After reading the Vatican's recent pronouncement on men and women -- in particular, its condemnation of modern feminism as a malevolent, divisive force that devalues the family and sabotages sanctified gender roles -- I thought this might be an interesting, provocative subject for discussion with Gina Barreca, my feminist co-author. But Gina declined, on the grounds that, as a Roman Catholic, she'd be in an awkward position if she had to criticize the document. In fact, she didn't even plan to read it.

Being a sensitive person and a supportive friend and colleague, I understood her concerns. Then I anonymously e-mailed it to her under the subject line, "Researchers at Sorbonne prove female humor is superior." It worked. Gina opened it, and once she started, she couldn't stop.