Regina Barreca

After reading this delightful, innovative, and very funny combined effort from Gene Weingarten and Gina Barreca, I’m surprised it’s not better-known.

Our two authors collaborate in a back-and-forth dialogue, each taking the side of his or her sex, trying to make the case that the members of the opposition are clearly at fault for all of those trivial arguments, and are maybe also insane. Although I believe Weingarten gets the better of most exchanges (well, as a man, I would), both show more writers hit many high points.

Topics range widely, but the humor never fails – this is a snappy, entertaining, and sometimes even thought-provoking study of human nature(s). The book is also cleverly edited and laid out, giving the impression of a real conversation in which wit can sparkle.

Recommended. show less

Okay, there are some really good things in here. But the focus on the "natural" choices women make and men make gets a little offputting, since none of the studies being done have been done on individuals not influenced by society. A couple of chapters of men's complaints about marriage would have been better if she would have included a statistical analysis of the reality, which shows that many of their complaints are unfounded. And she seems to accept without question the complaint men show more make that they are trapped or forced into marriage, and didn't really want to do it. The question comes up: Where did she find these men? Yeah, some men feel that way, of course. So do some women. Overall, the book wore out its welcome some time before it left. show less

This book cracked me up. Written from a perspective of one of the first female students to break into the Ivy League - specifically Dartmouth. Even in the world of females she felt like an outsider. She felt like Betty Boop in a world of Barbies.

The parts I remember best are the briefs overheard conversations. (from a male student) "We understand women's cycles. We know they happen every OTHER month." or "Quit crying. You're making my armpit wet."

She is a writer and has given me a framework show more ... a style which I can emulate. I was thinking the other day of writing a tell all about my work place. There are perhaps four or five people who have been there longer making me some kind of an expert. It should be fun to write; of course, I won't publish it anytime soon or I'll no longer have a job and perhaps not any friends. show less

I was really excited about the concept of Make Mine a Double when I read the Early Reviewers description. Drinking (or choosing not to drink) is often for complex reasons, and I was intrigued by the concept of looking at such reasons from a woman's standpoint.

Now having read it, I have to say I was somewhat disappointed. The tone of Make Mine a Double was overwhelming self-righteous. Maybe I'm sheltered, but I've never been looked down on because I drink. From the essays in this book, I now show more wonder if that is a rarity. Almost every author talks about the stigma of women drinking, how they have every right to drink. There are essays about being one of the boys and drinking as a mom, all with the tone "I have every right to be here! Stop judging me!" I just wanted to read one essay in which the author simply stated, "I drink because it is fun, judgement be damned."

Maybe that makes me a bad feminist. Still, I just wish a lot of these women would lighten up a bit. show less