In Defense of Women


Read by ML Cohen

(4.2 stars; 11 reviews)

In Defense of Women is H. L. Mencken's 1918 book on women and the relationship between the sexes. Some laud the book as progressive while others brand it as reactionary. While Mencken didn't champion women's rights, he described women as wiser in many novel and observable ways, while demeaning average men. According to Mencken's biographer, Fred Hobson: Depending on the position of the reader, he was either a great defender of women's rights or, as a critic labelled him in 1916, 'the greatest misogynist since Schopenhauer','the country's high-priest of woman-haters.' (Summary from Wikipedia) (4 hr 20 min)

Chapters

Introduction 14:43 Read by ML Cohen
I. The Feminine Mind 24:15 Read by ML Cohen
IIA. The War Between the Sexes (Part 1) 23:44 Read by ML Cohen
IIB. The War Between the Sexes (Part 2) 23:27 Read by ML Cohen
IIIA. Marriage (Part 1) 24:32 Read by ML Cohen
IIIB. Marriage (Part 2) 25:47 Read by ML Cohen
IIIC. Marriage (Part 3) 22:12 Read by ML Cohen
IVA. Woman Suffrage (Part 1) 21:46 Read by ML Cohen
IVB. Woman Suffrage (Part 2) 19:05 Read by ML Cohen
IVC. Woman Suffrage (Part 3) 24:11 Read by ML Cohen
VA. The NewAge (Part 1) 14:32 Read by ML Cohen
VB. The NewAge (Part 2) 22:26 Read by ML Cohen

Reviews

Cynicism and sweeping statements


(4 stars)

H L Mencken insults everyone! He claims that women are smarter than men, men are unstable and over-emotional, but good at earning a living, acknowledges (barely) male homosexuality, but maintains that every woman wants a man! It's not boring, that's for sure!