BOB MORRIS
ASSISTED LOVING
TRUE TALES OF DOUBLE DATING WITH MY DAD
by Bob Morris
“Mercilessly funny” — Vanity Fair
Bob Morris had the perfect sleek, chic Manhattan life: A plum job writing his “Age of Dissonance” column for the Sunday Styles section of The New York Times, Hamptons weekends, and an enviable social calendar.
But when Morris’ mother died after a long battle with illness in 2002, he suddenly found himself having to deal with his decidedly un-chic father, Joe, for the first time in his adult life. Surprisingly, the old man was more interested in embracing his newfound bachelor status than mourning the loss of his long-suffering wife. And, as unseemly as it was, he wanted to enlist Bob’s help in his quest for new romance.
“Am I pimping for my father?” Bob asked.
ASSISTED LOVING: True Tales of Double Dating with My Dad (HarperCollins Publishers; June 2, 2008; $24.95) is Bob Morris’ wacky and bittersweet account of his yearlong dating odyssey with his snowbird Dad. Alternating between episodes of hilarious dating mishaps, senior shenanigans, toxic parent/child meltdowns and scenes of genuine tenderness, ASSISTED LOVING is a frank and introspective memoir about an affable father and cynical gay son finding common ground through the search for love.
A seasoned performer and radio commentator, Morris has contributed to NPR’s “All Things Considered” and many publications. He is a funny and entertaining interview, who a New York Times theater critic called “a warm and engaging storyteller.” His hilarious website, AssistedLoving.com is just up and aiming to become a destination site for anyone with a parent on the prowl.
He can provide thoughtful commentary on boomers dealing with guilt and senior parents in any capacity, but in particular when it comes to the thorny issues of romance.
Topics Morris can discuss include:
* How to help aging parents navigate the modern dating world
* Sex and the single senior
* Father and son bonding, and how to overcome the distance
* The trouble with Father’s Day
* How not to behave like a frustrated, middle-aged child
* Caring for aging parents in their last years
* The pitfalls and pratfalls of modern dating at any age
* Fear of turning 50 in a youth crazed culture
* Ethical issues of using family for material as a writer
Bob is currently available for interviews. Please see attached tour dates. With Father’s Day approaching on June 15 I hope you will give this book special consideration.