Men to Avoid in Art and Life

Hilarious! Men to Avoid in Art and Life is the perfect gift book for any snarky badass in your life. If you've ever been one of the people who quietly snickers at art museums, you've got to have this one. Five Stars!

I'm not really sure how to rate this book. On one hand I found it offensive, but on the other hand I found it a bit of fun. It was rather a rocky start for me personally, but then The Comedian helped break the ice. I thought that and The Patroniser were the best. This book won't be everyone's cup of tea but I can see there being an audience for it.

Funny and witty. A quick take on gender roles as critiqued through classical art, I would probably keep this as a coffee table book, allowing access for quick perusing and quick chuckles to anyone who would glimpse it's cover.

This book is humorous and engaging. The author uses beautiful paintings and hilarious captions to lampoon men and their foibles. Thoroughly enjoyable!

Who'd have thought that so much of art history is actually just the mansplainer, with the roguish chap leaning into the well-presented woman and telling her where women go wrong, or where her attitudes to being leered at suck, or how women, you know, just aren't funny? Here's proof that it's gone on for a lot longer than we thought, and out in the open too – hung on gallery walls, and given approval by being the thing to see and therefore be seen doing. This book offers up a lot of examples of it, with what is allegedly the original captions and dialogue (sorry, monologue) splurged across them. And you know something else, for a novelty gift humour book, this is actually pretty damned funny – veering a bit towards the crude for some tastes in the chapter on the sexpert, but getting the right point across in the right way, and generally gifting the ideal words to the right image, and showing some forethought. What's more surprising still, perhaps, is the wealth of different images – yes, they're all of a type, generally staid portraits, with far too many King Charles Spaniels, but even the art expert will find some of them new to her. I don't know if it's the act of taking them out of the galleries and putting them in this context, but a lot of them do look a bit rapey, but that's a bit too serious for a funny/serious novelty book like this. I don't know what you gain by having this and not relying on the author's tw*tter series of such images, but I for one enjoyed it. I did wish that the attribution was there with each image and not in a list at the end, but still, four and a half stars.

***Thanks to the publisher and Netgalley for providing me with a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review***
This book cracked me up! The commentary went perfectly with the art and it makes me wonder a little about the context of the art in real life.

Men to Avoid in Art and Life was great, feminist fun! A hilarious take on famous paintings, this book had some truly brutal one-liners and i'm definitely here for it. From menstrual cramps to sexual harassment, to all the ways women go wrong, these oil painted mansplainers give some eye rolling advice to their female companions.

As a bit of an art nerd, I appreciated the different art styles represented in the book. Though each page shows a portrait, the variety in terms of art movements was abound. Alas, I did find it a bit disappointing that the source of the paintings were not included on each page but instead stuck at the end, in a list. I do get that it's for the aesthetic. But I would have enjoyed to see the sources as I flipped through this book, because it is as much a look at the art as it is the snarky male comments.

Overall, I enjoyed the humorous anecdotes in this book, and it will definitely make me look twice next time i'm strolling through a museum.

An okay book to browse when you have nothing to do. Some funny comments next to the paintings. I do think you should be American to get them all. Don't expect a lot out of this book.

Saw this on @netgalley and had to peruse it and see what #art was used. This would be the perfect book to buy for your best office girlfriends. I have several former coworkers that I know would display this proudly on their desks! 📚📚📚 #reading #picturebook #booklover #bookreview #bookrecommendations #MentoAvoidinArtandLife #netgalley

This is a wonderful hilarious book for all women suffering from the men of the internet. It got that classical art memes feel to it, as the author chose a number of beautiful classic paintings to add some common sentences used by different types of men, online or IRL.

They're split into: The mainsplainer, The concern troll, The "comedian", The sexpert, and The patronizer. It was fun and I thank netgalley for the digital arc.

I'm typically a pretty big fan of everything Chronicle puts out, and this is no exception! A delightfully bitter little book that will get a laugh out of anyone.

This was a quick, fun read. The pairings of the classic art with the typical misogynistic quotations were relatable and definitely reminded me of the eye-rolling experiences I’ve had with men like this- especially some of those in the Comedian section.

This book will be available August 11. Thanks to NetGalley for the advanced reader digital copy.

I cannot even express how much I loved this book. Not only were the paintings nice to look at but the captions were spot on!
I laughed at most captions while some had me cringing at how accurate they are.
I've been recommending this book to all my friends. I will definitely purchase this book! I can't wait to see more from this author.

We've all seen the memes floating around of classical paintings with a woman rolling her eyes, a man seemingly unaware of her displeasure, and a witty (modern) comment attached to it. I wasn't aware of Tersigni as the trend-starter, but I'm always amused by the memes when I come across them, so I was looking forward to a full coffee table book of them.

