The Plot Against Love

From the author of Bad Therapy and Irreversible Damage: how a top-down effort to destroy male status conspired to leave a generation lonely, single, and sad.

The roots of our modern dating crisis run far deeper than iPhones, hookups, and dating apps. Young women have been encouraged to see themselves as broadly superior to their male peers, argues New York Times bestselling author Abigail Shrier. Gen Z women approach dating like a hiring decision, rejecting men who fail to meet shallow, arbitrary, and ever-changing standards. The result is an epidemic of loneliness that makes everyone miserable.

In The Plot Against Love, Shrier exposes the web of politicians, tech corporations, educators, and philanthropists who conspired to kill romance for good. Drawing on over one hundred private interviews with young singles and new research on mating and attraction, Shrier argues that female desire has been frustrated by ambient messaging that denigrates men. She uncovers the school policies that pathologize masculinity and the social pressure to treat ordinary male characteristics as contemptible. And she meets the young men who have turned to porn and the bitterest voices in the manosphere to cope with the absence of love they still hope to find.

None of this was inevitable—and we don’t need to accept it. With her characteristic fearlessness and humor, Shrier provides a playbook for rejecting the toxic ideas that keep young people apart and reembarking on life’s greatest adventure: falling in love.

Standard and Primary covers are widely available through general retailers. They often have higher print runs and can be cheaper, especially during sales.

In contrast, Direct Market (DM) and variant covers are primarily sold in comic shops. DM editions tend to have more limited availability and may be more valuable to collectors.

The main differences lie in artwork style, availability, price, and collector appeal. Ultimately, the choice between standard and variant covers depends on personal preference, budget, and individual collecting goals.

Comic book enthusiasts have various formats to choose from when collecting their favorite stories.
Here's a brief overview of the main types:

Omnibus

• Large, hardcover collections
• Usually contain complete runs or extensive story arcs
• Typically 800-1000+ pages
• Higher price point, often €100-€150

Oversized Hardcover (OHC)

• Similar dimensions to omnibus, but thinner
• Collect shorter runs or story arcs
• Usually 300-600 pages
• Priced between €30-€50

Hardcover (HC)

• Standard-sized hardcover books
• Collect 6-12 issues typically
• Similar dimensions to single issues, but with a hard cover
• Priced around €25-€35

Trade Paperback (TP)

• Softcover collections
• Standard comic book size
• Usually collect 4-6 issues
• Most affordable option, typically €15-€25

Other Formats

• Absolute Editions: Oversized, deluxe hardcovers (mainly DC Comics)
• Compendiums: Massive paperback collections
• Graphic Novels (OGN/GN): Original stories not previously released as single issues

The choice between these formats often depends on personal preference, budget, and collecting goals. Omnibus and OHC editions offer larger artwork and more content but at a higher price, while TPs provide a more affordable way to collect complete story arcs