Ned Polsky ((1928-10-20)October 20, 1928 – (2000-06-13)June 13, 2000) was an American author and sociologist who wrote the 1969 book Hustlers, Beats, and Others, about political culture, criminology and pool hustlers.[1][2][3][4][5][6][7] He was also known for his criticism of Norman Mailer's essay The White Negro, included with the essay in later collections of Mailer's work,[8] and as an "insane Joyce fanatic" who memorized long passages from Finnegans Wake.[9]

Polsky studied linguistics and literature at the University of Wisconsin, and pursued graduate studies in sociology at the University of Chicago, although he did not complete his degree. He was for many years a professor of sociology at Stony Brook University,[10] and served as vice president of the Society for the Study of Social Problems in 1971–1972.[11] He was also a skilled pool player, and in his retirement became an antiquarian bookseller.[12]

In 1968, he signed the "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" pledge, vowing to refuse tax payments in protest against the Vietnam War.[13]

References edit

  1. ^ Pagann, Christian (20 August 1967). "Decline and fall of six pockets: Hustlers, Beats, and Others (book review)". Chicago Tribune. ProQuest 179264857.
  2. ^ Curtis, C. Michael (10 August 1967). "Hustlers, Beats, and Others (book review)". Christian Science Monitor. ProQuest 510934725.
  3. ^ Erikson, Kai T. (1968). "Review of Hustlers, Beats, and Others". American Sociological Review. 33 (3): 460–462. doi:10.2307/2091925. JSTOR 2091925.
  4. ^ Boskin, Joseph (1968). "Review of Hustlers, Beats, and Others". The Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science. 376: 197. JSTOR 1037858.
  5. ^ Roebuck, Julian (1969). "Review of Hustlers, Beats, and Others". The Journal of Criminal Law, Criminology, and Police Science. 60 (2): 232–233. doi:10.2307/1142244. JSTOR 1142244.
  6. ^ Lemert, Edwin M. (1968). "Review of Hustlers, Beats, and Others". American Journal of Sociology. 73 (5): 649–650. doi:10.1086/224553. JSTOR 2775581.
  7. ^ Cohen, Stanley (1968). "Review of Hustlers, Beats, and Others". The British Journal of Criminology. 8 (1): 93–95. doi:10.1093/oxfordjournals.bjc.a049118. JSTOR 23635220.
  8. ^ "The Norman Invasion". The New Yorker. 14 October 2013.
  9. ^ Kovach, Roger (28 May 2008). "Some Bars in Some Places". Good Stories.[self-published source?]
  10. ^ "Ned Polsky (1928–2000), Beat Sociologist", Lake Chapala Artists, Sombrero Books, retrieved 2019-02-22
  11. ^ Past Presidents, Vice-Presidents, and Editors, Society for the Study of Social Problems, retrieved 2019-02-22
  12. ^ Kahn, Robert (November 2000), "Ned Polsky (1928–2000)", Footnotes, American Sociological Association
  13. ^ "Writers and Editors War Tax Protest" January 30, 1968 New York Post