Some of the paintings-paired-with-comments were indeed bitingly funny, but others were quite hit-or-miss for me, not really outrageous enough to be hilarious. The book tries to "unify" the memes by putting them in categories of "men to avoid" (The Mansplainer, The Concern Troll, The Patronizer etc.), but a good amount of both comments and paintings seemed somewhat interchangeable. The "new" pairing of paintings and comments did make me look more closely at the paintings than I might have otherwise, and they're honestly fascinating in their own right - both for the low-key exasperated women and, more generally, for the types of scenes they depict ("the drawing lesson"? okthen).

In other news, I spent half the book totally distracted by the various animals in the paintings (the doves in that one post-coital scene? sure!), but I'm always distracted by puppies, so I guess that was to be expected. ;)

Just in terms of the book's layout, I found it well-designed but would have preferred the source paintings to have been named on their respective pages, rather than in a list at the end of the book. Flipping back and forth would have been quite time-consuming (especially in a digital format), and I did often find myself wondering where the paintings had come from.

This book is full of classic art combined with modern/timeless captions. I didn't know whether to laugh or cringe! It would be a fun gift for an art fan or any woman who's heard "well, actually" one too many times.

Fine art plus captions suggesting what the man has just said to the woman, which may be come-on or condescension but is never anything good. It is essentially one joke, and doesn't even include my favourite of the genre ("Are you a software update because not right now"), which may have been someone else working from the same idea. But dear heavens, there's a definite skill at work here, matching each painting's expression (weary sigh, resigned, desperately attempting to retain composure) to just the right inciting idiocy.

(Netgalley ARC)

This collection of famous art mixed with observations and snarky comments about men gave me quite a few laughs. Given the pandemic, that makes it worth a recommendation. Very funny!

This book is so funny and sadly accurate. There's some sad comfort in knowing that I'm not the only one who has has some of these phrases directed to me. I'd buy this book in bulk and give it out as a gift to bosses, exes, annoying friends of friends, and those guys you meet in airports.

Taking a break from the depressing and morbid reads, I requested this short non-fiction humorous read that combined classical fine art with memes and mansplaining - it was a glorious and light hearted interlude in-between all of the current chaos and disappointing reads I was picking up. Who doesn't love memes? My favourite kind of memes have to be the historical or classical art memes so this book was perfect for me. I definitely recommend this book, especially as a funny book to gift to friends or family. It was a very short read and I'm glad I requested it from Netgalley! If you have a blog and review books, definitely check out Netgalley as you might be able to read books before they are published for free.

Men to Avoid in Art and Life is a very funny and beautiful book that I would definitely gift to some of the women in my life.

This was quick and fun, and simply a book of memes basically. I do love browsing art and therefore enjoyed looking at the pictures and reading the clever, funny captions that mainly make fun of mansplaining and misogyny. Tough to critique a book of just pictures and funny captions, felt a bit like scrolling through a funny "feminist memes" reddit page and I enjoyed it.

Love the premise and as a woman who has endured "mansplaining" on more than one occasion, it is overdue! Front cover is great!

You’ll laugh, you’ll cry, you’ll flash an areola.

It all started with a strategically exposed tit.

Based on a twitter thread started by writer Nicole Tersigni, MEN TO AVOID IN ART AND LIFE pairs classic paintings (some of them creepy AF all by their lonesomes) with the gross things men say to women in the wild. From the always popular “you’d be so much prettier if you smiled” to the very meddlesome breastfeeding instructional, MEN TO AVOID IN ART AND LIFE is a veritable smorgasbord of white male privilege and awfulness.

There are your MANSPLAINERS:
http://www.easyvegan.info/img/men-to-avoid-03.jpg

Your CONCERN TROLLS:
http://www.easyvegan.info/img/men-to-avoid-06.jpg

Wannabe COMEDIANS:
http://www.easyvegan.info/img/men-to-avoid-07.jpg

So-called SEXPERTS:
http://www.easyvegan.info/img/men-to-avoid-08.jpg

And, not to be outdone, PATRONIZERS:
http://www.easyvegan.info/img/men-to-avoid-09.jpg

Books based on memes and Twitter feeds can sometimes be a little repetitive – too much of a good thing, etc. – but not so here. With just 76 pairings, this is a quick read that left me craving more. Sadly, there’s no dedicated Twitter feed where you can whet your appetite, just the original thread. Still, it’s something.
fwiw, I have no idea why they omitted “thanks I’m gay now” by norman rockwell from the book; this is something that will keep me up at night.

