Table of Contents

Introduction; 1: Clean Talking and Dirty Living: Sexuality Discourse in the United States; 2: The Early History and Context of Newspaper Advice Columns; 3: Columnists and Characters; 4: Advice in Transition; 5: America’s Consciences: Ann, Abby, and the Art of Advice; 6: New Media for an Old Message: The Future of Newspaper Advice Columns; 7: A Place to Talk Taboo: The Functions of Newspaper Advice Columns

About the Author

David Gudelunas is assistant professor of communication at Fairfield University. His areas of research include communication industries, journalism, new media technologies, media history, cultural studies, and popular culture. Some of his professional affiliations include the International Communication Association and the National Communication Association.

Reviews

-Roll over Ann Landers and tell Dear Abby the news: the secret is out. Someone has finally figured out what we've been up to all these years in the personal advice columns speaking to America about the unspeakable, and teaching the lessons that schools are forbidden to teach. For decades newspaper advice columns were our best, and often our only source of information and counsel on affairs of the heart and urges of the flesh. Confidential to America tells one of the great untold stories of American journalism, from Beatrice Fairfax to Dan Savage and everyone in between.-
--Larry Gross, Professor and Director, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California
From its origins in seventeenth century London to -the twins from Sioux City, - Dan Savage and the Internet, Gudelunas dissects the conversation among millions of Americans known as advice columns. As Savage acknowledged, he writes only half of his column--the readers write the other half. This unique form of community dialogue among more than 100 million readers is not so much about advice as it is -a place to talk taboo.-
While others have focused on the -advice, - Gudelunas' refreshingly accessible book turns our attention to how a few column inches in the newspaper provide us a mass media for intimate conversations between individuals.
--Fred Jandt, Professor of Communication and Dean, Palm Desert Campus, California State University
-From its origins in seventeenth century London to -the twins from Sioux City, - Dan Savage and the Internet, Gudelunas disects the conversation among millions of Americans known as advice Columns. As Savage acknowledged, he writes only half of his column--the readers write the other half. This unique form of community dialogue among more than 100 million readers is not so much about advice as it is -a place to talk taboo.
While others have focused on the -advice, - Gudelunas' refreshingly accessible book turns our attention to how a few column inches in the newspaper provide us a mass media for intimate conversations between individuals.-
--Fred Jandt, Professor of Communication and Dean, Palm Desert Campus, California State University, San Bernardino

"Roll over Ann Landers and tell Dear Abby the news: the secret is out. Someone has finally figured out what we've been up to all these years in the personal advice columns speaking to America about the unspeakable, and teaching the lessons that schools are forbidden to teach. For decades newspaper advice columns were our best, and often our only source of information and counsel on affairs of the heart and urges of the flesh. Confidential to America tells one of the great untold stories of American journalism, from Beatrice Fairfax to Dan Savage and everyone in between."
--Larry Gross, Professor and Director, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California
From its origins in seventeenth century London to "the twins from Sioux City," Dan Savage and the Internet, Gudelunas dissects the conversation among millions of Americans known as advice columns. As Savage acknowledged, he writes only half of his column--the readers write the other half. This unique form of community dialogue among more than 100 million readers is not so much about advice as it is "a place to talk taboo."
While others have focused on the "advice," Gudelunas' refreshingly accessible book turns our attention to how a few column inches in the newspaper provide us a mass media for intimate conversations between individuals.
--Fred Jandt, Professor of Communication and Dean, Palm Desert Campus, California State University
"From its origins in seventeenth century London to "the twins from Sioux City," Dan Savage and the Internet, Gudelunas disects the conversation among millions of Americans known as advice Columns. As Savage acknowledged, he writes only half of his column--the readers write the other half. This unique form of community dialogue among more than 100 million readers is not so much about advice as it is "a place to talk taboo.
While others have focused on the "advice," Gudelunas' refreshingly accessible book turns our attention to how a few column inches in the newspaper provide us a mass media for intimate conversations between individuals."
--Fred Jandt, Professor of Communication and Dean, Palm Desert Campus, California State University, San Bernardino

"Roll over Ann Landers and tell Dear Abby the news: the secret is out. Someone has finally figured out what we've been up to all these years in the personal advice columns speaking to America about the unspeakable, and teaching the lessons that schools are forbidden to teach. For decades newspaper advice columns were our best, and often our only source of information and counsel on affairs of the heart and urges of the flesh. "Confidential to America" tells one of the great untold stories of American journalism, from Beatrice Fairfax to Dan Savage and everyone in between."
"--Larry Gross, Professor and Director, Annenberg School for Communication, University of Southern California"
From its origins in seventeenth century London to "the twins from Sioux City," Dan Savage and the Internet, Gudelunas dissects the conversation among millions of Americans known as advice columns. As Savage acknowledged, he writes only half of his column--the readers write the other half. This unique form of community dialogue among more than 100 million readers is not so much about advice as it is "a place to talk taboo."
While others have focused on the "advice," Gudelunas' refreshingly accessible book turns our attention to how a few column inches in the newspaper provide us a mass media for intimate conversations between individuals.
"--Fred Jandt, Professor of Communication and Dean, Palm Desert Campus, California State University"
"From its origins in seventeenth century London to "the twins from Sioux City," Dan Savage and the Internet, Gudelunas disects the conversation among millions of Americans known as advice Columns. As Savage acknowledged, he writes only half of his column--the readers write the other half. This unique form of community dialogue among more than 100 million readers is not so much about advice as it is "a place to talk taboo.
While others have focused on the "advice," Gudelunas' refreshingly accessible book turns our attention to how a few column inches in the newspaper provide us a mass media for intimate conversations between individuals."
--Fred Jandt, Professor of Communication and Dean, Palm Desert Campus, California State University, San Bernardino