In ”The Harvard Lampoon Presents Mediagate” (Atlantic Monthly Press), nothing in or about the media is sacred, not even the venerable New York Times Review of Books section. In a parody of the Review`s best-seller lists,
”Lampoon” presents: ” `Universe,` by James Michener, a lusty saga of men, women, animals and primordial slime; `Learning To Adre,` a guide to dyslexia; `Another Interminable Minute With Andy Rooney`; and `Women Who Love Too Much Food.` ”
Marilyn Monroe, yes; Jane Fonda, no. Thus has the American male spoken. According to the August issue of American Health, 59 percent of men prefer their women ”soft,” a la Monroe, while only 20 percent want them ”hard,” a la Fonda. Other findings of the magazine`s poll: The average woman is 5 feet 3 1/2 inches tall, weighs 134 pounds and wears a size-10 or -12 dress (she`d like to be an inch taller, 11 pounds thinner and a size 8). The average man is 5 feet 10, weighs 172 pounds and has a 33-inch waist (he`d like to be an inch taller and a pound thinner, and he thinks his waist is just fine).
Royalty fans might OD on ”The Royals” (Congdon & Weed), by Jeannie Sakol and Caroline Latham. It`s an A-to-Z collection of Windsor gossip. Among the royal tidbits: When Prince Charles was born, Princess Margaret said, ”Now I suppose they`ll call me Charley`s Aunt”; Benetton once refused to allow Lady Di to make a return without a receipt; the Queen`s luggage is monogrammed ”The Queen,” and she always travels with a mourning suit and a hot-water bottle; Fergie`s nickname in school was Seconds because she frequently went back for them; and Queen Elizabeth once said, ”I have to be seen to be believed.”