Ditto: https://twitter.com/nicsigni/status/1125453281344540674

Really the only thing that could have made this book better is if Tersigni paired this with screenshots of actual tweets. Still, it works. What woman among us hasn’t had a painfully unfunny joke explained back to us ad nauseam, as if the teller’s sexism will suddenly metamorphose into a sidesplitter upon the umpteenth retelling?

OMG this book is hilarious! You have to buy it for all the feminist friends in your life. It is the perfect gift and I will definitely be getting a copy for my sister. She's going to love it. If you've ever looked at those awkward expressions in old paintings and wondered what the subjects could possibly be thinking, this book will make you howl with laughter. And yes, you might actually learn a little something about art as all the art and artists get their full credit (naturally).

I enjoyed looking at all of the artwork in this book. The faces the women are making in the paintings are actually really hilarious. I find it strange that the artists wanted them to look the way they did for the sitting. Most of them looked absolutely bored out if their minds.

This is one of those books you pick up that you can finish rather quickly and enjoy a chuckle here and there. I really liked the reference pages at the end that tell you where all of the art pieces are throughout the world. I would live to go see some of them in person while traveling.

This was indeed funny, and I enjoyed the art. It also made me want to strangle someone at times though :-) The humor was biting, sarcastic, and just what I needed for a change while locked down at home for this virus that seems never ending. I’m thinking I need to read humor more often now. Thanks. Advanced electronic review copy was provided by NetGalley, author Nicole Tersigni, and the publisher.

As an artist, I am always looking to find interesting books about visual arts, design techniques and unique takes on the arts. This book, while featuring some great artworks, isn't. While I might be accused of mansplaining, my only intent is to leave a review. The artwork I loved, the humor not so much. Well, maybe it was just a little funny...

Than again, should I put myself in their (female) shoes...

Thanks for the ARC, which I go in exchange for an honest review.

Very amusing with gorgeous color plates. Would make a fun coffee table or bathroom book.

Thanks to NetGalley for providing a ARC copy for my review.

An absolutely hilarious gift to the world. I loved flicking through Men to Avoid in Art and Life and rolling my eyes at the intensely relatable scenes. Next time I'm in a gallery, I'll look out for (or rather, swerve), men to avoid. This would be a great hashtag on Insta!

This book is for every woman who's ever been told they'd be much prettier if only they smiled. Honestly, I could relate to so many of the women in these portraits, especially given the dialogue Tersigni used to accompany these classic paintings. I would be hard-pressed to find a woman who hasn't been subjected to at least some of the examples given in this book of men to avoid.

Nicole Tersigni's idea for Men to Avoid in Art and Life is fun and silly and sure to bring a smile to the women in your life. She takes classic art and adds captions to bring some more modern sensibilities to the fore. She divides the book into sections dealing with mansplaining, sexperts, and misplaced concern.

This is funny stuff, even if it does base its humor on stale stereotypes about male attitudes and behaviors. Only the thinnest skinned man will be offended, and men and women alike will get a chuckle about the familiarity of the scenarios. (But it's other men, not me. . . .)

By the way, for the art lover, she provides a listing of the works and artists, as well as the museums where the are found.

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for the complimentary electronic review copy!

These pairings of paintings and captions made me laugh out loud. It will be a great gift to give good friends. Thanks to NetGalley for an ARC of this book.

Nicole Tersigni has been attacking in all directions, for years. Men, life, her husband, her family, men, confinement, men … everything. Now she has collected her thoughts in a cartoonish little book called Men to Avoid in Art and Life. It’s a delightful small collection of scenes magnified out of classic European paintings, with Tersigni’s jaundiced captions over them.

Maybe I shouldn’t say jaundiced. That would come from a neutral observer. What they are really are finely targeted and accurate attacks on men abusing women out of total ignorance. Very little exaggeration was necessary to make her captions funny; men already provide. Free.

The book is divided into chapters of paintings, collecting men’s sins into neat buckets: The Mansplainer, The Concern Troll, The Comedian, The Sexpert, and The Patronizer.

The scenes are centered around a woman in a painting, with a man hovering while overexplaining something at her. The really great thing about the paintings is that Tersigni has found women who are just done. Tired of hearing the prattle, fed up with playing the bimbo, or holding off from a slew of expletives for lack of an AR-15 or a Deathstar. They look on, often breaking the fourth wall, like Jack Benny dumbfounded by the noise passing for information.

