The Adventures of a Love Investigator: 527 Naked Men and One Woman

Silkstone Comedic Mysteries #3

by Barbara Silkstone

In what internal organ does true love reside? I began to feel the need to dissect and compare the guts of men to see what makes the rotten ones so awful and the good ones so hard to come by. I could see myself pulling out body parts and pinning them to paper with little labels, the heart of a liar, a good man's spleen. Armed only with curiosity, a tape recorder and a list of questions covering love, sex, commitment, marriage and family, I set out in search of real love

Genres: Humor, Nonfiction, Ebooks

202 pages, Paperback

First published October 6, 2006

About the author

Barbara Silkstone is the best-selling author of the Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider series that includes: Wendy and the Lost Boys, London Broil, Cairo Caper, Miami Mummies, Vulgarian Vamp, Wendy Darlin Tomb Raider Boxed Set. Her Criminally Funny Fables Romantic Suspense series includes: The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters; Wendy and the Lost Boys; Zo White and the Seven Morphs. For a squirt of paranormal comedy try: Cold Case Morphs. True fiction fan? Try: The Adventures of a Love Investigator.

New: Mister Darcy Series
Book One: Mister Darcy's Dogs
Book Two: Mister Darcy's Christmas
Book Three: Mister Darcy's Secret

Silkstone’s writing has been described as “perfectly paced and pitched – shades of Janet Evanovich and Carl Hiaasen – without seeming remotely derivative. Fast moving action that shoots from the hip with bullet-proof characterization.”

Reviews

[Scott Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a very interesting read. Barbara Silkstone, out to interview 1000 men about love and relationships, gets her fill of guy-thinking by the time she hits 527. Well written, though there were a couple typos, Barbara digs into the male psyche. Warning: this is not for the faint of heart. By the time I finished, I almost felt bad for being a guy. There are a lot of a**holes out there and I think she interviewed most of them. Kudos to her for sticking with it for so long and for surviving the gut-wrenching encounters with some people who call themselves "men". Good read to see the dangers that are out there, but I don't think the ratios are quite as bad as they came across in the book.

[Shirley Cowles · Rating 5 out of 5]

Loved this book! I would love to see Barbara Silkstone's friend, Sal, do the same kinds of interviews with women and write about that. I now have a better understanding why it is so difficult, as a single woman in her 50's, to find true love. A fun read for sure.

[Mick · Rating 3 out of 5]

Alrighty then, let's examine some fundamental axioms:

Men and women are inherently different; there is indeed a communication gap; and relationships are exceedingly complex and difficult.

Armed with these Truths, self-proclaimed "love investigator" Barbara Silkstone--a lady with ample resources, and ample time on her hands, it appears--grabs a tape recorder and endeavors to examine the male psyche by interviewing hundreds of this shaggy subspecies, from sea to shining sea. Her "discoveries" can be found in her humorous yet uneventful book, 527 NAKED MEN AND ONE WOMAN: THE ADVENTURES OF A LOVE INVESTIGATOR.

Author Silkstone interviews men, young and old, from all walks of life, regarding their love lifes (or lack thereof). Some of what her interviewees tell her is jarring; some of it funny; much of it bland; yet the reader can depend on Silkstone to interject her own thoughts and reactions to what is being conveyed into her microphone. And what Silkstone thinks, and how she reacts, is always entertaining and delightfully humorous. Yet when the reader finishes this book, what has he or she learned, by jove? We learn that:

Men and women are inherently different; there is indeed a communication gap; and relationships are exceedingly complex and difficult.

527 NAKED MEN AND ONE WOMAN: THE ADVENTURES OF A LOVE INVESTIGATOR is a quick, fun read, yet this love investigation turns up nada. And I want to know why the one woman isn't naked? Would've made for a better cover.

[Al · Rating 5 out of 5]

It seems simple. Interview 1,000 men about love, sex, and commitment. Collate, summarize, and it ought to be a winner. Women will read it for insight into what makes men tick. Men will compare themselves with those in the book – that’s how men are wired, right?

