Customer Reviews

Committed: Men Tell Stories of Love, Commitment, and Marriage

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I received this book as a gift from my fiancee-to-be, and I can't think of reading I've enjoyed more this year. Committed is a wonderful collection of testimonials from men about how they fell in love, and how they have stayed in love, in some cases for decades. In this book, 17 men let you in on their journeys of marriage, parenthood, fidelity and dealing with death in the family. Anyone, man or woman, who believes all men cheat, stray and lack the ability to stay monogamous should read this book and rejoice. Committed is proof positive that there are men who truly love their wives, and through the ups and downs of marriage, work hard at making their relationships last.

This was terrific reading and a great gift I will TREASURE forever. Highly recommended, especially for a man who is on the brink of getting engaged, as I am.

Seventeen stories document men's search for, discovery of, and commitment to lasting love. The best reveal personal experiences that provide insight into particular aspects of the human heart. Standouts include Rick Moody's "Companion Species," about his emotional evolution from lonely cat-hater to happily married cat lover; David Sedaris's "Old Faithful," a hilarious battle with a boil; and Colin Harrison's moving "Incision," recounting his father's illness and death. The book is a poignant reminder that indeed, men are from Earth (not Mars), and love is both mysterious and necessary.

I'd have to say the stories are very uneven in their quality and approach. There's a variety of styles and some of the contributions are just downright boring. McManus, Seabrook, and a couple of others are the exception. Strangely, most of the seventeen authors all seem to be Jewish or Irish, but perhaps that just reflects the "big city" flavor that permeates almost all of the stories; that, and the fact that most take place in the 60s and 70s. I'm not so sure we can draw any significant conclusions in this decade from men whose experiences have Vietnam, Nixon, and the drug culture as a backdrop, and the authors themselves are not exactly household names. Spend you money elsewhere.