I leave you with a sampling:
“We’ve been over this a million times. You can’t get pregnant if you’re on top. It’s called gravity.”
“No one wants to see a woman with body hair. It’s unnatural.”
“Let me tell you something about the female body…”
“I know it’s hard for women to sit quietly. But close your eyes and listen. You might learn something.”
“…and women don’t have to be funny, because men are already attracted to them. That’s why only ugly women can tell a joke worth a damn. Anyway, nice to meet you. I’m Bob.”

David Wineberg

Men to Avoid in Art and Life is a title too tempting to resist. I saw it on NetGalley and could not stop myself from having a look at it.

The idea is to pair classical paintings of couples with funny captions relating to men's behavior.

It is interesting how the author collected paintings where women seemed truly annoyed, bored, astonished or simply fed up.

Some jokes were better than others, but overall I enjoyed this book.

On a side note, I wish the information about the paintings was easily accessible. I had to keep going to the end of the book to find the names of those unknown to me.

This is hysterical (omg please send me a physical copy!). I can already think of a few people that will be getting this as gifts. They need it! They are strong women who get mansplained constantly and I know will appreciate this.

Men to Avoid in Art and Life is a collection of paintings depicting men and women with the author's interpretation of sayings that the women may have been hearing at the time of the painting. Each woman's expression was so perfectly matched to the man's quote that it was easy to believe! As for the book itself, I loved this book! As a fan of art I not only appreciated the beautiful images, but I loved how each quote was perfectly paired with the painting. And sadly many of the quotes reminded me of the times I had heard the quote myself, but it helped to know that I was no alone! I simply loved this book and can't wait to gift it to the perfect friends in my life!

This was the perfect funny short book I needed to cheer up during quarantine.

Nicole Tersigni has created a great blend where the reader can enjoy beautiful works of art, while at the same time laughing because of the oh-too-real dialogues that shouldn't feel so relatable.

A cross between satire, classical fine art and gender study, "Men to Avoid in Art and Life" is a sarcastic portrayal of what the term "mansplaining" looks like in the eyes of contemporary women. Have you ever followed those meme pages where people in fine art are "saying" totally absurd things? That's precisely what we find in this book - but very much an extended version, under the hashtag #feminism.

I cringed and laughed my way through this book in the best way possible. I have never related to women in fine art more and therefore had an unstoppable urge to share some of the content with friends. One could argue that making jokes of misogyny is potentially problematic, but Tersigni skillfully avoids that trap by simply roasting the very misogynistic subjects. Some of the things they say are:
“We’ve been over this a million times. You can’t get pregnant if you’re on top. It’s called gravity.”
Or my favorite:
"Most girls only get an unsolicited look at my dick in their DMs. You're lucky you get one in person."

At the same time, the (probably mostly millennial) readers get a rare chance to admire classical art, which they can later identify through a handy index at the end of the book. However, I wish there was a bit more art history content to keep the reader involved such as intriguing facts about the artists - better yet, some absurd facts about the artists to keep up with the satirical theme.

That being said, this book is clearly not for everyone. Buy it for yourself or your feminist friends, but avoid sharing it with generally conservative people.

*Thank you to the Publisher for a free advance copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Capturing the zeitgeist perfectly. Funny, sarcastic, and relevant, this makes for a light read and a perfect present.

This is a hilarious art book. So many of the captions are very relatable for women everywhere. The captions matched the art well. If you like art and feminist commentary - you will love this. It was a nice break from covid-19. I will probably get a copy for my coffee table.

This book is hilarious. The paintings chosen were perfect, and the captions capture pretty much whatever I think is happening in the painting when I go to this room of the museum. I have always wondered why exactly the women were so bored and miserable, and this book has specific answers. This is the kind of art history book I would like to have on my shelf. I wish so many of these painting events had not actually happened to me in real life.

Thanks to Chronicle Books, Nicole Tersigni, and NetGalley for this fun read, in which I got to educate myself about art while making fun of it at the same time.

Are you a woman trying to live your best modern life and just tired of the patriarchy? When you go to museums, do you enjoy laughing at classical art, saying "oooh, poor girl, I feel your pain!"? This is a hilarious book is for you! I don't know what else to say than that you must excuse me, I have to run off and pre-order this book for all of my friends and family.

Thanks to Netgalley, for providing a digital copy of this book, in exchange for an honest review.

As a fan of beautifully and amazing trend of taking classical art pieces and adding contemporany texts, I enjoyed reading this book. A bit too short in my opinion, makes for a fast read to get some laughs and good meme material. I wish it had had more written content, as the introduction was quite well writen, and made me laugh, but alas, it’s not that kind of book. Nonetheless, Nicole Tersigni managed to represent through photographs, in very few words, those delightless moments in which you are bothered by the men represented in this book.