Author Barbara Silkstone found it wasn’t as easy as it seemed, finally hitting her limit at 527 men. When I finished reading I sympathized with her. If you’re a man who doesn’t find you compare favorably with many of these interviewees you have serious problems. Many others give you something to shoot for. You’ll recognize your own relationships and feelings you’ve experienced in others. You’ll also get at least one woman’s perspective on all the men in the book which can’t hurt. Silkstone’s sense of humor stays intact and lightens up what at times is emotionally draining for both her and possibly the reader. In the end I came away glad I read the book. I even feel like I need to read it again in a few months, yet I was also left with an uneasy feeling. If simple creatures like men are this hard to figure out how can any man ever understand women?

[Tara Chevrestt · Rating 5 out of 5]

You gotta click on the link below and read some great quotes!

http://wwwbookbabe.blogspot.com/2010/...

[Maritrese Nash · Rating 5 out of 5]

Illuminating

This is. The author's honest quest for the true understanding of the male's definition of love and how it relates to her past experiences. It is a bittersweet journey that will have most women relating to their own experiences tearfully. As for the author, there is usually an element of pain in every funny joke. As a reader and a woman, I feel her pain.

[L.C. Evans · Rating 5 out of 5]

After being emotionally beat up by two failed marriages, author Barbara Silkstone went on a quest to find out what love really is--from a man's viewpoint. Whether wanting to find out what she "did wrong" or maybe wanting to reassure herself that there might indeed be some good guys out there, she decided to interview a thousand men about love. Her journey lasted more than 5 years and in the end, unable to continue past burnout, she stopped at 527 men. The results of her interviews were to me somewhat unsettling and made me feel disappointed in a good many of the men who openly shared their feelings and who came across, for the most part, as a bunch of losers. I felt like slapping some of these self-centered jerks. A common theme was a sense of superiority to the women in their lives and a contempt for women who wanted to stay home with the children instead of "having goals." I couldn't help wondering if most men are really like this, or if the reason she found such a pack of self-absorbed twits was that they craved the attention of an interview while the good men didn't feel a need to talk about themselves.

Along the way, Ms. Silkstone shared bits of her personal life and her take on the interviewees and their answers. Her wry observations and her wit added an amusing touch to balance the emotionally draining aspect of her task. As time went on, the work she'd set for herself became too much. Some of the men even hit on her or made her feel unsafe. Finally she'd had enough and she ended the interviews.

Whether you agree with these men and their take on love or you think they're an aberration, this book should certainly give you something to think about. I would love for this author to write a book about love from the woman's viewpoint, but I'm afraid she's probably heard enough on the subject.

Ms. Silkstone's writing style is engaging and easy to read. Her sense of humor comes through, despite the serious subject. Very enjoyable book.

[Linda · Rating 4 out of 5]

My Review :) One naked woman and 527 men

I have read and reviewed a few of Ms. Silkstone’s Kindle books but this is not like her fractured fairy tales. This is real life through her eyes as a disillusioned woman seeking romanticized answers from men about their relationships with women. Her plan was to complete a thousand interviews in a year; she made it to five hundred and twenty-seven in six years before she threw in the towel. I can’t blame her for that; this all hit me as dangerous territory to dive into to say the least. I can’t imagine having the emotional stamina to take on a project like this. This is my first audio book review and I received my copy courtesy of the author during a giveaway event.

The book is narrated by Wendy Tremont King and I found her voice lacking emotion, although I am not sure that inflection is called for in a book of this nature. I think it gives the subject matter a more clinical feel which may have been intentional. While listening to this audio book I learned that I am a visual person; I need to see the words for a better understanding. Listening and concentrating on the words while not seeing a person speaking is difficult for me. Who knew?

This book was an interesting character study however and I am sure my view of many men will never be the same. Somehow Ms. Silkstone is able to keep her humor, sarcasm, and sharp wit during the course of this book. This made the subject matter more entertaining and easier to take in. Would you die for the one you love? I believe this is an unrealistic question to gauge anyone’s depth of love. It is no wonder Ms. Silkstone sense of romanticized love has been fractured after subjecting herself to this kind of punishment. At least she has a wealth of fodder for her fairy tales now.

[Susan Bennett · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Adventures of a Love Investigator: 527 Naked Men & One Woman should have a warning label on it. Barbara Silkstone, the fabulously funny author of The Secret Diary of Alice in Wonderland, Age 42 and Three-Quarters, set out on her own non-fiction adventure to interview 1,000 men in one year. After five years and only a little over half the men she intended, she surrendered. And who could blame her? The men she interviewed were brutally honest with her, if not with themselves.

