Lust in Translation: Infidelity from Tokyo to Tennessee Paperback – March 25, 2008

I enjoyed reading this book, learning about the different views and practices surrounding fidelity has made me think about my own and see others in a way that allows me to value and appreciate the similarities/differences. Druckerman writes about her own experiences and gives readers a look at others from personal conversations and information she has gathered. While reading, I experienced many different emotions; one minute I was laughing and the next I was in total shock.

I enjoyed Lust in Translation. I found it to have a good balance between am overly (Social) Science approach that would drain the topic of all general interest, and keeping it light and accessible. Call it "pop" social science if you will.The discussion is backed up by research, but the real insights are what she extracts from the numbers vs. cultural stereotypes/expectations on cheating - e.g. that in America it's our narrative about "the lies". (I don't want to tell you too much.)I would consider this book "pop anthropology" (and I am an Anthropologist) as it gives insight into the psyche - on a cultural level - behind infidelity and how we view it. All in all, a very enlightening (on different concepts/ideals re: cheating) and fascinating read.

Despite the lack of quantitative data, Pamela Druckerman is giving an interesting perspective of what adultery is and means over the world. Even though the author's perspectives are a bit culturally biased (she is American), she points rightfully elements of culture, of sociology, of moral, of religion which explain at least what is considered as "cheating" or not.The limits of this book lie in the fact that it sometimes fall into cultural cliches and a certain ethnocentrism. The author, a former Wall Street Journal journalist based in Paris (France), remains partially prisoner of her own culture.However, this is a stimulating reading, which opens interesting perspectives for cross-cultural couples, but also our unformulated conceptions of what is a "good couple".

This is an interesting topic---how infidelity is looked at around the world. But, this book is more of a paded magazine piece than anything else. There are some stats and then the author's travelogue of spending a few days in one country and a few days in another.Here is the Big Idea: people in poor countries cheat a lot, those in wealthy ones(including France), very little;we in the USA get worked up over cheating a lot, while our wealthy sisters(including France)see lies as part of life; in Russia, there is a ton of cheating going on because there are lots of men, few women, with men exploiting the difference. The wrap up chapter and the one on Russia are very good, as is the stuff on poverty/wealth and cheating. But,the book could have stopped there and been twice as good.

Loved the read. Keep an open mind. I thought Pamela does a nice job talking about a taboo subjext in the United States. Everyone should have a more open mind and the world wpuld be a better place.

This book gave a brief view of how infidelity is viewed in different countries. The author was very upfront on the challenges that she had with getting historical data and the methodology she used in gathering anecdotal information in the countries she visited. This book is not presented in an academic manner but reads more like a long magazine article. It entertaining because the reader as able to see how different cultures approached relationships and was made more fascinating because this is not a subject that the average visitor to a country would be able to discuss and get perspectives from a variety of persons. I liked this book and as long as the reader understands that the subject matter is being presented in a superficial way having being investigated by one person it should be a satisfying read.

This book is a fascinating look at gloabal sexuality that reveals how culture affects gender roles. The western world - perhaps all else also - are too quick to believe their way is best. I found that we all share common sexual desires but face segmented values. This book is worth the purchase page by page.

Informative though probably inconclusive. She gives us a sneak peak of people's lives in different continents so it was quite interesting. A good airport read for those very interested in the subject!