Customer Reviews

Playboy's Silverstein Around the World

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Hugh M. Hefner writes in the introduction to Playboy's Silverstein Around the World, "Everything begins here. It is impossible to separate Shel's later work from these drawings and these experiences. They are the beginning of it all, without question."

This 180-page art book is printed in glossy color on high quality stock. Silverstein's ten years of colorblock illustrated travel essays for Playboy magazine cover topics ranging from bull fighting to a nudist camp to life among Muslims. During the Cold War, Shel traveled to the heart of Moscow, the Red Square, posing undercover as a youth rally member in order to report on the event. Shel had no set intinerary as an explorer, rather, he followed his personal impulses and the whims of the world.

In total, Silverstein wrote 23 travelogues for Hugh Hefner's magazine during the 1950's and 1960's. Although he was later most renowned as a children's author, his work for Playboy continued well into the 1990's. This delightful collection commemorates the birth of one of the twentieth century's greatest humorists.

Shel Silverstein to most people will always be remebered for his work for children, but tell them he was a songwriter and more surpisingly did cartoons for Playboy, they won't believe you. Through these works we see a side rarely seen or remembered by many. In these works we see a blossoming young artist, traveling exotic locales such as Mexico, London, Paris, Spain, Africa, even a nudist colony and Fire Island. In each of these places he takes his own spin on them though his drawings and writing and creates something very intriging.

My father used to read me Shel Silverstein's books as a child. I now read them to my son, bits and peices at a time. So when I saw this book, I thought what more perfect gift could I give to my father. A reminder of our time long past, as well as a cheeky look at one of the most prolific man0child authors of the modern age. This book covers Silverstein's time wioth Playboy magazine, and it is a terrific insight to the slightly off kilter brilliance that was Shel Silverstein. If your a Playboy afficianado, this is a must. If your a Shel Silverstein enthusiast, don't hesitate. A dabbler with "Where the Sidewalk Ends" might not be an anthused, but this is great work from a great mind.

He'd travel through Russia,
Germany and France,
If you were a lady,
he'd get in your pants.

To defend you your honor
he'd go toe-to-toe,
fight in the snow,
snort some coke, then he'd go

Away to the South of
Cali-for-ni-a
there he'd puff up some weed,
for a week he would stay.

Then he would write
of the wonders he'd found.
The meanings of life
that he'd sell by the pound.

Send his scribbles to Hefner
from all over the globe.
Yes! The man in New York
who would work from his robe!

Oh, these stories of his
are delightful to tell!
Oh, you don't want to know?
Then you can go to hell!

Seriously though... awesome book... read it... unless you only want to remember this man as a fuzzy memory from you childhood and not as a real human being with a complicated life. In a way, he was kind of a (much) tamer version of Hunter S. Thompson... and possibly a communist. :)

I purchased this book for my adult son who fell in love with Silverstein as a child. When I found an adult version from this author I had to have it.

If you like myself are a fan of Uncle Shelby's you will very much enjoy this book . Not only do we get the great art work but some awesome background stories .

I am sure I don't have to point out this is not for children but it's also not just a bunch of dirty cartoons . There is substance to this book . A very entertaining and twisted look at the world through one mans eyes and what a brilliant man he was .
This book is fully enjoyable from start to finish

"Why is it you don't like me, Barbara? . . . Is it because I don't have as much money as these other guys? . . . Is it because I don't have as much experience? . . . Is it . . . "

Hard to beat the dry wit of Uncle Shelby. This collection makes for excellent coffee table reading. Hilarious. The more I read, the more I appreciate this book.