Bernard Murstein

Is Sex, Tax-Deductible?

Comments on Bernard I. Murstein's

Is Sex Tax-Deductible? And Other Reminiscences of Fulfilling Fantasies

Combining the best qualities of a psychologist and a historian, Bernard Murstein offers a toothsome smorgasbord of reminiscences ranging from hilarious accounts of eccentric academics to helpful tips for dealing with publishers and with the IRS (explaining how sex can be tax-deductible). His wide-ranging interests have led him down from Marrakech to Moscow, encountering exceptionally colorful characters. These memoirs showcase Murstein’s talents as serious scholar, stand-up comic, and engaging raconteur.
--Michael Burlingame, author of The Inner World of Abraham Lincoln

A splendid memoir. Murstein's vivid writing makes you feel you are spending an evening chatting with one of social psychology's pioneering (and most eminent) researchers. Sweet, fascinating, and thoroughly engrossing.
--Elaine Hatfield, co-author of Firefly, The Tiny Detective, and Professor of Psychology, University of Hawaii

It was a treat. It made me long for the tart taste of that fermented coleslaw from Wasserman's. Who needs to cook when you can write well enough about food to make mouths water.
-- Dave Collins, Restaurant Reviewer, The Day

I very much enjoyed your spirited memoir of the Coops [Of Shmattehs and Utopia in the Bronx].
-- Richard F. Snow, Editor-in-Chief, American Heritage

Bernard Murstein’s tells us tells us all, with verve, candor, and humor and piercing insights-his research as a sex researcher, newspaper restaurant critic, and stock guru, You’ll love his book, chuckle a lot, and learn plenty. His is a name you may not have known. It’s one you will remember.
--John Guy LaPlante, Author of Around the World at 75. Alone, Dammit!

For those of us who lived during radio's Golden Age, this chapter is a real treasure. Dr. Murstein touches all the bases in the radio segment and even includes bits and pieces that I was either unaware of or had forgotten.
--Bob Schulz, Lecturer on 50 Years of Radio Nostalgia

Review Extract for Who Will Marry Whom? Theory and Research on Marital Choice

Each discussion of theory includes a seemingly thorough and accurate review…of research…and astute interpretations…significant insights into variables that could potentially influence marital choice…The importance of Murstein’s contribution to personality research is, without question, great…the original research… in this book is no exception—Journal of Personality Assessment

Earlier Books by Bernard I. Murstein

Theory and Research in Projective Techniques (1963), John Wiley. Selected as one of the 50 important books on psychology by Basic Sources of Information in the Social Sciences.
Behavioral Sciences Book Service, Book of the Month Main Selection.

Review Extracts and Unsolicited Letters
I have just had the very great pleasure of reading your book, Theory and Research in Projective Techniques. It is by far the most thorough, systematic lucid, and integrated work on conceptual and methodological problems one could imagine”
—Dr. John Wallace of Stanford University.—unsolicited letter

Recently…I discovered your outstanding book…I should like to say that it is a veritable goldmine of information and an impressive work of scholarship in an area in which scholarship has been badly needed. Students and researchers…will long be in your debt for this solid achievement.
—Robert B. Payne/Colonel, USAF, BSC, Deputy for Foreign Technology, Department of the Air Force.

This is a very scholarly piece of work…Murstein has brought together the research literature as has no other author of which I have knowledge…at the same time written in a lively style…While in general, I am much more likely to provide a critical and perhaps unfavorable book review than otherwise…in the present case…the book has no worthy competitors. —Reviewer to the publisher

…Of great value to the clinician—Bulletin of the Menninger Clinic

…all in all, Murstein’s book will be valuable for some time to come. —Contemporary Psychology

The Murstein text informs and stimulates critical, clinical thinking…recommended. -- Journal of Projective Techniques and Personality Assessment

Highly readable and unusually comprehensive…valuable sourcebook…can be read with profit by everyone. —Behavioral Book Service

Handbook of Projective Techniques (1965), Edited by me with several chapters by me Basic Books. Behavioral Science Book Club Book of the Month Main Selection.

Review Extracts
Would make an excellent choice for the college library
—Choice

No one who relies upon projective techniques in either clinical practice or teaching can afford not to include this book in his library…its value as a source book and reference cannot be challenged. —American Journal of Psychiatry

A significant notable contribution packed with concrete conclusions.
—Behavioral Book Service

All in all, this is an excellent and important book
—Journal of Projective Techniques and Personality Assessment

Theories of Attraction and Love (1971), Springer. Edited by me with several chapters by me.

