Customer Reviews

Sex, Love, and Fashion: A Memoir of a Male Model

5 star:		(22)
4 star:		(7)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

How does a boy who loved all sports,graduated from Cornell Uni.,and was an Avalon New Jersey lifeguard until he was 25 end up becoming a fashion icon? Read my brother Bruce Hulse's book; Sex Love and Fashion if you have ever entertained any ideas of becoming a fashion model or follow the changing trends of the fashion industry. It's hard to be objective about a family member's new hairstyle,taste in fashion,or childrearing techniques;but a memroire? The account is accurate and the book includes Bruces'search to blend the mind, body and soul while working in the fickle world of modeling.

As an author who also wrote a memoir about being a former model ("Falling Off the Catwalk" by Spunky Books), I consider myself a tough critic. But Bruce Hulse really pulled through in his memoir, "Love, Sex, and Fashion." I was particularly impressed with his ability to communicate his spiritual path within what one might think was the antithesis of a spiritual setting--three decades of the fashion and modeling industry. Bruce not only captured an outstanding discussion of his own struggles and successes within this context, but did so in a fashion that was not preachy, condescending, or judgmental. In fact, Bruce's tone was always humble and very kind.

Having worked in the industry myself for five years, I found it incredibly admirable how generous and graceful he was in defining some personalities that I found challenging to say the least--of course Bruce was fortunate to also have met some truly inspiring and outstanding people, of whom he admirably described and gave generous credit. Bruce consistently reviewed all his relationships with empathy, understanding, grace, and, indeed love.

Equally pleasing was that he was and seemingly is capable of looking at even the most difficult and daunting situations with a sense of humor and compassion. Therefore, perhaps most satisfying of all, I found myself reliving parallel experiences to his with a newfound and more optimistic point of view. Believing, like he does, that we all have our own paths, it was incredibly refreshing to see how he applied (or tried to apply) good intent to all of his actions (sometimes failing, yet rising to forgive himself just as eloquently as he so generously forgives others). Indeed, Bruce has much to be proud of: not only in putting so much of his own personal history into such beautiful expression, but in his respectful approach to recording (some very spicy) sexual situations with women, his ability to allow us to see our sexuality as a wonderful, yet responsible blessing, and in his over-riding discussion and expression of the most powerful of all emotions--love. Congratulations Bruce--you've contributed to my own pride in having been a model, because, like you, I believe beauty need never be only skin deep.

I may be one of the few people to have read the book that had no idea about the fame and success Bruce has achieved in the fashion world. My interest in reading the book was due to our paths crossing at Cornell way before he became a model.
What surprised me was how much I enjoyed the book. Bruce's story is really a universal tale of searching for happiness and peace in our lives. For Bruce, the path took him into a world that many people only fantasize about. Yet in spite of living this fantasy life, there is a common thread that we all share of how without love and peace in our lives, we will never find happiness.
For someone like myself, who has no interest or knowledge of the world of fashion, to enjoy this book makes me believe that almost anybody will also enjoy it. It is very well written and I could easily see this story on the big screen someday.

Recently I finished Mr. Hulse's book. If you're looking to get into modeling, this isn't a how-to book! You'd probably be wiser to take a few candid photos to an agency.

In my opinion, Mr. Hulse presents an extremely honest view of his life. He's been blessed with an outstanding "look." Yes, luck and timing played well in his success. However, I found that his read was more like having him share his viewpoint with me in a coffeeshop.

His early acceptance of Buddhism seems to have basically given him a balance concerning not only his spiritual well-being, but his work, his personal relationships, his defects of character or shortcomings; and finally, his acceptance and love of his family and his friends.

If you're in need of a positive success story absent of egotism, this work is for you and for right now.

Sit, relax, and I sincerely hope you thoroughly enjoy your getting to know Bruce Hulse!

