugh-hefner-and-the-american-dream store_origin: TH region: Thailand --- # Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream **Price:** ฿3229 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream - **How much does it cost?** ฿3229 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.co.th](https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/267422671-mr-playboy-hugh-hefner-and-the-american-dream) ## Best For - Customers looking for quality international products ## Why This Product - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream [Watts, Steven] on desertcart.com. *FREE* shipping on qualifying offers. Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream Review: The definitive scholarly biography - A definitive, scholarly biography. Gives you a vivid picture of the man and the era/s that made him. Take note that it was published while HH was still alive so the author treads lightly around controversial material. To get a full picture of the man, you'll want to augment with other sources. There is much more and much worse that has come out in later years. Had he lived a few years longer, #MeToo would have been brutal for Hefner. Review: Author never asked me to proofread before publishing - There are myriad ways to live a life; Hugh Marston Hefner chose one. The people who condemn his choice and criticize him as a human being lack awareness. They are quick to pass judgment, as though their choices for living are the ideal. It is so easy to condemn - to sit in judgment of a fellow human who merely sought to find the things that produced happiness and contentment for himself. His choices may conflict with yours but he never forced anyone to participate in his choices. He had a dream that with hard effort he manifested. He followed what he believed to be true for himself. He never badgered or coerced anyone to participate in his dream. It's pure arrogance from some people who post disparaging reviews on this site vilifying Mr. Hefner for the choices he made for his life. The author Steven Watts sets out to place Hugh Hefner in the context of the last half of the American twentieth century. To do this he has to also describe what preceded those decades in America. He takes us back to Victorian times to reveal the repressive and limiting customs many Americans adopted and passed on to subsequent generations. We then follow Hugh Hefner from his birth in 1926 up to about 2007 where the book ends. It's a long history of not only Mr. Hefner but also of America. Mr. Watts presents a selected history of the culture of America from the late19th century into the early 21st century as he speaks of Hugh Hefner. The main section of the book comprises 454 pages. The notes section occupies another 59 pages. From the notes section one can discern that Mr. Watts did do research. Some of his conclusions, he states, did go against Mr. Hefner's view of things. He makes his point and allows Hugh Hefner to make his. This merely illustrates that much history is about perception. The book is a sweeping panorama of life in America. And among all of the events is one man pursuing his dreams. Mr. Hefner is shown to be a man with a conscience. He stands up for racial equality when that stance was not popular. He fights censorship and advocates first amendment rights of freedom of expression. He challenges laws on the books that imprison people for various sexual acts. He is for individual expression and entrepreneurial endeavors. He speaks out for homosexual rights. And, contrary still to some public perception, supports women's rights and liberation from the sexist environment in which he grew up. He starts a foundation to support his beliefs and to offer assistance to those deserving of help. Over the decades he evolves as a man and a thinker. Whether people embrace it or curse it, there was indeed a sexual revolution in America in the last part of the twentieth century. Two large factors in that revolution were the birth control pill and Playboy magazine. Mr. Hefner had convictions that propelled him to become a significant contributor to the lessening of repression in American society. This book chronicles his activity and the problems he encountered as he stood up for what he believed to be right. Not all men or women are that strong to follow their dreams and beliefs and to fight where necessary to prevail. It takes courage and fortitude to go against a prevailing opinion. To risk everything for what you believe in. Mr. Watts cites many obstacles Mr. Hefner faced as he published his magazine. He provides background on the various historical periods in America as Mr. Hefner moves through them. At the end we emerge with an understanding of what America promises its citizens. It is a land of liberty. You can make dreams come true here. Admittedly, my title line is for attention. It disturbs me to some degree when I read a book and find glaring errors of fact. A lot of life is subjective but there are some things that are easily proven and when an author overlooks them it causes, in me, a slight degree of doubt for everything he is offering. Mr. Watts presents three pages of acknowledgements but apparently none of those people noticed the errors in the manuscript that I easily discovered in reading his book. On page 221 of Mr. Playboy the author states: "By early 1967, at age forty-two ..." But in early 1967 Hugh Hefner was age forty having been born on April 9, 1926. On page 351 the author states: "... brought the Playboy Interview: John Lennon and Yoko Ono - it appeared on the newsstands the night the former Beatle was killed in 1981 ..." But John Lennon was (senselessly) murdered on December 8, 1980. (The date of the Playboy magazine in which the interview appeared is January 1981). Following page 118 there is a section of unnumbered pages of photographs. The caption for one of those pictures states: "The youthful editor at his desk