The Modern Lover

October 1, 2004
Men's Health columnists Mollod and Tesauro want to raise the word "lover" to a broad respectability that connotes all the steps of the male-female relationship, from courtship through marriage and even fatherhood. This "twenty-something whistle-stop tour of amorous experiences" is thus a complement to their previous book, The Modern Gentleman. Despite the gentlemanly pretense, though, things aren't off-puttingly proper. The authors believe in wild oats and are full of advice for sowing them: comparing women to wines, for instance, they suggest trying "the mellowness of experience" as well as the "exuberance of youth," and the pleasures of oral sex are not neglected. The writing is generally a bit heavy on food metaphors--lots of tenderloin, dry fruit and even Campbell's soup (the quickie, which is highly recommended)--and rather too dense with metaphor in general. Furthermore, the sex tips can be more atmospheric than technically explicit. But young bachelors in search of mores rather than morals will find some playful and even sound advice here. A warning to women who want to peek: this book is definitely for men only: you may not like finding yourself referred to as a "between-meal snack" (no matter how "tasty") or stereotyped as the "flamboyant butterfly" or the "firestarter."

November 15, 2004
Gentlemen, uncap your highlighters! With The Modern Lover, lawyer Mollod and marketing director Tesauro offer helpful advice for navigating basic romantic issues and beyond. Here you will find delightful mini-treatises on any conceivable topic that may pop up in a single or a married man's lifetime, from conjugal prison visits to scoring points by tidying up at home. As in their prior The Modern Gentleman, the authors discuss best practices in language both refined and outrageous. Though some advice (e.g., regarding creating a decent wine collection) is a bit too complex for all but the most dedicated adherent, this book recommends a reasoned approach to most everything and is a pleasure to read. Mollod and Tesauro together write a monthly column for Men's Health magazine. On the other end of the spectrum is the considerably less slick Scott, a Houston attorney who advises men on the basics. With boyish exuberance, he demonstrates that getting a gaggle of dates is easier than pie. Chapters offer rudimentary how-to on being attractive (dress well, get in shape), ice breakers, sample compliments, and whom to approach (any woman you find attractive) and whom to avoid (women with rings). Scott's bluntness is sometimes unintentionally funny, e.g., the two-page chapter titled "Get Near Her" literally details the physical approach, much like a playbook for a caveman. Unrefined as it is, Scott's encouraging, reassuring work has homegrown charm and is an optional purchase for larger collections; Modern Lover is recommended for larger collections.

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.