<DIV><DIV>Why does society applaud a girl who falls for a guy's “big blue eyes” yet denounces one who chooses a man with a “big green bankroll”? After all, isn't earning power more a reflection of a man's values and character? <I>Smart Girls Marry Money</I> challenges the ideals and assumptions women have blindly accepted about love and marriage—and shows how they've done so at their own economic peril. In this brazen manifesto, authors Elizabeth Ford and Daniela Drake use cold hard facts, real science, and true stories to present a compelling case for why mercenary marriages make the most sense for future happiness.<P><I>Smart Girls</I> taps into a growing, collective suspicion that the post-feminist world isn't all it's cracked up to be. Female “empowerment” has women working hard to look sexier than ever, while carrying more than their fair share financially. Yet sadly, statistics prove that: not only do women continue to earn far less than their male counterparts, they also suffer far more economically when marriages fail. Ford and Drake think it's high time that women get their heads out of the clouds and start caring about their own security—the kind that can be measured in dollars and common sense. With an irreverent, straight-talk tone, the authors serve up a sound case and intriguing strategy for how women can truly “have it all.” Sure to spark conversation and controversy, <I>Smart Girls Marry Money</I> will ultimately empower women with a new way to take control of both their economic and romantic lives.</DIV>