Book Review: In Defense of Women

In Defense of Women, by H. L. Mencken (1918).

I will admit, I've never picked or read a single piece of Mencken's works.  After this reading, I'll probably have to pick up every single writing he did, and read all of them.

Mencken wrote the piece around the era when women got the right to vote, and it was a all-in-one essay to cover women, marriage, and the various cynical episodes that occur.  The analysis and views from 1918?  It probably works just as well in 2014.

It's roughly 130 pages....readable in one weekend, and absolutely full of wit and humor.  Some women might have some negative comments to say, but he throws just as much mud on men....along with political figures, religious freaks, and do-gooders.

I'd strongly recommend it for a college class project.  For guys about to enter into marriage.....it might be a mandatory read.

H. L. throws one very interesting observation out on a page....suggesting that you could simply row the dice in some pub or public setting, and enter into the game of matrimony with some gal that you'd never met or talked to in your life....and the chances of a successful marriage were the same as if you dated her for several years.  To this.....I agree.   Maybe people think all this relationship stuff is complicated, and requires various introductions....but you could just as well work out this stuff on day two of the marriage, at least in my humble opinion.

So, if you were looking for a great read on relationships and women....by a cynical guy from 1918....this might be an interesting book to pick.