Thanks in large part to the talents of the author rather than the subject matter, this is a fast and charming book. Ms. Silkstone’s keen eye for detail balances the words of her interviewees with the facts about the men’s appearances and tics. We meet plenty of frogs – warts and all – and a couple of princes. Unfortunately for the author, she ends up with a bad case of the TMI blues – no man will ever be taken at his word again.

And this is where the warning comes in: if you are in a happy relationship, you might want to avoid this book. As a happily married woman, I found myself questioning the devotion of a man who, both literally and figuratively, supports me. Sometimes it’s just better not to know exactly what the men in your life are really thinking.

To everyone else – especially the single women – READ THIS BOOK! It is enlightening, to say the least. Thank you, Ms. Silkstone, for sacrificing so many years to this amazing project. You are a folk heroine to me.

[Suzanne Tyrpak · Rating 4 out of 5]

Barbara Silkstone set out to interview 1,000 men, but after 527 interviews (many were quite depressing) she just couldn't go on. The question that really got to her was: Would you die for the woman you love. Very few men said yes. Many answered something along the lines of, "Why would I die for her? So she can be with another man?" Ultimately, I think the "die for you question" is one of those questions you can't really answer until you're in the experience. But Barbara found the lack of enthusiasm in the men, depressing.

This is an interesting read for men as well as women. The book rolls along. My complaint is that Barbara gets hung-up on the concept that we only have one chance at love--our first love--and if you blow that chance you probably won't find love again. This indicated, to me, an immature concept of love. Also, it leave the narrator (Barbara) looking for love outside of herself. As if another person can somehow fill the emptiness within. I would have liked the interviews to lead Barbara to a more profound understanding of love.

But I did enjoy reading the interviews. And I appreciate that the men were being honest and not trying to impress anyone with their answers. I certainly hope they weren't trying to impress anyone--most came off as self-absorbed.

[Kasia Hubbard · Rating 4 out of 5]

To begin with, I thought the concept of this book was fantastic, getting a glimpse inside the male brain, and wow...I'm left speechless. I recognize a few of my ex's within the interviews, and now I have a better understanding of why it didn't work out (thankfully!). It's not surprising to hear what men have to say to the investigator. I mean, one would be more willing to spill their secrets to a complete stranger than with their loved ones, especially with the promise of complete anonymity. The author set out to interview 1,000 men in a year on their thoughts about love, only to have spent 6 years and she gave up after 527 men, because of the majority of the responses. I really like how she puts her impressions of the men in the book, even though during the interviews she kept her comments to herself as she was trying to be as objective as possible. Why then would I give the book only 4 stars? I wish she included more information from the interviews. After interviewing a few men for over 4 hours, I honestly think there could have been more than a simple paragraph. That's the only real complaint I have. She has given an honest insight into what a typical man thinks, but remember...not ALL men think this way either.

[Heather Adkins · Rating 5 out of 5]

Love is sometimes a disaster, no matter what you do. It starts out wonderful and ends in tragedy and decay. But maybe it is the *knowing* of this little tidbit of information that helps open our eyes to what we can do to better our relationships.

This book is often touching, more often subduing, and at most, disheartening. It is an inner look into the minds of men, and even though women at the core understand how men tick (sex, food, sex), we don't want to have proof of this. And that's exactly what this author got when she embarked on a journey to interview 1000 men about love. It says enough that she was only able to make it to 527 men. There is only so much a woman can handle before she loses all faith in love and relationships.

But for the woman who still maintains a spark of hope, there are good guys in this book, too. They are the ones that prove love IS a true story, and it is just a matter of finding the one. I couldn't help but absolutely agree with the narrator when it comes to first loves, a theme that pops up throughout the book. My first love and I are still friends, and I still love him in a special place in my heart.

Being the hopeless romantic that I am, I am still holding out for the narrator's happy ending :)

[Steve LeBel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Author Barbara Silkstone produces a fun read as she relentlessly pursues her quest to unravel the secrets of love. She brings enormous energy and a great sense of humor to her task and I found myself laughing throughout her book.