during the early days of Playboy in 1954" In the foreground is a stack of magazines with an issue of Playboy on the top. That particular issue is a May 1955 Playboy. Therefore, the author's 1954 date is in error. Small points? Yes, perhaps. I did not do any research for this book and I've never met or talked to Hugh Hefner. These are things I noticed that were erroneous and therefore could contribute to some doubt about other facts in the book I'm unaware of. A few things that I would have liked to have read are more information on the relationship of Mr. Hefner and his first son David. There is little mention of David. Their relationship would provide more insight as to the father Hugh Hefner is. Perhaps in interviews he declined to speak about his son; perhaps the author never asked. Hugh Hefner's father, Glenn, died in 1976; this is not cited. In fact, there is little told about the relationship he had with his father. I have a documentary film where Barbi Benton speaking of the death of Hefner's father says that his father never acknowledged the accomplishments of his son. Mr. Watts references a lot of the editorial staff of Playboy magazine, especially Art Paul, Auguste Spectorsky, and Arthur Kretchmer. But when it comes to the photography department only Vince Tajiri receives some notice. The photography of women has been a defining part of Playboy's history. A few words either from or about some of these talented artists would have helped further explain the success of the magazine. Hefner did not create the photographs but he hired these photographers and edited their work. They interpreted his vision. My criticisms of this book are few. Steven Watts did an excellent job describing a part of American history. It's a broad history with its center being Hugh Hefner. It addresses ambition and materialism and sexual freedom and determination and repression and morality and tradition and rebellion and religion and conviction and dreams and reality and culture and establishment and sexism and affluence and liberation and first amendment and politics and art and discrimination and perception. Hugh Hefner seized life and molded it to what he wanted it to be. Not everyone does that. I think he should be celebrated as a consummate individual. You do not have to agree with all of his choices or even respect him as a person (but I do). Just recognize and applaud the fact that he did not settle. He pursued his dreams and vision and made his life what he wanted it to be. Jack Wegener Savannah, GA ## Technical Specifications | Specification | Value | |---------------|-------| | Best Sellers Rank | #1,437,797 in Books ( See Top 100 in Books ) #921 in Journalist Biographies #1,861 in Biographies of Business & Industrial Professionals #1,876 in Rich & Famous Biographies | | Customer Reviews | 4.3 4.3 out of 5 stars (106) | | Dimensions | 6.25 x 1.25 x 9.25 inches | | Edition | 1st | | ISBN-10 | 1684421705 | | ISBN-13 | 978-1684421701 | | Item Weight | 1.69 pounds | | Language | English | | Print length | 568 pages | | Publication date | August 1, 2009 | | Publisher | Trade Paper Press | ## Images ![Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream - Image 1](https://m.media-amazon.com/images/I/61kTnAhDH4L.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The definitive scholarly biography *by A***T on June 18, 2025* A definitive, scholarly biography. Gives you a vivid picture of the man and the era/s that made him. Take note that it was published while HH was still alive so the author treads lightly around controversial material. To get a full picture of the man, you'll want to augment with other sources. There is much more and much worse that has come out in later years. Had he lived a few years longer, #MeToo would have been brutal for Hefner. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Author never asked me to proofread before publishing *by J***R on December 31, 2014* There are myriad ways to live a life; Hugh Marston Hefner chose one. The people who condemn his choice and criticize him as a human being lack awareness. They are quick to pass judgment, as though their choices for living are the ideal. It is so easy to condemn - to sit in judgment of a fellow human who merely sought to find the things that produced happiness and contentment for himself. His choices may conflict with yours but he never forced anyone to participate in his choices. He had a dream that with hard effort he manifested. He followed what he believed to be true for himself. He never badgered or coerced anyone to participate in his dream. It's pure arrogance from some people who post disparaging reviews on this site vilifying Mr. Hefner for the choices he made for his life. The author Steven Watts sets out to place Hugh Hefner in the context of the last half of the American twentieth century. To do this he has to also describe what preceded those decades in America. He takes us back to Victorian times to reveal the repressive and limiting customs many Americans adopted and passed on to subsequent generations. We then follow Hugh Hefner from his birth in 1926 up to about 2007 where the book ends. It's a long history of not only Mr. Hefner but also of America. Mr. Watts presents a selected history of the culture of America from the late19th century into the early 21st century as he speaks of Hugh Hefner. The main section of the book comprises 454 pages. The notes section occupies another 59 pages. From the notes section one can discern that Mr. Watts did do research. Some of his conclusions, he states, did go against Mr. Hefner's view of things. He makes his point and allows Hugh Hefner to make his. This merely illustrates that much history is about perception. The book is a sweeping panorama of life in America. And among all of the events is one man pursuing his dreams. Mr. Hefner is shown to be a man with a conscience. He stands up for racial equality when