As far as sex columnists are able to enter into mainstream media culture, Dan Savage may just be the most well received. This is especially true in Madison, as his “Savage Love” column has been one of hometown-favorite the Onion’s most lively and entertaining sections since he started writing it 10 years ago.

In 1998, Savage collected his columns into a book, entitled simply “Savage Love,” but he truly moved into the book-writing world with “The Kid,” his 2000 book detailing the process he and his boyfriend went through when adopting a child. “The Kid” is simultaneously humorous, touching and serious, much like a lot of Savage’s writing, and proved his versatility to a larger audience than his newspaper columns probably reach.

Then, in October 2002, Savage released “Skipping Towards Gomorrah: The Seven Deadly Sins and the Pursuit of Happiness in America.” In this first, hardcover-only edition, Savage waged a veritable war against conservative critics who claim America has lost its moral center. Even the book’s title is, in part, a response to the title of social-conservative Robert Bork’s 1996 book “Slouching Towards Gomorrah,” a veritable diatribe against what Savage claims makes up the “pursuit of happiness” first allotted to Americans in the Declaration of Independence.

Although “Skipping Towards Gomorrah” has sold well since its premiere, the higher price of the hardcover edition may have been off-putting to Savage’s prime audience — college-aged people. This problem is now remedied, though, with the recent release of a second, paperback edition that carries a lower price tag but contains the same great material.

From the introduction, it is clear that “Skipping Towards Gomorrah” is made up of the same kind of humorous, cutting-edge prose that makes up Savage’s columns and previous book. Stating the crux of his argument, Savage writes, “The truly revolutionary promise of our nation’s founding document is the freedom to pursue happiness-with-a-capital-H. Unfortunately, this promise is considered problematic by some Americans. The very pursuits that make some Americans happy (some very happy indeed) are considered downright sinful by social conservatives.”

Following this line of thought, and at the same time declaring the rights of every American to (safely, of course) pursue whatever it is that makes them happy, Savage sets out on an epic journey across the country, hunting down each of the “Seven Deadly Sins” and searching out people who garner their happiness from them.

First up is the sin of greed, which takes Savage to Las Vegas to examine gambling in America’s conveniently termed City of Sin. As he tries to teach himself how to win big (or just win at all) in some of the country’s largest monuments to money, he exposes how winning money, while just a hobby to some, becomes an entire lifestyle choice for others. And who are they hurting? In many cases, the answer seems to be no one.

Savage also tackles the other six sins (anger, lust, gluttony, envy, sloth and pride), and it seems he never has to look too far in his travels to find someone who lives his or her life content to experience happiness through an activity the conservatives Savage labels “virtuecrats” term immoral and sinful.

In the relatively quiet Chicago suburb of Buffalo Grove, for example, Savage examines the lives of swingers, and comes to the conclusion that “every evil action that conservatives accuse gays of — recruiting, cheating, living a ‘lifestyle’ — these married heterosexual couples are actually guilty of.”

Also notable is Savage’s trip to Texas to examine gun ownership in his discussion of anger. While touching on some of the same themes expressed in Michael Moore’s documentary “Bowling for Columbine,” Savage is able to dig deeper and question gun-ownership advocates’ reliance on some parts of the Constitution, but not others.

All in all, “Skipping Towards Gomorrah” is a compelling, interesting look at how “average” people in America live their lives, and successfully questions the definitions of happiness put forth by social conservatives. Savage’s trademark humor and his strong but not overly forceful arguments are sure to keep readers interested from page one. Now that “Skipping Towards Gomorrah” is available in paperback, don’t miss the chance to get a provocative read at a lower price.

Grade: A