As she interviewed one man after another, seeking understanding of the hearts and minds of men, I found myself chuckling at the naive opinions of some, powerful insights from others, the blinding sense of loyalty from others, and the occasional self-defeating attitudes of the author. I felt superior to some, humbled by others, all the while afraid to turn the page and find my own alter-ego displayed and dissected in a way that could not help but destroy any self-delusions that I was so much better.

Fine job, Barbara. A most noble effort. I also congratulate you on a most satisfying ending. I hope you find what you are looking for.

[M.A. Comley · Rating 5 out of 5]

I picked up this book after thoroughly enjoying Barbara's other books.

Although this is completely different to what she usually writes her wonderful sense of humour shines through.

I have to take my hat off to Barbara for having the stamina and patience to even begin such a project, let alone managing to interview 527 men!

What an insightful read. It was great to see the character flaws and the numerous over-inflated egos she had to deal with during the course of this project.

The old adage: Women are from Venus and men are from Mars seems to be spot on, as you'll discover during the course of the book.

Well done, Barbara for giving the world something different and insightful to sample.

[Imogen Rose · Rating 5 out of 5]

After a harrowing divorce, the author set out on a journey to study and discover the inner most thoughts about love from the average man. Is there a Prince Charming out there? Will your man give up his life for you? The aim was to interview 1000 men in one year.

Five years later, Barbara Silkstone reaches the end of her emotionally-draining journey with 527 men interviewed, all of who opened up their hearts to her. Each man interviewed offered interesting (and mostly disappointing) insights into their thoughts about love and romance. Barbara’s writing style is easy and entertaining, I thoroughly enjoyed reading this book.

[Mary · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finally a book that is not all fairy tales, flowers, and prince charming. I am sure there are some out there, but this book is full of interviews with real men, about their real feelings and their real expectations and wants out of relationships and life. It isn't always a pretty picture, but life is hard--that is probably the best piece of advice I have ever been given. I like the fact that there were so many interviews, so many men from different backgrounds, different professions, different ages. You see the similarities yet the differences. Finally, Barbara left us with the hope that there may be a prince or two in the pond, we just have to kiss an awful lot of warty frogs to find one.

[Memory · Rating 3 out of 5]

I wasn't sure what to expect from this book. the cover is different. mu kids hoight it was hilarious. it was a little disturbing to get into guys heads like that. it made me wonder what my husband really thinks about our life together. just when i was getting a little down about it all she interviews a mormon man. it was a relief that it was positive! she got some more positive men near the end. which was also a relief. it was interesting that's for sure. now to go ask my hubby if he would die for me. I wonder what he'll say? will he be part of the 3% or the 97%?? :)

[Terri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I expected this to be a light read, wow was I surprised. Barbara Silkstone's interviews of over 500 men revealed both a desire for intimacy and a complete inability to figure out how to acheive it. The burden Barbara picked up and carried for these men made for interesting reading but I don't envy her the experience of bearing it.

[Christine · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book. The author interviews about five hundred men on their views on love and commitment. There are interesting and insightful comments from men on both sides of the commitment fence. Silkstone ties these interviews together with her personal narrative of why she's seeking to find out more about men and love.Take notes!

[Starla B · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ok. A little funny, a little depressing. I'm glad I read it, but I would never read it again. I don't really like how it ended, and a lot of the time the lead character made me angry.

[Megan · Rating 3 out of 5]

Perhaps don't read this if you want to have any faith in the male population. Her results I think (hope?) are a little skewed, but interesting nonetheless, even if just anecdotally so, and worth a quick and easy read.

[Kelly Patrick · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun read and insightful.

[Sara · Rating 2 out of 5]

A depressing look into why men tick, and why there are so few good ones out there. Fortunately, I was lucky enough to find one of them, and this book did make me appreciate my husband so much more.

[Stefanie · Rating 4 out of 5]

this was a very interesting look at love through the eyes of men. It focused a lot on first loves lost. I guess I'm glad my first love was a train wreck, I don't regret losing him at all! lol

[Elizabeth · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book. Could be quite disturbing to read if I was single. Really shows how different men and women think.

[Mary Wild · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really interesting and funny.