If you want a quick laugh and a not-so-in-deep reflection of feminism, this is a very good companion, that may also work as an introduction to some concepts before digging in the world of feminism, if you feel so inclined.

“Men to Avoid in Art and Life” will be published on August 11th, by Chronicle Books.

A mini art course that will make you laugh out loud. Includes a few super famous works but in general the paintings are lesser known. I rate that a plus as it was fun to discover something new. I wish the footnotes naming the title and artist had been on the same page. Hilarious all the same.

When I tried to post my review on amazon it said "this item is not eligible for review"

Thanks to NetGalley and the publisher for an advance copy of this book!

Buy it for your coffee table, your guest bathroom, your work wife, the person in your contacts that you're always exchanging memes with. Men to Avoid in Art and Life is perfect for them ALL. This book is chock full of the hilarious, cringe inducing, relatable memes that made Nicole Tersigni Twitter-famous - ones that take classic art and pair them with mansplain-y captions that will make you laugh and sigh, because, well...all know that guy, don't we?

This book was so great! It was really funny. Combining the classic artwork with could-be current quotes was brilliant! This would be a great gift. I loved it.

I really enjoyed this funny look at mansplaining. I love those internet memes where people caption classical paintings and this book delivered much of the same humor. It has me rolling my eyes and busting out laughing in equal measure. A fun, quick look at one of the most annoying issues women have faced throughout history.

Do you ever wonder what the women are thinking, in the classic paintings. Nicole has come up with some funny thoughts on the subject, as the Men explain, and patronize, and generally annoy.

It take on new life, when you see them set with paintings you are both familiar and unfamiliar with. What is really funny is the paintings are not altered, at all, and yet the women really do look as though they are thinking what the caption says they are thinking.

Good book to have around, on the coffee table.

Thanks to NetGalley for making this book available for an honest review.

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing a digital copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

While personally I don't think that being on the other end of a mansplainer is really a gender specific thing. I've been privy to a few conversations between male friends where one launches into a mansplain of the century, the difference is that they tend to verbally swat the other to avoid that territory. Women, sadly, aren't so lucky just like the women in these classic works of art paired with a funny mansplanation, if you would.

The art was lovely and the accompanying text elicited anything from an eye-roll to a giggle. I'm pretty sure I saw Jesus mansplaining to a woman by a well. The background of the pages are black and the text is black with a white background. Fairly simple layout, the paintings are skewed a little so at times they are off to the side and others they fill up the page.

There is a glossary in the back crediting the artwork and the artists along with the location of the piece, but I think it would have been better to add those tidbits of information under the manplaination so you don't have to go back and forth when you find a piece that you like.

Any criticisms aside, it was funny and I really enjoyed the selection of paintings. My favorite quote was something along the line of, "I didn't know you read real literature. I thought it was all romance novels."

This was funny and I liked how the paintings matched the text. It was a very quick read since there isn't
much text on the pages, it's short and quick but it does gets its point across.

Nicole Tersigni has created this little delight, based upon her well-known Twitter thread of the same name. For readers unfamilar with the latter, Tersigni cleverly pairs examples from the last 500 years of European art with appropriately illustrative statements attributed to the male characters. Examples are grouped into the categories "The Mansplainer", "The Concern Troll", "The Comedian", "The Sexpert" and "The Patronizer". Any woman who has lived in the modern world (and by the look of the facial expressions, many in times past, also) will be all-too familiar with the situations and sentiments depicted.
The artistic examples Tersigni has chosen are absolutely perfect for her material - the reader can't fail to sympathise (and empathise) with the recipients of all this masculine "insight".
Hilarious, and will prove a lovely addition to the collection of art lovers and feminists alike. Also a great gift idea.
Thanks to the author, Chronicle Books and NetGalley for the opportunity to review an advance copy.
#MentoAvoidinArtandLife #NetGalley

Mansplainers, concern trolls, "comedians", sexperts, and patronizers, beware. Those aren't just the dregs of the male society; they're also the names of the chapters in this funny short read. Classical art combined with the wit of a modern woman and captioned with those chapter names, what more could I have asked of this book?

The preface is a hoot. There's also a glossary at the end that identifies the paintings reproduced in this book.

I LOVED this!
Since I am an Art History student I enjoyed seeing the art, but what I enjoyed, even more, is the way the author managed to find a fitting and very true caption to put next to the painting!
I recommend this one to everyone! To those who will get the joke and to those who won't (in the hope this will open their eyes even a little bit).

I might buy this when I get the chance...

I adore art history humor. The author was able to say so much with just a few words on each painting. Definitely will recommend to my female (and male) friends who want to take down the patriarchy!

