Why Men Marry Some Women and Not Others

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 1. SEPT. 2003

Though the title makes this volume sound more like a Gone With The Wind-era admonition than a modern-day marriage manifesto, Molloy (Dress for Success) promises to"increase your chances of marrying by up to 60 percent" and teach women how to spot"ten warning signals that a man is never going to marry you." For the woman dedicated to landing a mate, this book does offer practical tips based on Molloy's interviews with thousands of engaged and married people. Some of the advice offered is common sense ("date eligible men,""if you want to meet men...pick a place where men really go"--i.e., a sports bar), but other suggestions have an unintentionally humorous effect. In the"Size Matters" section, Molloy writes:"Being overweight dramatically reduces your changes of attracting and marrying men... Naturally, there are many overweight women who do marry. We ran across dozens." Though he offers helpful chapters on relationship stages, open communication, divorced and widowed men and marriage after 40, Molloy's tone often makes it sound as if men do women a favor by marrying them."If you want to discuss marriage, you're probably going to have to bring the subject up, because many men never will," Molloy warns, and his book sets forth a straightforward plan for any marriage-minded woman willing to change her habits. For better or worse, Molloy proves that most men still choose mates based upon qualities that signaled the perfect bride in the Edwardian era: virtue, respectability and accomplishment.