I'm sure a lot of newbies like me have done extensive researching before diving in to the hobby.  I just wanted to recommend a book I purchased by Amanda Brooks (texasgoldengirl.com) called 'The Internet Escort's Handbook'.  This is the first book in a series of 4 she will be writing and I found it very informative, as well as the info on her site.  She's a retired escort and exotic dancer.

Anyone else happen to read it?  What did you think?

I also picked up 'The Business Side of Escorting' by J.D. Roberts, CPA.  Again, very informative and geared toward the serious businesswoman.

XOXO,
Stella

click on link below.

I recently read "The Business Side of Escorting." Very helpful, although not as much detail as I would have liked on some of the tax-related stuff (which is why I should have an accountant, lol). I also read "Callgirl," as more of an entertainment read. It was a good book, but was really shocking to me in that I was expecting it to reflect more of a TER-type hobbying experience, when it described some pretty brutal treatment and extensive drug use.. Also, "Prostitution and Pornography: Philosophical Debate about the Sex Industry" is a collection of essays and writings on the sex trade.. my favorite was "Whether from Reason or Prejudice" by Martha Nussbaum. It talks about exchanging money for bodily services and compares "prostitution" to other careers, such as modeling, massage, medical technicians, and factory work in interesting ways. It also discusses seven common arguments for criminalization and why these are rooted more in prejudice than logical reasoning. I'd highly recommend it.

XoXo
Marea

-- Modified on 9/21/2007 7:42:50 AM

I once saw a book "Sex Tips from Escorts" in a Borders bookstore somewhere.  I don't remember who the author was, but it's be funny if she was right here on TER.

This is a great thread.  Thanks for the recommendations.

I will certainly look into "Prostitution and Pornography."

It seems to get to the heart of some discussions about the anxieties over hobby sex - the morality of regarding one of our most intimate acts as a commercial transaction.  This is a topic that many would rather gloss over or trivialize because they don't want to deal it.

I think this issue is what's underlying those posts that ask why women provide or what it would take to get providers out of the biz.  A question that would never be asked of anyone in a civvie profession unless that person expresses dissatisfaction with their job.  Even then, no one would question the nature of the job itself.  But I think we should question the underlying assumptions of everything, including our own society but I don't want to digress.

-- Modified on 9/21/2007 7:23:18 PM