Exploring Amsterdam's Red Light District: An American's Journey Through the City of Sin

Samantha Seiff: "Amsterdam Exposed" is a page-turning account of the Red Light District. The book is really personal--David Wiener is an honest author. He's not trying to push any particular image of himself or the District on his readers. He tries not to editorialize his decades-old experiences. David's honesty helped me turn off my bullsh!t-meter and see through his eyes, those of American twenty-something yearning to do some good. David's lens is as vivid as it is relatable. I highly recommend "Amsterdam Exposed" to anyone who craves adventure but needs some inspiration to take the leap.

United States on Feb 09, 2023

Haylee Graham: I have never thought I wanted to visit Amsterdam, but now I want to simply so I can step into David Wienir's words of the remarkable beauty, architecture, history and culture. This novel has evoked in me a sense of urgency -- not to rescue these women from their livlihoods, but to see them as the human beings they are. Not just them, either, but every person I come across. By the author doing just that, he saved a life. This story was beautifully written and beautifully told, and had me gushing with tears at the end. I highly reccomend for anyone wanting to be challenged by growth, friendships, and powerful life lessons all the while enjoying the scenery along the way. This novel will genuinely stay with me for many seasons and years to come!

United States on Aug 07, 2022

Amazon Customer: This book is a fabulous trip to Amsterdam without the ticket. David Weiner took me there for free and from the comfort of my living room. The sights and sounds - I felt them, saw them and lived them. I looked through David’s eyes as he went from moment to moment, adventure to adventure. The Red Light district was vividly alive and even more, I met a special young prostitute who captured my heart. This book has all the elements of a good tale and its a true story!

It’s an amazing story. I was given insight into a world I will never have the opportunity to know or see. The story engaged me from start to finish. It's clever, well written with multiple themes woven throughout and a good measure of humour and depth.

David is insightful, compassionate, descriptive, authentic. He is vulnerable and bold, philosophical and naive, and surprisingly effective. The story reveals a young man finding his way in life, blessed (or cursed) with the ability to see deeply into the constructs of society, morals, ethics and people…he asks bold questions and trys to solve age old problems.

He feels the ebb and flow, cycles and circles of life with the heart of an artist and...

Canada on Aug 24, 2021

Andrew Graham Sandor: While the title is "Amsterdam Exposed", it should really be "Wiener Exposed" if not for the unfortunate way that sounds. While the interview with the prostitute is a key part of the book, the real story is the internal journey that the author goes through as he grapples with his project of trying to uncover the humanity within the red light district. What makes it different is that the author is writing at a remove of almost 20 years from the events in question. It makes easier for him to see, to reckon with and to honor his own youthful naivete.

In any case, I should admit that I know the author. We were young lawyers together at Coudert Brothers just after the turn of the century. I wish I had known more about him when we worked together. I suspect I missed out on some very interesting conversations we could have had after work.

United States on Mar 02, 2021

Amazon Customer: Excellent book! Makes you feel like your in Amsterdam wish I could of read on and on as it leaves you wanting more!!

United Kingdom on May 10, 2020

KB: Ok but I thought it would be more factually informative

United Kingdom on Aug 14, 2019

Merauble: I really enjoyed this book. The author tells his tales of Amsterdam in a funny and interesting way, although the book has a deeper meaning. It shows the other side of red light district, the story of one lady's life the other side of the window, her struggles and disappointments, how she is perceived and how she is used. I didn't want this book to end, it was very well told, it made me feel like I was there with the author. I would recommend this book to anyone who has, or has not been to Amsterdam.

United Kingdom on Sep 12, 2018

Letty: I picked up this book because the cover art appealed to me, and because my sister spent several years in Amsterdam in the 70's, as the mistress of an older man who owned a hotel in the Red Light District. Like thousands of other young American tourists, in 1972 I too walked unconsciously through the District, gawking in fascinated disbelief and - having come of age in the 60's - not condemning the women who worked in the windows but also having no clue about the complexities of their lives.

Not knowing what to expect from the book, I found myself fully engaged by the author's honesty, vulnerable self revelations, skillful writing, and reflective insights from his year of unconventional study in Amsterdam. Turning the pages eagerly at every opportunity, I came to care deeply about what happened between him and the young prostitute who became the focus of his research, and of an unexpectedly complex connection. While acknowledging the prevalent stereotypes about "hookers" that he admittedly shared before beginning his research, the author's core belief in basic human dignity and worthiness is evident throughout his narrative, as his complex, sometimes confusing experiences...

United States on Jul 14, 2018

John Petty: So I read this book in anticipation of a trip to Amsterdam this summer. I'm not sure what I was expecting, but it certainly wasn't this.

In short, the book is about a young law student who spends a semester in Amsterdam, meets Emma, a beautiful but damaged prostitute, falls in love with her, but just as he does, has to return to America. I don't doubt that the author spent four months in Amsterdam - as a travelogue, this is a pretty good read - but the whole romance story strains credulity to within an inch of its life.

The author imbues the book with a strong "white savior" narrative, in which he not only wants to interview a prostitute to provide fodder for a book he wants to write, but wants to - and eventually does - "save" her from her horrible, disgusting, decadent lifestyle. The trope of a white American going into a foreign country is well-known and can be found in countless books, plays, TV shows, movies, etc., and Wienir sets himself up as the quintessential knight in shining armor, too pure to have sex with or pay a prostitute, while wise enough to convince the object of his ardor, his own Dulcinea, to give up her wicked ways after an evening of heartfelt...

United States on May 09, 2018

Readalot: David Wienir is astute about so many things: the expatriate temperament and experience; the characteristics and habits of the Dutch people; the topography and climate of the Netherlands; the ambiance of Amsterdam, night and day; the positives and negatives of relying on tourists for income; the single-mindedness of people living on the edge; the curiosity, gaucherie, and romanticism of the American abroad; the difference in the international world pre- and post- 9/11; the temporal yet lasting nature of relationships; and so much more.

Underlying this is a serious and moving investigation into the nature of the sex trade, eschewing judgement and avoiding facile explanations. Emma is an enigmatic but compelling character; as with the protagonist, the reader never really understands her but does come to care for her and hope her life brings her more happiness than she experienced up to 1999.

United Kingdom on May 02, 2018