This was hilarious! Whoever thought of making this a book is a genius.. I've always looked at paintings and wonder what those people must really be thinking and this was a great spin on it. I'd definitely buy it as a gift for one of my girlfriends!

Delightful and entertaining. Funny, humorous, wry and nice to look at. Really grabs attention and I loved that I stumbled across this beautifully done book.

I never saw the viral tweets of Tersigni, so I went in with an open mind. I looked forward to this one, as it is a combination of things I enjoy a lot (or are interested in): art and feminism. The artwork on the cover is appealing, and so is the description of it.

I commend all books that make people look at art, as I believe more people should do so in the first place. The title sounded intriguing, and I couldn't wait to get started.

However, it just wasn't for me. Maybe it was because of my background in art history that I couldn't put my mind off the idea a lot of the as quotes presented texts felt misplaced. During my studies, I might have been ruined to read books like this, because I was always encouraged to find the story behind the paintings. In this case, it felt the quotes didn't have any link with the paintings, and they often left me kind of confused.

If the paintings and quotes would have been matched better, I would have loved it. The same goes for adding the paintings information at the page where it was shown, so I wouldn't have to go back and forth to the list in the back. Also, the foreword made the lighthearted book much more heavy to start with, and got me up to the point I actually wasn't interested anymore in reading any further. It read like an ongoing attack to men in general and myself as a reader, and the tone just didn't do it for me.

If you don't think that much about the backstory of the paintings and want a fun, light read; go ahead, this one is for you. If you are ruined by your schooling just like I was, maybe pick up another book.

- Thanks to Netgalley and Chronicle Books for an ARC in exchange for my honest review -

Men to avoid in Art and Life is a hilarious and a fun take on what a woman has to go through everyday.
The constant mansplaining which gets the better of men in most situations is discussed in here with a jolly and exciting to read writing style!
I especially loved the title of the book which made me pick it up in the first place! It's funny and totally someone would go over atleast if they saw it in a bookstore.
The language of the book was easy to understand and the words flowed creating a relatable image in the reader's head.
I loved that important issues were discussed with such a hilarious point of view.
All in all, it was a great book that I'd read on my sad days with music on in the background!

This book has very expressive and funny art pictures of women and their faces when hearing outrageous one-liners from five types of men to avoid: "The Mainsplainer, The Concern Troll, The "Comedian", The Sexpert, and The Patronizer." I liked how the paintings here showed their emotional reactions to such behaviors, which can be found not only virtually but also on the everyday real world.

Such books are necessary and important. I imagine that most women can relate to it because at certain points in their lives they heard very similar phrases and were judged 'without a sense of humor' when they didn't humbly smile back. This book is not only about the past, but the present too.

I would like to thank NetGalley and Chronicle Books for providing me a copy of this book in exchange for an honest review.

Here’s a thing that can’t be said for many books: Men to Avoid in Art and Life started as a Twitter thread. In 2019, comedy writer Nicole Tersigni posted a series of tweets to her account where she paired classical paintings with phrases almost every woman will have heard at one point or another, when a man, unprompted, insists on explaining to you a subject you probably know far more about. Such is the art of mansplaining. From this idea, a book was born.

I couldn’t resist the title of this book, and the premise was so hilarious on its own
that I knew I had to get my hands on it immediately. The concept is original, and Tersigni has done a splendid job of finding images that perfectly reflect the feelings the accompanying captions provoke; it is always interesting to see classical imagery paired with modern themes, as by doing so this book emphasizes the tribulations women still have to experience every day, and how much still needs to change, regardless of how far we think we’ve come, when it comes to the treatment of women in society and how they are viewed by men as intellectually inferior. Unfortunately though, while the phrases in this book are depressingly relatable (which is very much the point), not all the jokes land, and some of the language could do with being a bit less on the nose to avoid becoming repetitive. Furthermore, as this is as much a visual experience as it is written, some more exploration on the design of the pages and variation/creativity in how the quotes are presented would’ve greatly enhanced the message and enjoyment of this book.

All in all, a fun read and ingenious concept that needs improvements to its execution.

This was a relatable and funny book. I laughed at most of the comments made in this book and found them to go perfectly with the art.

Nicole is a genius for connecting art with the things guys say to women.

Memes using captions added to famous artwork are a capital T Thing at the moment, and Nicole Tersigni has done an admirable job capitalizing on that moment in Men to Avoid in Art and Life, focusing here meme-like creations on the dreaded mansplainers and other toxic men found on the internet and sometimes even <eek!> in real life.

Some of the captions are more clever and apropos than others, and while some seem like a perfect fit with the paintings they’re paired with, others feel like a stretch or in a few cases, a complete mismatch.

