Who Women Shouldn’t Marry by Cynthia S. Smith (Lyle Stuart: $14.95).

Using a peppery anecdotal method, Cynthia S. Smith, a lecturer with talk show credits and author of other books on this subject, urges women to become proudly self-reliant and to go it alone.

Preaching a rather strident “new feminism,” she divides her discussion into two general areas. The first glowingly describes women who have chosen single parenting, who live alone and maintain they’re far happier, as well as those who choose to live in “unwedded bliss,” refusing steadfastly to marry their partners. The second group is depicted as miserably mated to no-goodniks, brought to this sad state by parental and societal pressure.

She warns the many sensitive singles, wan widows and desperate divorcees, decribed in her book, to eschew the wedding band and find happiness solo.

As for raising other people’s children, Smith is quite horrified. “A step-family arrangement is tough and mined with traps and pitfalls,” she writes.

Funny, tough, always absorbing, Smith’s snoot at marriage a la mode makes for joyous reading.

Living Boldly by Phyllis Hobe (MacMillan: $14.95)

Phyllis Hobe has written a modest proposal for changing what one can and accepting what one cannot in the full spirit of Christian faith. “Bold” may be too forceful a word to describe her choice of simple living in which she demonstrates the basic principles of decency and courage.

Not a “hardball player,” she recalls failing as a news writer at a small Southern newspaper, but succeeding when she wrote a tender human-interest story that warmed the hearts of local readers. Her boldness lies in moving from the suburbs to the country, getting a zoning change to help a worthy couple maintain their small farm and picking herself up, with a bruised knee, after being charged by a dog not on a leash.

Not very showy or dramatic. Nor would Hobe pretend to be anything other than a gentle practicing Christian, alone but never lonely, who seeks to hallow the ordinary in life.