Anyone here read "Are Men Necessary?"

[Sequoia]

I had the book on hold for some time at the library and when I got it I could not even finish the first chapter. I skipped ahead but it seems basically the same theme of old movies, men bashing and how smart women resort to tartish tendecies to snag a man. What a let down actually.

[SoFlaJet]

1. I gotta tell ya I couldn't get thru

the second chapter of Franken's new one without getting friggin depressed-sorry Al

[dusmcj]

2. men are from Mars, women are from Venus

you've got a p***y and I've got a p***s.

The politics of division and role definition always serve the same ends, no matter who applies them (maybe unwittingly or intending some other result) and in what venue they're applied.

Let's all work on being better human beings first instead of worrying about our masculine or feminine mystiques, and everything will work out OK, including all that silly stuff involving our nads.

[applegrove]

3. I didn't bother. Your lifestyle is your own. What works for her doesn't

work for many. Not fair to paint all men with one brush.

[Sequoia]

4. Indeed.

While I may bash men from time to time I adore them anyway. I find this sort of writing very depressing. Plus, they were so fun to play with when I was a kid and hated to go into that new game of hunter vs. prey crap.

[applegrove]

5. Hunter vs. Prey? What are you talking about? People putting their hearts

on the line is life - but not everyone wants to go that way. Some people choose to put their hearts into other things than the scene.

I don't think to use hunter & prey to discuss the dating scene is fair. Like I said - you cannot pain all men with the same brush. There are narcisistic freaks out there who will try and destroy your life because when you talked with them for a bit one night - you were not impressed with their control, enjoyment of making you struggle, lying and then to top it off - a narcisistic explotion of rage when you got up and left after a torurous hour or two - having already gotten up and left once already. Maybe 1 in 500, or 1 in 10,000 - but they do exits and they do hunt & stalk and prey and try and destroy somebodies life for years in a row because somehow you didn't quite fit into the mold of an abused woman and had your own life. And when caught then they continue to destroy all around so as to hide their true nature and dangerous nature. Not fun when a paranoid abuser like that independantly and with no encouragement or knowledge on your part ... puts you into his life and his fears of the authorities and his rage. Not funny at all. And it does go on. Look at the stats of domestic violence or murders of women. Go into any city and there will be a park filled with markers for woman killed by such monsters.

I've never thought of dating as hunting & prey. Stalking is stalking and it is not funny or normal. It is terrifying. It is a crime.

Getting to know people quickly is not an option for everyone on the planet. Neither is going through people quickly. I'm just saying I don't like her painting all men with the same brush. She may be intellectual to such an extreme that it is hard for her to find peace in a relationship. That happens too. I'm sure women who buy and enjoy her book will learn something from her experiences. But everyone is different. I wish she wouldn't generalize. But then I suspect the title had more to do with selling books. Don't know - will never read it.

[CAcyclist]

6. No , but I read Men Are Not cost-Effective nt

[StellaBlue]

7. I read the proof

a thoughtful friend mailed it to me (shhh?)... and I wasn't overly impressed. I don't think she's that bright. I read it all in one night... it was diversionary, but not particularly clever or 'new'... too much name-dropping, too. blaaah