At the Dawn of the Sexual Revolution

Ira L. Reiss is professor emeritus of sociology at the University of Minnesota and former president of the International Academy of Sex Research, the Society for the Scientific Study of Sexuality, and the National Council on Family Relations. He has received many awards for his professional work and is the author of twelve books and 150 professional papers. Albert Ellis is a founder of the Society for the Scientific Study of Sex and was its first president. He is also the founder of the Institute for Rational Emotive Therapy in New York City.

• Part 1 Preface Part 2 Preface Part 3 Chapter 1: Abstinence is Dethroned But What About Casual Sex? Letters, 1956-1957 Chapter 4 Introduction by Ira L. Reiss Chapter 5 Letter Comments by Albert Ellis Part 6 Chapter 2: Ethics, Religion and Publications: Letters, 1957 Chapter 7 Introduction by Ira L. Reiss Chapter 8 Letter Comments by Albert Ellis Part 9 Chapter 3: Therapeutic Ideas and the Birth of th eSociety for the Scinetific Study of Sex: Letters, 1957-1959 Chapter 10 Introduction by Ira L. Reiss Chapter 11 Letter Comments by Albert Ellis Part 12 Chapter 4: New Books and New Institutes Blossom Forth: Letters, 1960-1967 Chapter 13 Introduction by Ira L. Reiss Chapter 14 Letter Comments by Albert Ellis Part 15 Chapter 5: Overall Changes in my Views Part 16 Chapter 6: Taking Stock of my Past and Present View Part 17 Appendices Chapter 18 A: How I Became Interested in Sexology and Sex Therapy Chapter 19 B. My Path to Sexual Science

[Albert Ellis's and Ira L. Reiss's] letters reveal the insight of two leading sexual scientists at the very time that the sexual revolution was dawning in America. They provide a fascinating chronicle of controversial sexual and other issues of the 1950s and 1960s. At the same time they enrich this early correspondence by revealing in depth just how and why their current views of sexuality in America have changed.