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Damn Shame: A Memoir of Desire, Defiance, and Show Tunes by [David Pevsner]

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David Pevsner

Damn Shame: A Memoir of Desire, Defiance, and Show Tunes Kindle Edition

by David Pevsner (Author) Format: Kindle Edition

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A funny, daring, bawdy and incredibly honest memoir from the anti-ageist, anti-body shaming, pro-sex advocate and erotic provocateur.

Over the course of his 40-year career in show business, David Pevsner has done it all. He’s acted on Broadway, off-Broadway, in independent films and on numerous TV network shows including Grey’s Anatomy, Modern Family and Criminal Minds.

As he continues his career in entertainment, Pevsner has also dedicated himself to exploring his deepest sexual fantasies. In his late 30s he became a mature male escort and over the last several years has attracted a large international fan base through his blog of erotic photographs celebrating nudity and sexuality.

Damn Shame is David Pevsner’s incredible story and is a passionate and poignant look at one man’s journey from a thin, shy boy ashamed of his body and sexuality to a defiant, fearless everyman exploring his erotic desires, everything from leather and S&M to nude/erotic/hardcore modelling. Along the way, he fights back against society’s demonization of gay sex, body shaming and ageism while pursuing his own very personal definition of success and seeking love, validation and self-esteem.

Damn Shame gives a loud and powerful voice to a generation of mature men who have been conditioned to believe from society (and especially younger members of the gay community) that they are sexually irrelevant, old and undesirable. Pevsner’s life story goes in directions that many couldn’t imagine, but the lessons learned through his experiences will resonate with readers of every age.

Print length

368 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Random House Canada
Publication date

11 January 2022
File size

29285 KB
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Review

"[An] entertaining debut. . . . These heartfelt meditations on sexual shame in a heteronormative culture will enlighten readers of all identities." --Publishers Weekly

"I loved David's journey to zero shame about his body, his sexuality and himself. Damn Shame has my ideal combo of racy, illuminating and idiosyncratic storytelling that transports you into a stranger's life and mind. And--or beware--there is a lot of penis!" --Alan Cumming, actor and author of Baggage: Tales from a Fully Packed Life

"In Damn Shame, David Pevsner guides us through a wonderfully appealing chronicle of his life as a performer, writer, sex worker, nude model and a gay guy making his way on his own terms. Rather than oversharing, he's a delightful host to the most entertaining adventures." --Paul Rudnick, actor and author of Jeffrey

"[Pevsner's] honest and emotional memoir, Damn Shame, sings as it takes you through his awkward coming of age, his time as a 'mature model, ' and his ongoing success in erotic art, as he's come to embrace his own choices and feel comfortable in his own often exposed skin. Bravo, David. Encore!" --Michael Musto, journalist

"In deft, vivid prose, David Pevsner recounts his surprising journey from awkward teen to musical theater phenom to part-time male escort and fearless sexual advocate. Written with sly humour and at times eye-popping candour, Damn Shame is a compelling portrait of one gay man's struggle for self-acceptance in a country that trumpets liberation but is all too beholden to its Puritan past." --Doug Wright, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of I Am My Own Wife

"Who could imagine that a book which deals unapologetically with exhibitionism, LGBT ageism and sex work could be so filled with charm and self-deprecating good humour?" --Charles Busch, actor and author of The Tale of the Allergist's Wife

--This text refers to the paperback edition.

About the Author

David Pevsner is an LA-based actor and writer, with a little modeling on the side. His film appearances include Scrooge and Marley (as Ebenezer Scrooge), Spa Night, Joshua Tree 1951- A Portrait of James Dean, Role/Play, and Corpus Christi- Playing with Redemption. His guest starring roles on television include Silicon Valley, NCIS, I'm Dying Up Here, Modern Family, Grey's Anatomy, Liz and Dick, Law and Order LA, and he starred in the popular web series Old Dogs and New Tricks.

David has had a diverse stage acting career, from regional theatres to Broadway. As a songwriter, his work has been featured in the global hit show Naked Boys Singing!, his CD of original comedy songs Most Versatile, and his two one man musicals, including Musical Comedy Whore! which is currently streaming and available on DVD. He continues his anti-shame, anti-ageism, and pro-nudity and sexuality mission with his work in erotic photos, videos, and writings. --This text refers to the paperback edition.

