This is a rare vintage UNREAD and out of print copy of The Adonis Complex, THE SECRET CRISIS OF MALE BODY OBSESSION by HARRISON G. POPE, JR., M.D., KATHARINE A. PHILLIPS, M.D., ROBERTO OLIVARDIA, PH.D. and published and distributed by FREE PRESS in 2000. This 304 page softcover book measures 6.41 x 0.98 x 9.57 inches. See photos for condition.

You see them everywhere. With their bulging arms and deltoids and pecs, not to mention their rippling abdominal muscles, they appear on magazine covers, in underwear ads, in action movies. And American men have noticed them; after a generation of being bombarded by images of idealized male physiques, men are growing increasingly insecure about their own appearance.

The authors have studied everything from bodybuilders to Playgirl centerfolds and concluded that the images presented to men and women have gotten steadily more muscular. As a result of this bombardment of pumped-up male imagery, American men have been developing eating disorders, working out to the point of obsession, and taking steroids. None of this is for health or sports performance but rather to develop a physique that matches those seen on the cover of Muscle & Fitness or in the next squat rack over.


Due to recent delivery issues with the USPS I now ship all items via Priority Mail. $100 of insurance is included in this price. I’m selling my collection of vintage 1960-1980s gay pulp paperback novels, pictorial & hardcore magazines, physique photography, magazines & artwork.