A Title That Sells—and Informs “What Every Young Man Should Know” was among the top-selling Little Blue Books, with an annualized sale of 95,000 copies in 1927. It stood alongside similar titles for women and married people, showing a huge public appetite for straightforward, reliable information about sex, health, and adulthood
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2. Euphemism as a Social Strategy Haldeman-Julius openly admits that titles like this were euphemistic—designed to make it easier for people to buy sensitive information without embarrassment. The facts were inside, but the title provided a “universally understood riddle” that made the purchase less awkward
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3. The Content: Facts, Not Fears Despite the gentle title, the book delivered “the facts” about sexual development, reproductive health, relationships, and personal conduct. The approach was scientific and practical, not sensational or moralizing. The goal was to empower young men with knowledge they could trust
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4. Not Just for Boys Although aimed at young men, these books were often read by a much wider audience—including parents, educators, and even young women—reflecting a broad hunger for honest, accessible information about sexuality and growing up
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5. Breaking Taboos, Meeting Needs The popularity of “What Every Young Man Should Know” (and its companion volumes) helped break down social taboos around discussing sex and health. Haldeman-Julius notes that the books’ success “demonstrates beyond question a desire to have all the facts, and to understand the subject as a whole”
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6. Sales Figures Tell the Story Here are the annualized sales for the “what you should know” series in 1927:
What Married Women Should Know: 112,000
What Married Men Should Know: 97,500
What Every Young Man Should Know: 95,000
What Every Young Woman Should Know: 90,500
What Every Girl Should Know: 66,000
What Every Boy Should Know: 37,500
7. Content Over Censorship Despite being entirely within postal laws, these books were often censored by magazines and advertising boards. Yet, their persistent popularity proved that young men (and the public) would find a way to get the information they needed
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8. A Legacy of Openness The Little Blue Books’ approach—frank, affordable, and accessible—set a precedent for modern sex education. The lesson: young men want and deserve honest, practical knowledge to make informed decisions about their bodies and futures
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Chapters 1 to 3
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Chapters 4 to 6
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Chapters 7 to 9
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