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Love and Marriage is a cartoon book by Arthur Hartz. In this book, Hartz looks at the challenges people face during the dating phase and their marriage lives. The book is divided into two parts and has ten chapters. The book concludes with a “Maturing Together” chapter that shows us the way people who can overcome all challenges grow old together and the happiness they have in their companionship. “No problem is so great that it shouldn’t be ignored,” is my favorite and funniest advice given by an elderly couple for maintaining their long-term relationship in the final chapter. Pick up a copy and learn something new about relationships while being entertained.

I appreciated that each chapter had an introduction where the author offered his perspective on the subject. I found the majority of the ideas in those sections to be relatable and true, and they got me thinking. In some of the chapters, I even felt as if the author was referring to me personally. I liked the author’s cartoon approach and the way he used humor to simplify a complex topic like the difficulties of marriage.

Many people avoid talking about or acknowledging the issues they have with their partners, but reading this book can help readers see things differently and even be inspired to work on their issues. The author also provides insights that many readers might miss in their daily lives. That’s because we frequently neglect the needs of our partners in favor of focusing solely on our own. Through the cartoon representations, the author advises us to love our partners unconditionally, even in their least-lovable moments.

There was nothing about the book that I didn’t like. I found the book pleasant to read and quite insightful I also liked the humor, which caused me to chuckle a few times. I suggest this book to anyone who is having a hard time navigating the dating or marriage scenes because it will provide comic relief and inspire and motivate readers to work on their relationships.

Review by Eva Nyaburi

This book gives us an up-close and personal look at dating what we are looking for, marriage, and the hiccups experienced throughout. This book includes hard facts and a no-BS approach. Due to evolutionary psychology, we are mostly predestined about our sexual preferences and what we get out of them. From women, traits that suggest fertility, and from men traits that suggest they are good providers.

Arthur refers to the male chromosome as the “squeezing gene”–they like to squeeze soft, round things. I had a good laugh at this, as it is very true. Females see risk as exciting and compatibility as not. I believe this refers to the “bad boys” of the world against hard-working. reliable men. There is this saying, “Where have all the good men gone?” Although they are here, we just prefer the bad boys to the reliable ones, and when that doesn’t work out, that question is asked. This book’s main solution to relationships is communication, but communicating correctly is the problem. There is talking, but no listening non-important chatting is easy, whereas actual thinking and discussing important topics are not.

I thoroughly enjoyed this book and finished it in one night. I was mesmerized, engaged, and intrigued. The book was mostly in cartoon form and made me analyze my previous relationships and why they didn’t work out. In any relationship, there needs to be compromise from both sides, yet we also want to be independent and have power. We are not good at choosing! Here, I can most definitely relate. We also settle because we don’t believe in our self- worth: “If you like me, I will like you.” He worships me, and that’s good enough for now. This is obviously not the right approach, but we let it be as we don’t know if there is anything better. I personally have gone through this, and I read another line that was a true eye-opener to me: “The power in a relationship goes to the one less needy, and it is all about pushing the right buttons.” This is a scary approach, but if you really think about it, doesn’t it ring true?

I think I am babbling a bit in this review, but that is just how much this book has made me think about everyday stuff happening before and to us. This book is written in cartoons but still gives so much information. The visuals definitely made this book, and they were excellently executed. I absolutely loved the humor in this book, as it kept me laughing through the serious topics,

Review by Hubre De Klerk

Love and Marriage is a cartoon book by Arthur Hartz. In this book, Hartz looks at the challenges people face during the dating phase and their marriage lives. The book is divided into two parts and has ten chapters. The book concludes with a “Maturing Together” chapter that shows us the way people who can overcome all challenges grow old together and the happiness they have in their companionship. “No problem is so great that it shouldn’t be ignored,” is my favorite and funniest advice given by an elderly couple for maintaining their long-term relationship in the final chapter. Pick up a copy and learn something new about relationships while being entertained.

I appreciated that each chapter had an introduction where the author offered his perspective on the subject. I found the majority of the ideas in those sections to be relatable and true, and they got me thinking. In some of the chapters, I even felt as if the author was referring to me personally. I liked the author’s cartoon approach and the way he used humor to simplify a complex topic like the difficulties of marriage.

Many people avoid talking about or acknowledging the issues they have with their partners, but reading this book can help readers see things differently and even be inspired to work on their issues. The author also provides insights that many readers might miss in their daily lives. That’s because we frequently neglect the needs of our partners in favor of focusing solely on our own. Through the cartoon representations, the author advises us to love our partners unconditionally, even in their least-lovable moments.

