New Book: "American Poly" by Christopher Gleason (Nov. 2023)

[Al99]

I came across mention of a relatively new book (publication date: November 1, 2023) on the history of polyamory in America: American Poly: A History by Christopher M. Gleason. It's been well reviewed so far and promises to be an important addition to poly literature - and looks to be an interesting read. Amazon has it in ebook and hardcopy - so I'm sure others do as well. Description at this site:

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/american-poly-9780197659144?cc=us&lang=en&

I downloaded the ebook today and am looking forward to reading it. Here's the blurb:

The first history of polyamory, this work examines the roots of sexual non-monogamy in political thought and countercultural spiritualism and traces its path to mainstream practice and cultural discussion today.Recent studies have found that as many as one in five Americans have experimented with some form of sexual non-monogamy, and approximately one in fifteen knows someone who was or is polyamorous. Although gathering statistics on polyamorous people is challenging, there has clearly been a growing interest in and normalization of relationship practices defined by emotional intimacy and romantic love among multiple people. Over the past decade, the mainstream media has increasingly covered polyamorous lifestyles and the committed relationships of throuples, and popular dating apps have added polyamory as a status option.This book is the first history to trace the evolution of polyamorous thought and practice within the broader context of American culture. Drawing on personal journals and letters, underground newsletters, and publications from the Kinsey Institute Archives, among other sources, it reconstructs polyamory’s intellectual foundations, highlighting its unique blend of conservative political thought and countercultural spiritualism. Christopher M. Gleason locates its early foundations in the Roaring Twenties among bohemians. In the 1950s and 1960s it surprisingly emerged among libertarian science fiction writers. The next wave of polyamorists belonged to countercultural communities that rejected traditional Christianity; some were neo-Pagans and New Age tantric practitioners who saw polyamory as intrinsic to their spirituality. During the 1980s polyamory developed as a coherent concept, faced backlash from conservatives, and tried to organize into a social and political movement with anational network. Throughout the 1990s, polyamorists utilized the internet to spread their ideas, often undermining any remaining religious or spiritual significance their ideas held. Polyamory now encompasses a diverse set of people, from those with libertarian leanings seeking unlimited freedom from government interference in their consensual partnerings to those who pursue legal recognition of their relationships, especially issues revolving around children.Offering an original perspective on sexuality, marriage, and the family, American Poly reveals the history of polyamory in the United States from fringe practice to a new stage of the sexual revolution.
---------------------
And here's the article the article I was reading in which the book was mentioned - which is a decent short read itself:

Polyamory is having a moment(s): The latest in loving more — and those who want less of it
by Scott Hocker (February 1, 2024)

Polyamory is having a moment(s)

The latest in loving more — and those who want less of it

theweek.com

 

[Alan7388]

I came across mention of a relatively new book (publication date: November 1, 2023) on the history of polyamory in America: American Poly: A History by Christopher M. Gleason. It's been well reviewed so far and promises to be an important addition to poly literature - and looks to be an interesting read. Amazon has it in ebook and hardcopy - so I'm sure others do as well. Description at this site:

https://global.oup.com/academic/product/american-poly-9780197659144?cc=us&lang=en&

I downloaded the ebook today and am looking forward to reading it. Here's the blurb:

The first history of polyamory, this work examines the roots of sexual non-monogamy in political thought and countercultural spiritualism and traces its path to mainstream practice and cultural discussion today.Recent studies have found that as many as one in five Americans have experimented with some form of sexual non-monogamy, and approximately one in fifteen knows someone who was or is polyamorous. Although gathering statistics on polyamorous people is challenging, there has clearly been a growing interest in and normalization of relationship practices defined by emotional intimacy and romantic love among multiple people. Over the past decade, the mainstream media has increasingly covered polyamorous lifestyles and the committed relationships of throuples, and popular dating apps have added polyamory as a status option.This book is the first history to trace the evolution of polyamorous thought and practice within the broader context of American culture. Drawing on personal journals and letters, underground newsletters, and publications from the Kinsey Institute Archives, among other sources, it reconstructs polyamory’s intellectual foundations, highlighting its unique blend of conservative political thought and countercultural spiritualism. Christopher M. Gleason locates its early foundations in the Roaring Twenties among bohemians. In the 1950s and 1960s it surprisingly emerged among libertarian science fiction writers. The next wave of polyamorists belonged to countercultural communities that rejected traditional Christianity; some were neo-Pagans and New Age tantric practitioners who saw polyamory as intrinsic to their spirituality. During the 1980s polyamory developed as a coherent concept, faced backlash from conservatives, and tried to organize into a social and political movement with anational network. Throughout the 1990s, polyamorists utilized the internet to spread their ideas, often undermining any remaining religious or spiritual significance their ideas held. Polyamory now encompasses a diverse set of people, from those with libertarian leanings seeking unlimited freedom from government interference in their consensual partnerings to those who pursue legal recognition of their relationships, especially issues revolving around children.Offering an original perspective on sexuality, marriage, and the family, American Poly reveals the history of polyamory in the United States from fringe practice to a new stage of the sexual revolution.
---------------------
And here's the article the article I was reading in which the book was mentioned - which is a decent short read itself:

Polyamory is having a moment(s): The latest in loving more — and those who want less of it
by Scott Hocker (February 1, 2024)

Polyamory is having a moment(s)

The latest in loving more — and those who want less of it

theweek.com

It is a good, interesting history, though it cuts off around 2005 or 2008, and the author was sometimes careless about checking facts. I have a lot to say about it (and history he missed) in my post The best history yet of the polyamory movement's origins.

Also, this isn't the first book of our history. Fifty Years of Polyamory in America, by Glen W. Olson and Terry Lee Brussel-Rogers, came out two years ago. Deborah Anapol's older Polyamory in the 21st Century was in large part a retrospective of the 20th.

Alan M.

 

[Al99]

It is a good, interesting history, though it cuts off around 2005 or 2008, and the author was sometimes careless about checking facts. I have a lot to say about it (and history he missed) in my post The best history yet of the polyamory movement's origins.

Also, this isn't the first book of our history. Fifty Years of Polyamory in America, by Glen W. Olson and Terry Lee Brussel-Rogers, came out two years ago. Deborah Anapol's older Polyamory in the 21st Century was in large part a retrospective of the 20th.

Alan M.

Thanks for the additional info, Alan. I will look forward to reading your article later in the day. I need to make it a point to stop by your site more often.

I have read "Polyamory in the 21st Century" - and will have to add "Fifty Years" to my queue (I see that it is available on Amazon in hard copy or ebook).

 

[Magdlyn]

Record scratches I felt when reading the blurb you shared:

1. Calling polyamory "sexual" non-monogamy, instead of "ethical" non-monogamy, which would then include platonic poly and asexual love/romance. (Asexual and greysexual polyamorous people exist!)
2. The use of the stupid word "throuple." I just can't take anyone seriously who assumes or promotes the "throuple" idea as a proper approach to polyamory. Throuple is a made-up word based on "three" and "couple," which forces monogamy-centric forms onto polyamorous dyads, triads, Vs and larger networks.

 

[Al99]

It is a good, interesting history, though it cuts off around 2005 or 2008, and the author was sometimes careless about checking facts. I have a lot to say about it (and history he missed) in my post The best history yet of the polyamory movement's origins.

Also, this isn't the first book of our history. Fifty Years of Polyamory in America, by Glen W. Olson and Terry Lee Brussel-Rogers, came out two years ago. Deborah Anapol's older Polyamory in the 21st Century was in large part a retrospective of the 20th.

Alan M.

Alan - In regard to "checking facts", in reading your article with its quote from the book, I did note that the author stated that Heinlein's first two marriages were open - which is true. However, his last marriage to Virginia (Ginny) was open as well (according to his author William Patterson in his two volume biography of Heinlein) - at least in theory. The biography did not reveal to what extent they might have been actively so.

 

[Al99]

Record scratches I felt when reading the blurb you shared:

1. Calling polyamory "sexual" non-monogamy, instead of "ethical" non-monogamy, which would then include platonic poly and asexual love/romance. (Asexual and greysexual polyamorous people exist!)
2. The use of the stupid word "throuple." I just can't take anyone seriously who assumes or promotes the "throuple" idea as a proper approach to polyamory. Throuple is a made-up word based on "three" and "couple," which forces monogamy-centric forms onto polyamorous dyads, triads, Vs and larger networks.

Agreed on both counts. I find the term "throuple" particularly annoying. Still, I have hope that it will be a worthwhile read - Alan M, from within the poly community, did give it a generally favorable review. And reviews in general are positive.

 

[kdt26417]

Hi Al,

Sounds like an interesting book, I am reminded of Elisabeth Sheff's "The Polyamorists Next Door." Although that is more of an analysis of modern times, whereas "American Poly" is more of a historical work. The point is, those two books are somewhat of a factual accounting, versus other poly books that are kind of a "how-to" resource.

Regards,
Kevin T.