that stance was not popular. He fights censorship and advocates first amendment rights of freedom of expression. He challenges laws on the books that imprison people for various sexual acts. He is for individual expression and entrepreneurial endeavors. He speaks out for homosexual rights. And, contrary still to some public perception, supports women's rights and liberation from the sexist environment in which he grew up. He starts a foundation to support his beliefs and to offer assistance to those deserving of help. Over the decades he evolves as a man and a thinker. Whether people embrace it or curse it, there was indeed a sexual revolution in America in the last part of the twentieth century. Two large factors in that revolution were the birth control pill and Playboy magazine. Mr. Hefner had convictions that propelled him to become a significant contributor to the lessening of repression in American society. This book chronicles his activity and the problems he encountered as he stood up for what he believed to be right. Not all men or women are that strong to follow their dreams and beliefs and to fight where necessary to prevail. It takes courage and fortitude to go against a prevailing opinion. To risk everything for what you believe in. Mr. Watts cites many obstacles Mr. Hefner faced as he published his magazine. He provides background on the various historical periods in America as Mr. Hefner moves through them. At the end we emerge with an understanding of what America promises its citizens. It is a land of liberty. You can make dreams come true here. Admittedly, my title line is for attention. It disturbs me to some degree when I read a book and find glaring errors of fact. A lot of life is subjective but there are some things that are easily proven and when an author overlooks them it causes, in me, a slight degree of doubt for everything he is offering. Mr. Watts presents three pages of acknowledgements but apparently none of those people noticed the errors in the manuscript that I easily discovered in reading his book. On page 221 of Mr. Playboy the author states: "By early 1967, at age forty-two ..." But in early 1967 Hugh Hefner was age forty having been born on April 9, 1926. On page 351 the author states: "... brought the Playboy Interview: John Lennon and Yoko Ono - it appeared on the newsstands the night the former Beatle was killed in 1981 ..." But John Lennon was (senselessly) murdered on December 8, 1980. (The date of the Playboy magazine in which the interview appeared is January 1981). Following page 118 there is a section of unnumbered pages of photographs. The caption for one of those pictures states: "The youthful editor at his desk during the early days of Playboy in 1954" In the foreground is a stack of magazines with an issue of Playboy on the top. That particular issue is a May 1955 Playboy. Therefore, the author's 1954 date is in error. Small points? Yes, perhaps. I did not do any research for this book and I've never met or talked to Hugh Hefner. These are things I noticed that were erroneous and therefore could contribute to some doubt about other facts in the book I'm unaware of. A few things that I would have liked to have read are more information on the relationship of Mr. Hefner and his first son David. There is little mention of David. Their relationship would provide more insight as to the father Hugh Hefner is. Perhaps in interviews he declined to speak about his son; perhaps the author never asked. Hugh Hefner's father, Glenn, died in 1976; this is not cited. In fact, there is little told about the relationship he had with his father. I have a documentary film where Barbi Benton speaking of the death of Hefner's father says that his father never acknowledged the accomplishments of his son. Mr. Watts references a lot of the editorial staff of Playboy magazine, especially Art Paul, Auguste Spectorsky, and Arthur Kretchmer. But when it comes to the photography department only Vince Tajiri receives some notice. The photography of women has been a defining part of Playboy's history. A few words either from or about some of these talented artists would have helped further explain the success of the magazine. Hefner did not create the photographs but he hired these photographers and edited their work. They interpreted his vision. My criticisms of this book are few. Steven Watts did an excellent job describing a part of American history. It's a broad history with its center being Hugh Hefner. It addresses ambition and materialism and sexual freedom and determination and repression and morality and tradition and rebellion and religion and conviction and dreams and reality and culture and establishment and sexism and affluence and liberation and first amendment and politics and art and discrimination and perception. Hugh Hefner seized life and molded it to what he wanted it to be. Not everyone does that. I think he should be celebrated as a consummate individual. You do not have to agree with all of his choices or even respect him as a person (but I do). Just recognize and applaud the fact that he did not settle. He pursued his dreams and vision and made his life what he wanted it to be. Jack Wegener Savannah, GA ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ Great Book *by B***I on November 28, 2023* Amazing Book. ## Frequently Bought Together - Mr. Playboy: Hugh Hefner and the American Dream - Down the Rabbit Hole: Curious Adventures and Cautionary Tales of a Former Playboy Bunny - The Bunny Years: The Surprising Inside Story of the Playboy Clubs: The Women Who Worked as Bunnies, and Where They Are Now --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/267422671-mr-playboy-hugh-hefner-and-the-american-dream](https://www.desertcart.co.th/products/267422671-mr-playboy-hugh-hefner-and-the-american-dream) --- *Product available on Desertcart Thailand* *Store origin: TH* *Last updated: 2026-04-26*