
Forbidden Knowledge
From Prometheus to Pornography
HarperCollins · Print & ebook · September 15, 1997
In his “best achievement to date” (Harold Bloom), National Book Award- winner Roger Shattuck gives us a “deeply learned, highly intelligent, and beautifully written” (New York Times) study of human curiosity versus the taboo, from Adam and Eve to the Marquis de Sade to biotechnology research.
We earn from qualifying purchases.
- Who it’s for
- A learned study of how human curiosity meets taboos across history, literature, and biotechnology.
- Themes
- Human curiosity, Taboo, Biotechnology research
- Genres
- Human Sexuality, Ethics, Literary Criticism
Nearest books
Matched by what the books are about, then ordered by what their readers also loved.
The History of SexualityMichel Foucault, Robert Hurley55% matchShares Human Sexuality
The Rise and Triumph of the Modern SelfCarl R. Trueman, Rod Dreher53% match
The Other VictoriansSteven Marcus52% match
The SwerveStephen Greenblatt52% match
Sex at DawnChristopher Ryan, Cacilda Jetha52% matchShares Human Sexuality
For younger readers: Porn Is Not Sex Ed!, Love & Sex, Queer Ducks (and Other Animals)
Start with three books, and this one can be the first.
Members get a new edition every morning: a route out from their books to essays, research and talks, with the reason for each.
Start with this bookAbout this book
In his “best achievement to date” (Harold Bloom), National Book Award- winner Roger Shattuck gives us a “deeply learned, highly intelligent, and beautifully written” (New York Times) study of human curiosity versus the taboo, from Adam and Eve to the Marquis de Sade to biotechnology research. Index.
Curiosity at the Edge
A learned study of how human curiosity meets taboos across history, literature, and biotechnology.
Come here for
- Ideas that connect Adam and Eve, the Marquis de Sade, and biotechnology research
- A layered look at the boundary between curiosity and prohibition
Expect
- An intellectually rich study, beautifully written
- A wide-ranging view from ancient stories to modern research
Where it sits
| Human Sexuality | 40% |
|---|---|
| Ethics | 36% |
| Literary Criticism | 14% |
Percentages are BookFrontier’s reading of the book.
Publisher categories
- World History
- Historical Geography
- Social History
- Eastern Philosophy
Show all 8 publisher categories
- Ethics
- Social Psychology
- Evolution
- How Cultures Work
- Authors
- Roger Shattuck
- Publisher
- HarperCollins
- Published
- September 15, 1997
- Format
- Print & ebook
- Theme
- Human curiosity · Taboo · Biotechnology research
- Reading lane
- World History