How to Date in a Post-Dating World
Jan.06, 2010 in
Dating Books
Product DescriptionTaking up where Emily Post and Miss Manners left off, Diane Mapes counsels the dating-distressed on today’s new rules of courtship. This smart, savvy etiquette guide addresses both nuts-and-bolts questions (Who asks? Who pays? Who makes the first call? Who brings out the condoms?) as well as the more puzzling aspects of modern romance (Do I really need to tell my new girlfriend that I had her investigated?). Advice, behavioral examples, and dating horror stories a. . . More >>
January 6th, 2010 at 12:56 pm
I want to thank Diane for writing the book that reinforces what we should already know, mind your manners and clean up your act! This book is written in the most non judgemental way possible. It is not only informative and insightful but it is also clever and fun! My favorite line of course was the dedication line thanking her mother for never saying anything regarding Diane being single. As a dating coach, I tell all of my clients and their parents to stay out of the dating and not add to the pressure cooker. Congratulations Diane on a very good dating reminder book.
Rating: 5 / 5
January 6th, 2010 at 3:22 pm
This is a nice read; funny, sarcastic and almost unbelievable at times.
Rating: 3 / 5
January 6th, 2010 at 4:53 pm
Disclaimer right off: Diane Mapes is a dear friend. But she knows I’m a straight shooter, she knows I tell it like it is. . . I’m so glad I don’t have to lie. . .
This book is so clever, so original, taking outdated advice from yesteryear and turning it on its ear. Funny anecdotes, sound suggestions — before dating, bathe and get a hair cut for gosh sake’s! — fresh, page-turning prose. I would read this even if Diane wasn’t a pal. . .
Rating: 5 / 5
January 6th, 2010 at 7:36 pm
I agree with the reviewer who stated that this book seems to focus on old fashioned basics like, “Try to have nice teeth. ” That stood out for me, too. The author actually admits that she collects old how-to dating books from the 30s, 40s, 50s, etc. and throughout the book you will find these old fashioned dating guides cited again and again! And largely, this is a updated compendium of those. There are also references to current authors on dating and relationships and gender politics; the biggest thing I got out of this book was a reading list of other books. . . that turned out to be better than this one. Better guides to what it’s like to actually get out there and date? Dating Amy, You Have to Kiss a Lot of Frogs, the online guide from Sarah Susanah Katz called Dating in the Suburbs, and Suzanne Schlosberg’s The Curse of the Singles Table.
This is for very young people or for people who just got separated last week and need a primer again. And I didn’t feel optimistic at the end of it; I felt kind of depressed. The book contains so many–this works, that doesn’t, here’s a problem, make sure you don’t x, y, z. . . not terribly uplifting. Example: [Don't go to bars, because of the 80/20 rule. 80% of men all want to go after the top 20% best looking women, because even ugly fat guys think they all deserve hot chicks. ] But then, the book contains a quote from someone who says something like, “Looks are important, but everyone is looking for something different. ” So, it ultimately is contradictory, and unless you are great looking, I doubt these kind of anecdotes are going to leave anyone feeling psyched to get dating. . .
Rating: 2 / 5
January 6th, 2010 at 9:59 pm
I read “How to Date” cover to cover, often wishing that it would just go on forever. Diane Mapes is a great humorist and wordsmith. Wisdom and incite flow from every page. I have always thought she was funny and fun, as I have worked with her and met her on occasion at professional meetings. But knowing her just a bit did not prepare me for reading “How to Date. ”
I read it mostly on my daily bus commute which made for some pretty funny looks from
various onlookers. At times, people would start reading over my shoulder and
I was forced to give it to them until I left the bus–that was the only
reason it took longer than usual to read as it was a real page turner.
I have proudly convinced a number of folks to pick it up because it’s not
just about losers trying to find themselves or the new, new thing on how to
get someone. It’s about how we are today and how we actually might be better
with each other if we could step back and take a look. We could all use a
little more Diane Mapes in our lives.
Looking forward to the next one.
Rating: 5 / 5