“If you are lucky enough to have a stash of those tasty morsels known as graham crackers in your house, dip one in milk and, while chewing, recall that they were inspired by the work of the Rev. Sylvester Graham, the dietary reformer and temperance movement leader. Graham “saw a clear link between rich food and masturbation,” Lister writes. The graham cracker was “designed to bore the libido into submission.” Ditto the cornflake, invented by John Harvey Kellogg.”
‘A Curious History of Sex’ Covers Aphrodisiacs, Bicycles, Graham Crackers and More (Published 2020)
Kate Lister’s book is mostly a romp rather than an especially serious or comprehensive work of history or criticism.
nytimes.com