Still, the overall concept is a good one, and the book is sure to provide a few guffaws to the viewer, though I’m not sure this will age well once memes are no longer all the rage.

This would be a fun gift for someone who loves art history and the feminist humor of the Reductress.

Best enjoyed in small doses, "Men to Avoid in Art and Life" would make a good coffee table book because as funny as some of the jokes are, not all of them land or match well with the images. References to Wikipedia and other modern concepts felt out of place and like the paintings were merely afterthoughts. Still, I had fun reading this one and I can name about ten friends who would definitely get a kick out of it.

Very simple but funny to read all the paintings with captions. Art was fantastic. Quite simply great to bring a smile to your face.

Loved this so much! From the beginning to the end so relatable. What a great job putting together the tired nonsense we have been hearing since before those paintings were created I’m sure.

It is really hard to determine what I laughed hardest to: the amazing content of this wonderful book or the men in the reviews whose feelings were hurt because of this book.

As a professional working woman and an educated individual, this book hit home on so many levels. In some cases it was funny - some quotes I have heard word by word not just once. In others, it made me angry and honestly a bit hopeless.

The book positions the men to avoid in five neat categories: the mansplainer, the concern troll, the comedian, the sexpert and the patronizer. How ridiculous is it that I did not even had to see any of the painting to know what type of behavior were they referring to? I know these men. I have heard those jokes. They are colleagues, acquaintances, friends, even family.

In what seems like a casual tone, this book raises up important aspects of the every day reality of women. The absolute amazement when a male doctor in ER tells you that you are being dramatic right before you pass out from pain because you have endometriosis. The confusion of being a professional woman who is either too pretty to be taken serious or too cold to be liked. The despair of being passionate about a topic but having that passion be perceived as being bossy and ultimately alienating.
My one criticism for this book is it focus purely on white women. White feminism has long excluded people of color and I would love to see a future edition that recognizes and includes their stories.
Some of my favorites:
"You might have a PhD in the subject, but according to this Wikipedia article I briefly perused..."
"Here's a song I wrote called 'If You Can't Orgasm from Vaginal Penetration You're Probably a Lesbian, Linda'."
"Let me explain to you something about the female body"
"Careful with all that equality talk. You don't want to grow up and be a feminist"

A highly amusing collection of art memes - nothing you haven't seen on Twitter, but hilarious nonetheless. Would make a good coffee table book if you're ever in need of a laugh.

Such a hilarious take to classical art! On one side, you have outstanding works of classic art, on the other, their representations of women and men and that untold mystery surrounding them - especially because everything is left to your imagination. Both sides of the story are united in this book when words were added do ´explain´ some of the men attitudes. This cartoonish take on classical art - authored among others by Toulouse Lautrec, Louis David, Watteau, Degas, Jan Steer, Adrien van Ostade. The target are the men from the paintings - categorized into: The Mansplainer, The Concerned Troll, The Comedian, The Sexpert, The Patronizer - and their supposed attitude with the women around them. An example: ´I think you should let me present your idea/You´re so beautiful, it´s distracting`.
On a serious note, it may offer some hints about gender representation in classical works of art, but first thing first let´s have some healthy laugh.
My only regret is that there are still so many paintings that would have been great to have it in the book too

<i>Men to Avoid in Art and Life</i> is a hilarious book where modern feminist commentary is put next to art pieces. My favourite part is the Sexpert and the book really took off when that section started.

All in all, if you look for a short book which has you laughing out loud, this is the book you need.

I received a copy of this book from Netgalley and the publisher in exchange for an honest review.

This is a very funny book that pairs classical art with sayings that the most irritating men say. Its well-designed and obviously a very quick read. I liked it quite a bit!

Hmmm, I don't get it. I mean, what's so funny? Let me take a second to explain how you can make this book a little more humorous, Nicole Tersigni. . .
*******I'm kidding! ******

This book is a lot of fun. It brings together fine art and painfully hilarious mansplaining situations, I was laughing and squirming at the same time. Men have been making of mess of things over the centuries as shown in perfectly chosen vignettes. The chapters include sections such as "The Mansplainer" and "The Sexpert." Only "The Manspreader" is missing from this volume-- perhaps a sequel? I'm grateful to @NetGalley for giving me a chance to discover this wonderful little book and to chuckle.

I thoroughly enjoyed this. I think that it made a lot of great points that the book was showing. The paintings that the author chose for each quote was so good. They all seemed to express exactly what the caption said. I need this to hand out to all the men who have something to say about things that in no way relate to them.

