Vermont Unveiled, Second Edition
by Jim C. Cunningham
© 1996 Naturist LIFE International,
Inc.
100 pages, 8.5" x 11",
softcover
Book Review
l Want a
book that will help you plan a skinny‑dipper's vacation in Vermont?
l Want a
book that offers a clear explanation of nudism that's characterized by both New
England practicality and world‑wise common sense?
l Want a
book that makes an equally good read for veteran, novice and wistful social
nudists, and "wanna be" alike?
l Want a
book that's filled to overflowing with some of the most gorgeous photographs of
people enjoying the timeless pleasure of skinny‑dipping?
Well, have I got the book for you!
My first thought before sitting down to read Jim's book
was that it would be a lovely picture book with some solid travel advice for
Vermont‑bound skinny‑dippers, but little more. The Second Edition
of Vermont Unveiled (VU2)
delivers wonderfully on these assumptions, to be sure, but I was delighted to discover
that it also holds much in store for those like myself who may never get the
chance to visit this part of the world except in our dreams. VU2 offers the
traveler colorful descriptions in words and pictures of more than forty of
Vermont's best skinny‑dipping sites. Also offered are several
recommendations for nudist‑friendly accommodations near to some of these
sites.
Jim begins his Prologue to VU2 thus:
"This book has two main
purposes. First of all, it is a practical guide to many of the wonderful places
you can go in the Green Mountain State to truly enjoy 'Vermont…naturally!' The
second, but not lesser, reason, is to convincingly impart a gymnosophy…that I,
and millions of others, have found very liberating and healthy in every way,
both personally and socially, from spiritual and moral health to physical,
psychological, and even social health. Here I impart this gymnosophy (or nudist
philosophy) both in words and artful pictures, which are themselves worth
thousands of words."
The extensive Prologue continues with a thorough
treatment of many of the "whys and wherefores" of conservative social
nudism. Unlike so many other nudist authors, Jim not only addresses the practical aspects but also the spiritual side of nudist practice. He
makes no attempt to hide his strong Christian faith in these pages, and for
that I am personally grateful. He frequently and successfully uses Scripture to
demonstrate the basis for a proper and Godly view of the human body.
There is much that is autobiographical in this book. Jim
relates many interesting experiences, ranging from how he long ago broached the
subject of nudity to his soon‑to‑be wife Maggie, to how he and
Maggie came to introduce the nudist lifestyle to a teacher who was at one time
boarding with them. As one would expect, there are also many stories about
family experiences at some of the skinny-dipping sites described in the book.
All of these experiences are shared with candor and humor. As with life in
general, much can be learned from "those who have gone before."
One problem that I have with many travel and nature books
is that after reading them you're often left with the impression that Eden
still exists. Experience has shown most of us that such places rarely measure
up to the glowing language used to describe them. Thankfully, VU2 is not that
kind of book. While the book paints a wonderful picture of Vermont's best
skinny‑dipping sites, it doesn't do so by way of "sugar
coating" them into something approaching perfection. Along with the
good—and there is much that is good—Jim addresses the bad: the problem of
gawkers, the dangers posed by the terrain at some sites, the fact that some
places are "buggy" at certain times of the year, etc. Jim also
laments the fact that many sites are less "nude" than they once were
and suggests that they need to be "reclaimed" for nude use by
visitors through unabashed yet considerate exposure of the body while sunning
and swimming.
As if the travel tips, beautiful images and explorations of
nudist philosophy aren't enough, Jim also includes some poetry as well as
"Thinkers' Thoughts on Nudism," a collection of thought‑provoking
quotations about the body and nakedness from an eclectic group of notables
ranging from Michelangelo to Mark Twain to Pope John Paul II.
Finally (and this addresses a particular pet peeve of
mine) there is at the end of VU2 a very thorough index. I can't tell you the
number of times that I've read otherwise excellent books only to find that the
author chose not to include an index which could be used to locate subjects of
particular interest. VU2's index only serves to make an excellent book even
better and more useful. Whether exploring the profound beauty of Vermont's
skinny‑dipping "swimmin' holes" or exploring the profound depth
of thought that underpins social nudism, Vermont Unveiled #2 is well worth your perusal.
Book review by John Kundert
Editor,
"Fig Leaf Forum"