There was nothing about the book that I didn’t like. I found the book pleasant to read and quite insightful I also liked the humor, which caused me to chuckle a few times. I suggest this book to anyone who is having a hard time navigating the dating or marriage scenes because it will provide comic relief and inspire and motivate readers to work on their relationships.

Review by Eva Nyaburi

A delightfully funny graphic novel that combines illustrations, quotes, aphorisms and dialogue, Winners and Losers is an unconventional take on society’s obsession with winning. This book posits that failure is relative by breaking down our preconceived notions about winning and losing. It provides examples of each in a manner that induce critical thinking, along with an overflow of belly-aching laughs. Winners and Losers identifies the flaws in our very material world and makes overcoming them a feasible task for the average individual.

This book pointed out a variety of issues we face as a whole. It forces readers to question what exactly matters to them, underlining how we glorify inconsequential stuff. I liked how simple yet (dare I say it?) profound this book was. One of the key takeaways is in the name. We strive to be winners, and the fear of becoming losers largely dictates the direction our lives take.

Another thing that’s worthy of note is the general tone of the book. I was torn between roaring with laughter and wincing as each point hit home. The best I can describe it was to call it a work of sad hilarity. This was executed using a healthy dose of irony and satire, juxtaposed against the severity of the message. Even the phrase used in the synopsis ‘American religion of winning’ fed into the theme of the story.

Review by Barbara Larkin

In a super-ageist society, where any aspect of aging is associated with negativity, Arthur Hartz portrays aging in a realistic light, without glorifying it or lamenting it, but treating it as a part of life.

The best section of the book for me was the depiction of ageism in the health-care system. It addresses the behavior of doctors toward geriatric patients. The pains and aches are not treated with seriousness or compassion. A panel describes a young doctor talking to his old patient that he is going to give a stronger medicine for his increasing pain, to which a senior doctor slyly comments that he will never get his work done if he stands around “chatting.”

Our Autumn Years is a fun read that makes you care about an issue that is hard to read. The illustrations by the cartoonists fully support the content the author is trying to convey. The good pairing of smooth dialogues and gripping illustrations get you thinking about aging. I cannot know how it feels to experience old age, but reading this book helps me relate to it.

Review by Khaulah

Divided into seven topics, Our Autumn Years sheds light on the elderly as intriguing three-dimensional beings, disproving the notion that their age makes them bothersome, dull and grey. The graphic novel deals with the life of the elderly, their everyday struggles and how they deal with the hand they’ve been given in a comical way. It bounces from largely pessimistic to very optimistic, the key theme being one of acceptance and humor, but most importantly that some things aren’t grey, but golden.

The depictions in this book were simple and to the point. Done with a single-pane, cartoon- comic cast, the illustrations acted as snapshots into the everyday truths of the ageing process. At some points, the comics coasted along the border of dark humor, with an ironic and self- deprecating drollness that was the general mood of the book.

Review by Barbara Larkin

The first thing I want to say about this book is “what a lovely book!”. If you are looking for something to read to have a smile on your face or to have more gratitude for this life, then Our Autumn Years by Arthur Hartz can help you.

Our Autumn Years is a book written about old people and their problems funnily. The book talks about the simplest things that all older people may have in their daily life, from how hard it is to pick up stuff on the floor, or how quickly they feel tired after walking or doing something. I felt like this book was a series of stories from a funny grandpa who wants to make fun of his old life in a positive way. Even though the book talks about older adults’ problems, it is not negative at all. I felt that the author was so positive and grateful for his life. While many of us think about old life as something sad and boring, this book will change your mind by showing you how much fun older people can have.

I enjoyed the tone, the pace, the funny stories, and the illustrations in the book. The book was fun to read, but it was also a little bit sad and motivating at the same time to read. I love older people, but honestly, thinking about getting old is quite scary for a young adult like me. This book made me think about my life more, ask more questions about life, and value my youth more.

Review by bookreviewmi1111

Our general perception of the elderly is that of helpless and pitiful people who hang on to the little time left to live. Arthur Hartz seeks to highlight a different and humorous side of old age through Our Autumn Years, a lively cartoon book. The comic illustrations are amusing, easy to understand, and give a precise picture of what aging is all about. The book has seven chapters/sections, each tackling different aspects and topics that enlighten the reader about life at a later age.

The point of the book is to depict the interesting side of life and the gradual mental and physical changes a person eventually undergoes. It is all about cherishing the youthful times and creating beautiful and meaningful memories. On the flip side, there are funny comparisons between the old and young; when the youthful days are over, it is all about making slow and deliberate decisions as well as worrying about the elementary things in life. The author also highlights the health problems the elderly often face. They are hardly ever listened to, leading to complications and misdiagnosis. The author succinctly states it as the one-size-fits-all medical explanation.