I laughed a lot. The game between what you see and the phrases is interesting and I liked the millennial humor (although the phrases are horrible but so ridiculous that it makes you laugh). The paintings are beautiful and I loved each one of them... i just love art.

It's one of those books that you have on the living room, ready to be read by anyone and surely creates interesting conversations!

"Don't swear, it's not ladylike."
"You'd look prettier if you smiled."

And you'd look smarter if you shut up, Daniel.

Gather your girlfriends for some wine, cheese & laughs courtesy of this book by Nicole Tersigni

I loved the tongue in cheek tone of this book. It's definitely one you laugh out loud about while reading!

I love art history and found the idea fascinating. The captions for the pictures made me laugh out loud. Thank you for brightening my day with this book.

Short and very bitter-sweet; this will make you laugh through grinding teeth - whew, I think every woman has heard these ridiculous and avoiding attacking the man and the accompanying jail time by the skin of her teeth.
It's true that the saving grace is the artwork otherwise you'd just pull your hair out. It's a quick one, kind of like a meme dump on imgur or similar, but worth it for the laughs. A recommend!

This is a fun lighthearted book that uses the way men always like to tell women what/how to do something (AKA mansplaning) in modern captions on classic works of arts....It is an easy book to flick through, mostly photos and a sentence or two that depicts what is happening through the scope of mansplaining.

I wasn't sure what kind of book this was going to be initially but it is a fun coffee table book that would make a nice gift for someone with a sense of humour (likely a woman!).

HILARIOUS! I read through these....and then started over and did it again! I enjoy this type of comedy a great deal, so I was thrilled to see this! It would make a wonderful gift and is sure to bring a smile to any woman's face!

It's really too bad my review can't simply be: Just yes, all around!
What else can I say? It's funny and anyone who has either experience these situations or even just read about them will agree accurate.
As an art fan I did enjoy the merger of art and humor, and this is definitely a book I'd want to have around.

Sometimes, you really just need a fun, short book to get your through a reading slump or let's be honest, to get you through the day. Men to Avoid in Art and Life is the perfect book for that. Each page features a piece of art where women look less than pleased with the men near her and includes a short quote about what ridiculous thing the men might be saying. 

The book is split up into five different categories of men: The Mansplainer, The Concern Troll, The Comedian, The Sexpert, and The Patronizer. As you can imagine or if you've been on Twitter or been a woman in public, the things these men say to women are words they should keep in their heads. And sadly, the things they say might be all too familiar to some of you.

Because of the looks on the women's faces and the clearly snarky tone to the book, this was really fun to read. I've been reading a few books lately that I haven't  loved (I just DNF'd one), so this felt like a breath of fresh air. 

I haven't read a truly funny book in a long time so it felt really good to laugh while reading. I've read so many great (and funny) threads on Twitter and it's interesting to see how this one was was turned into a book.

I'm giving Men to Avoid in Art and Life 4 out of 5 stars.

Men to Avoid in Art and Life comes out August 11, 2020.

Thanks to NetGalley and Chronical Books for the free eARC in exchange for my honest review.

First of all, this is real and necessary and beautiful so f*ing hilarious :). And I have to own it
This book found a very special way to resonate with me... As someone who loves art, as a woman, as a feminist who couldn't possibly get why this book was funny ;D.
The world of gender equality has ways to go still, but everything helps. This book helps.
I did however find a small issue, one that exists in the art world for quite sometime. 99% of the artists who painted the works displayed here were men. I attended a art exhibt in São Paulo last year where they worked to portray works of female paintors through time, and one of the things they commented on was the lack of difficulty other museums made to lend the pieces, like they mattered less somehow... There's that case of a revered european paintor, whose works lost recognition when, centuries later it was revealed that she was actually female. I can't possibly imagine that the painting itself changed, that it stopped being objectively good... I digress... What I mean is, this could have been a platform where works women were also showed. And it would have been awesome.
However, we cannot as women say that there is a wrong way to feminism, that can only make suffer the movement. That is to say, yes, this work would have been better if it had been also painted by women, when talking about women, but this is also a beautiful endeavor that is talking about our issues already, and it deserves it's credit for that.
I really loved the iniciatiative and I hope more people are as inspired as I am,

A hilarious collection of classic art memes that draw attention to how very done women have been with men's B.S. since the beginning of time.

When I saw this book it reminded me of the bit from Hannah Gadsby’s new special, Douglas, where she makes up stories for old paintings. Sometimes it’s good to laugh at the ridiculous things that women are told, and to find a common exasperation with the women of history. My only complaint was that I wanted more.

I really enjoyed the humor of this book. As someone who studies art history, I appreciated this collection. It was engaging and I read it in one sitting