When Washington Post
humor columnist Weingarten (The Hypochondriac's Guide to Life. And Death
) paired up with Barreca (They Used To Call Me Snow White, But I Drifted
), a professor of feminism and women's humor at the Univ. of Conn., to "plumb important sociological verities," the ensuing result is this fairly predictable but entertaining he-said, she-said, literary battle of the sexes. Marked by a lively, irreverent tone and presented as an extended transcribed conversation between the two writers, the book explores topics ranging from infidelity and finances to bathroom differences and body image, in a friendly teasing style. While the underlying premise—men and women are alarmingly different—wears somewhat thin and feels gimmicky by the end, the book makes up for it with comedic highlights such as a gender test to see where one falls on the Betty Boop–Jesse Ventura continuum. Also fun are the authors' poems, lists of favorite vacation destinations with reasons and signs that sex has become too important in your relationship. (Feb.)