The entire book is informal and easy to read and the pictorials blend in well with the commentary to give a clear message. The read evokes a range of emotions from laughter, some sadness, and even a sense of an epiphany. It influenced me to think and reevaluate some of my previous decisions regarding the treatment of my grandparents. There are bits of wisdom to grasp and assumptions to burst. There is a definite change of mindset and lessons to learn from the short read.

What I loved most about the book is its simplicity and clarity at the same time. Despite the minimal writings and explanations, the pictures speak volumes and are very relatable.

Review by Gudamercy

Arthur Hartz presents a comical yet thought-provoking way of interpreting the concepts of winning and losing. Winners and Losers in words and cartoons employs humor to highlight the true effect of winning and losing on people and society. From our childhood years, being number one or two has consistently been the driving force regardless of the consequences. A person is successful only if he/she is intelligent, charismatic, famous, and attractive.

Arthur also uses sarcasm to illustrate the absurdity of our conventional standards. A ‘successful’ person inherently has the right to exploit others without question. Persuasion and weak accolades are widely used to motivate the losers and further uplift the winners. The results of these placements are psychological torture and misery. The society is full of sad people who feel like underachievers all because of wrongful comparisons. While chasing talents, fame, money, and beauty, we forget our very own uniqueness and worth.

The cartoon depictions and commentary are both hilarious and insightful. It does not need much to grasp its meaning and get the intended message. The author also adds quotes from famous entities to bring in more weight to his arguments. The arrangement of the book is also intentional, starting from the societal definitions of winners, highlighting their deficiencies, and finally ending with the definition of true success. It ends with an encouraging tone and therefore enlightening the reader.

My best part of the comic is the perspective-altering arguments the author presents. There is aristocracy versus meritocracy, self-esteem versus public-esteem as well as ‘uglysim’. He states that ‘uglysim’ is more prevalent than racism. These arguments are in few words, but the result is a flurry of thoughts and realizations. I heartily enjoyed the comic so much and did not find anything to dislike. Apart from being funny, it is also bold and seeks to burst the societal myths and end the widespread unnecessary misery.

He additionally let the pictures speak, therefore, needing few words. I believe that by the end of the book the ridiculousness of the standards we place upon ourselves will be evident. At the end of it all, it is all about living a life that brings you peace and meaningful memories, touching the lives of those around you, and helping them realize their worth (meaningful footprints).. I strongly recommend Winners and Losers in words and cartoons to anyone who has ever felt discriminated based on their looks, perceived lack of exceptional talent, or status. If you also feel a need to drive people to a change of mindset and a true sense of fulfillment, then this is the book for you.

Review by Gudamercy

Winners and Losers in words and cartoons is a non-fiction book written by Arthur Hartz and illustrated by Aleksandar Jovic, Mike Wolfe and Heroud Ramos. The book is a commentary of the author’s views on winners and losers and their social standing. The author uses cartoons and aphorisms to put forth his views. He hopes that the book will entertain his readers while also provoking thoughts about the American religion of winning that values success above everything else.

The book is divided into nine chapters, five of which focus on winners and winning, and the rest focus on losers. The author tries to convey the discrepancy in the fact that there is so much inspiration available to motivate people to be number one, but not enough is said about what to do when you fail. He quotes famous personalities and then takes a jab at them while expressing his disapproval about their thoughts. For example, he quotes Stephen Hawking, “However difficult life may seem, there is always something you can do and succeed at.” Later, he offsets this by saying, “Wow, meaningless success. That’ll fix whatever ails you.”

Some of the author’s quotes like, “Of course, there’s more to us than our achievements, appearance, and social skills – just nothing of interest.” do seem very impactful. One particular illustration expresses how people use the “survival of the fittest” excuse to manipulate others who are supposedly weaker than them. There’s another illustration which shows how children are expected to be smart, beautiful, talented, and charismatic and how it seems almost like a job to make your parents proud. One of the chapters focuses solely on how losers console themselves and what their defense mechanism is to continue surviving in this competitive world.

There are a lot of things to like about this book. Let’s start with the illustrations. Even though they were drawn by three different illustrators, the cartoons didn’t really seem like a mismatch within themselves. I enjoyed watching the smartly drawn pictures keenly and making sense out of them. The author uses humor and sarcasm to make a social commentary about the unfair ways of the world. This book is really a light read if one considers this aspect. The book is really short, and most of the commentary is quite easy to understand.

Even though the introduction states that this book is about the American religion of winning, I found a lot of things to be relatable even where I’m from. I recommend this book to adults who like ironic comic books and are in the mood for a quick read.

Review by Aditi Sapate