Product details

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B097CXMXNK
Publisher ‏ : ‎ Random House Canada (11 January 2022)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
File size ‏ : ‎ 29285 KB
Text-to-Speech ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Screen Reader ‏ : ‎ Supported
Enhanced typesetting ‏ : ‎ Enabled
X-Ray ‏ : ‎ Not Enabled
Word Wise ‏ : ‎ Enabled
Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
Page numbers source ISBN ‏ : ‎ 1039000509

Best Sellers Rank: 363,935 in Kindle Store (See Top 100 in Kindle Store)
- 99 in Theater Acting & Auditioning
- 189 in LGBTQ+ Biographies & Memoirs
- 238 in Acting & Auditioning (Books)

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70 ratings

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Robert Schrock

Freedom

Reviewed in Mexico on 26 February 2022

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David has written a remarkable book. It not only touches on nudity and sex but hits it on the head! Right on David! It's funny and touching and educational and enlightening. It should be taught in high schools!

Rachel

A Compelling (and somewhat titillating) Memoir

Reviewed in the United States on 12 January 2022

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I watched the DVD "Musical Comedy Whore!" (it's also on Amazon, also available streaming but they had to
change the name to "Musical Comedy Stud! Lol) and it did leave me wanting more, so when I found out David Pevsner had a book coming out, I pre-ordered it.

Now I'll be the first to admit that I do not seem like the target audience for this autobiography. As a cis-hetro woman what could I have in common with a gay man who has explored his sexuality to the nth degree and lays it all out for everyone to see? Turns out, a lot.

The beautiful thing about this book is that it is about loving yourself, accepting yourself and not allowing others to impose their views of how you "should" be upon vou. Societal pressure is something every one of us struggles with, and David is not immune, his book details his lifelong fight against the pressure to be ashamed of who he is.

It is by turns unbearably sad, incredibly funny, highly gossipy, and pretty salacious, but ultimately very, very human. If you are the judgmental sort you probably won't enjoy this (or you may enjoy being shocked by it, whatever floats our boat) but even more reason to read it. If you are open-minded enough not to be more than a little round-eyed at the sometimes very graphic content, then I think you will find your way through that material to a very endearing character on a quest for his own personal truth, and a mission to destroy the feelings of shame for those who follow him.

9 people found this helpful

Sudi (Rick) Karatas (author of Rainbow Relatives and How Catering Sucked The Life Right Out Of Me)

Not For Prudes

Reviewed in the United States on 24 January 2022

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I really enjoyed this book. which was refreshingly honest,revealing, daring and could have been called "No Holds Barred". Pevsner does not shy away from anything...some of what he went through and did I can relate to and some things left me with a new perspective. I always found it odd that the same people who have an issue with Nudity and sex in movies or TV have no problem with violence and shooting etc....this book reminded me of that and how hypocritical many people are. The author overcame a lot of obstacles to
achieve many succeses and I admire that he did things his way. It was also nice to learn I'm not the only one still has an AOL account.

3 people found this helpful

Mark R.

Damn Shame is groundbreaking, daring and funny.

Reviewed in the United States on 23 January 2022

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David Pevsner’s groundbreaking and brave new memoir Damn Shame dares to go where most other memoirs have not ventured. The minute I picked up my copy of the book, I was immediately drawn into his world and could not stop reading until I finished it later that same day. Pevsner is a master storyteller, and his fluid writing moves seamlessly from funny anecdotes about his early acting days, to his candid experiences as an escort, and later as an anti-body shaming ambassador. He is not afraid to be brutally honest in dealing with his wide range of experiences and I am hoping his younger readers will be inspired by his life lessons.

3 people found this helpful

Larry D

Fearless and funny

Reviewed in the United States on 4 February 2022

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This really resonates with those of us of a certain age. We grew up with the message that sex was dirty. And that can do all kinds of damage to the mind and soul.
David writes as if he's sitting across the table sharing coffee or drinks, relaying his personal narrative. He's not afraid to go there. In a sense he takes no prisoners, but never calls anyone out in a malicious or vindictive way. Rather he acknowledges that we all have our own hang ups, mostly ingrained from our upbringing, but the lucky and wise figure out how to extricate themselves.
A highly entertaining and enjoyable read regardless of your age, gender, or proclivities. Just be ready for a little bit of shock, some provocative thoughts, an occasional tear, and a boat load of laughs. He's an entertainer on and off the stage.

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Damn Shame: A Memoir of Desire, Defiance, and Show Tunes Kindle Edition

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David Pevsner

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