Gorgeous? Check. World traveler? Check. Adventuresome? Check. Spiritual? Check. Male model? Check. Destroying stereotypes? You better believe it.
Bruce Hulse proves to us the models we see are not all vapid pools of materialism and false purveyors of hope, sex, and a better life if we buy what they're selling. His book chronicles not only his rise to fame as a male model but also his amazing journey of self discovery.
Bruce shows us that not all pretty faces are the same. He is very smart and has had some great life experiences that he chronicles well. His retelling of his close friend's death had me in tears and his account of tantric masturbation had me laughing out loud. He is also not ashamed to talk about his fight with depression. No matter who you are, depression can seize you. He shows us that it doesn't matter what we look like, how much money we have,who we love, where we live, or who our friends are--depression can affect everyone.
And while reading of his sexual escapades was thrilling it was even more thrilling for him to find his true love, his balance. What good is great sex when you have no one to share a life with? Bruce clearly took advantage of being surrounded by gorgeous models (and really, who wouldn't) but the emptiness left him searching for something more tangible, something more meaningful.
Sure movies like Zoolander make fun of male models and I myself snickered when I picked up this book but within a few pages I was sucked in, he is a good storyteller and is great at painting the picture of his life. Bruce has had a wonderful life and chronicles his ups and downs well. He also gives us a backstage look into the industry of fashion, especially when it was at it's peak in the 80s and 90s. Simply put, I could not put this book down and highly recommend it.

I thought this book was absolutely fantastic!

I initially purchased the book after seeing it featured on a News Magazine Show. I thought that the book would be an entertaining read with a behind the scenes picture of modeling and intimate relationships with many of the women who are now icons in fashion, movies, and television.

And that it was - at the beginning.

As I progressed through in my reading, I found myself really liking the voice of the book, really identifying in my own way with the trials and tribulations he was experiencing: the depression, the new found fame, and the shock that some good and bad things do remain the same after you "make it".

The book became more than two handfuls of chapters about modeling and traveling around the world. It became a story. The growth that the author so wonderfully and honestly portrays is a treat to behold. The bonds with friends and loved ones through work and play, in the book, guide you through some amazing decades of emotion. And as any good story goes, whether fiction or non, the ending is truly special. I wholeheartedly recommend this book to anyone.


JC Solis

Sex, Love, and Fashion uncovers the Soul that sleeps in glamour. Bruce's book is spiritual literature in disguise. His journey begins with initial realization as he heads towards a career in psychology and philosphy but then life takes a left turn sending him on a trek of bodily delights and temptations. Never losing touch with his own soul, Bruce reaches a higher rung of the spiral in an integration of a deeply embodied spirituality that honors family, beauty, love and life.

Bruce's unexpected and extraordinary life speaks to everyone because in Big it reflects the journey we have all signed on to make.

Marina Aguilar, MFT, CPCC

This book was a 'suggested read' featured at my library. Of course, the catchy title and handsome face staring at me from the cover initially caught my eye, but the book really pulls you in from the beginning. As a mom from Colorado, one would think I'd have nothing in common with a top male fashion model, but through his quick-witted writing, I learned of the author's battles with depression and constant striving toward spiritual peace. I came to realize that our similarities were not that far fetched. This book brings an interesting look into the fashion industry from a male perspective, one I have not seen in any other books. The memoir tells many heartfelt stories involing charming friends, lovely family members and the crazy world of modeling, all with a celebrity sprinkled here and there. All this, and more, make the book a great read! "Sex, Love and Fashion..." should be on everyone's summer reading list!

This book chronicles the life of a multi-faceted, cultured, educated and spiritual person who makes his living with the body and face of a Greek God. The paradox is fascinating. The author's story is such that the sheer velocity of his life carries the reader through the book. He is honest and open about how he feels throughout his journey. The women that he had relationships with are legion and sometimes dizzying to read about. That aside, read this book if you'd like an inside look at the modeling industry from a male point of view, and to read an autobiography by a true renaissance man. Props to Doc X.

Well here is what I got out of my Uncle's book. I always thought of the modeling industry as a symptom of the profit system disease. A industry that promotes a view of beauty that is negative, hurtful and all about money. Overall it makes people feel less not more, it makes people strive for something that will never fulfill them and so on. I mean here are these people, that have projected beauty on them to sell items made in sweartshops. Bruce's book made me see the human side of modeling, and yes the spiritual side. It didn't at all change my view of the modeling system, but it was a clear reminder that models are people, human beings that suffer. They deserve love and dignity as much as anyone else, they are a part of US, a part of the great Self. This is what Bruce's story captured. I see Bruce as a hero figure, somebody that tried to bring consciousness into this system. One of the spiritual teachers featured in the book, Ram Dass, wrote about how love oneness consciousness can be expressed even within a corrupt livelihood. That is clearly what Bruce tried to do. There are countless stories in the book that reflect this struggle. And in my view, he achieved success. His success wasn't in the money or even his eventual family life. In my view his success, was the attempt to bring the deeper side of life into a sex-drug-material-shallow-corrupt world. Thank you Bruce for expressing this story. You have truly been on a hero's journey and have nothing to be ashamed of.