Review Extracts
An excellent picture of the state of knowledge and theory in the areas of love and attraction…In an important contribution…Murstein has prepared a theory of marital selection …an invaluable reference for students of attraction
—Contemporary Psychology

A nicely constructed volume which should be of interest to psychologists…a good balance between theory and research—Journal of Personality Assessment

Love, Sex, and Marriage Through the Ages (1974), Springer. (A history from the ancient Hebrew to the present day). Translated into Portuguese.

Review Extracts

(Reviewer comparing several books on history of love and sex). Far more scholarly in origin and purpose is Bernard I. Murstein’s study of sex and marriage…Murstein knows his scholarly literature…includes a number of insights which are provocative…Both of Murstein’s books (see Exploring Intimate Life Styles) point the way to where, I think, sex research is going and where it ought to go.
—Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences.

This is a book which any instructor of marriage and family courses should read…This is a very important book…marriage, love, sex, and family relations will not be perceived the same way thereafter.
—The Family Coordinator

An encyclopedic survey…A valuable resource for church and synagogue libraries…The scope of Dr. Murstein’s research is mind-boggling
—Cultural Information Service

Remarkably comprehensive
—Publishers Weekly

Highly readable… Excellent new book. Unique…in following format of scholarly presentation while remaining eminently readable
—Connecticut College Magazine

A superb chronicle regarding marriage…well organized and documented without being tedious. An excellent sourcebook for all college libraries.
—Choice

Ten years of research went into this incredibly complete history of marriage.
—Communities

An extraordinary production—Books in Review

Superb compilation of sexology and maritology…In its classic blend of fact and commentary, Murstein’s book is now the foremost general source on marriage and sexuality from a historical, cross-cultural viewpoint.
—Minnesota Daily

Who Will Marry Whom? Theories and Research in Marital Choice (1976), Springer.

Review Extracts

Exploring Intimate Life Styles (1978), Springer. Behavioral Sciences Book Club Book of the Month, Alternate Selection. Translated into French.

Review Extracts

Bernard Murstein is well known to family specialists. … While an edited volume…the Murstein touch—almost literally—permeates the entire book, which is all to the good, for the author knows whereof he speaks
—Contemporary Sociology

The book is written in nontechnical style…easily readable by the layperson
—Contemporary Psychology

Murstein has…provided an excellent text for undergraduate instruction
—Journal of Marriage and the Family

The combination of personal experience and analytical research makes the book a valuable combination
—Journal of the History of the Behavioral Sciences

…Uniquely comprehensive on both a theoretical or review basis and an experiential basis
—Behavioral Sciences Book Service

The book is a good addition to the study of marriage and the family…written clearly with a minimum of jargon…of interest to the general reader
—Sex Roles

This is a fascinating exploration of intimate, alternative life-styles for couples,
—Southeastern Council on Family Relations

This is an excellent source book for all students of people.
—SIECUS

Paths to Marriage (1984), Sage Publications.

Review Extracts
(Note: Due to miscommunication by departments, the publisher failed to send out review copies to the reviewing journals).

I was generally quite impressed with Paths to Marriage. I would be very likely to adopt it for use in my class…The organization of the book is excellent… One of the best and most comprehensive reviews of the literature on love I’ve seen… Overall a much needed book in the field.
—Reviewer for the publisher

I’ve read a lot of manuscripts for undergraduate textbooks, and this one is of unusually high quality…I am especially impressed with Murstein’s scholarship and coverage of the literature…most nearly comprehensive…on the topic that I know about.
—Second reviewer for the publisher

Getting Psyched for Wall Street: A Rational Approach to an Irrational Market (2002), Cyprus Publishing Group.

Review Extracts

“…A superb blend of psychology and finance. Specifically written to help ordinary investors of all backgrounds better understand the interaction between human psychology and…Wall Street. … is a unique, inherently fascinating, “reader friendly”, practical work that should be read by any investor seeking to understand how market forces function and are influenced.
—Midwestern Book Review.

“Murstein brings a different perspective, and his results prove both insightful and readable.
— Connecticut College Magazine

“I’m familiar with and rely on the Lynch and Zweig investment books; the Murstein book beats them both hands down!”
—Reviewer on Amazon.com