Lust in translation : the rules of infidelity from Tokyo to Tennessee

An irreverent and hilarious journey around the world to examine how and why people cheat on their spouses; this global look at infidelity reveals that Americans are uniquely mixed up about being faithful. It’s an adulterous world out there. Russian husbands and wives don’t believe that beach-resort flings violate their marital vows. Japanese businessmen, armed with the aphorism "If you pay, it’s not cheating," flock to sex clubs where the extramarital services on offer include "getting oral sex without showering first." South Africans may be the masters of creative accounting: Pollsters there had to create separate categories for men who cheat, and men who only cheat while drunk. In America, however, there is never a free pass when it comes to infidelity. According to our national moral compass, cheating is abominable no matter what the circumstances. But do we actually behave differently than everyone else? Pamela Druckerman, a former foreign correspondent for "The Wall Street Journal," decided to delve into this incredibly taboo topic. She interviews people all over the world, from retirees in South Florida to Muslim polygamists in Indonesia; from Hasidic Jews in Brooklyn to the men who keep their mistresses in a "concubine village" outside Hong Kong. Druckerman talks to psychologists, sex researchers, marriage counselors, and most of all, cheaters and the people they’ve cheated on, and concludes that Americans are the least adept at having affairs, have the most trouble enjoying them, and suffer the most in their aftermath. "Lust in Translation" is a voyeuristic, statistics-packed, sometimes shocking, often hysterical, worldwide glimpse into the endlessly intriguing world of extramarital sex. It may be politically incorrect to say so, but who knew infidelity could be this fascinating? A Strange And Surprising Journey Around The World To Examine How And Why People Cheat On Their Spouses. From Memphis To Moscow, People Cheat On Their Spouses With Astonishing Frequency--but Even Illicit Love Has Rules, And These Rules Differ Radically From Country To Country. Acclaimed Journalist Druckerman Decided To Investigate Extramarital Affairs All Around The World To Discover How Different Cultures Deal With Adultery--and Her Research Leads Her To Believe That Both The Concept And The Consequences Of Infidelity Are Far Less Rigid Outside The United States. Americans, She Decides, Are The Least Adept At Having Affairs, Have The Most Trouble Enjoying Them, And, In The End, Suffer The Most As A Result Of Them. The Rules Of Fidelity Aren't As Strict In Many Other Parts Of The World Because Many Cultures Acknowledge That Adultery Is An Expected, If Not Acceptable, Part Of The Marriage Contract.--from Publisher Description. Introduction : Lust In Translation -- Welcome To America -- Lies, Damn Lies, And Adultery -- Sexual Cultures -- The Marriage-industrial Complex -- Death Of The Five To Seven -- The Obligatory Affair -- Mystery Of The Single Futon -- We Must Have A Spare One At Least -- God In The Bedroom -- A Sexual Revolution -- Conclusion : Home Sweet Home. Pamela Druckerman. Includes Bibliographical References (p. [283]-291). An analysis of infidelity practices throughout the world offers insight into how adulterous relationships are practiced differently from country to country, discussing how fidelity is tolerated and accepted in other cultures while explaining the role of morality in how affairs are conducted in the United States.