Customer Reviews

Artful Dodging: Painless Techniques for Avoiding Anyone, Anytime

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Let's face it, every once in a while there are situations and people in the world that we just want to avoid. Thankfully, Jeanne Martinet has recognized this and provided us with "Artful Dodging", a quick and humourous guide to gracefully disentangling yourself from unpleasant situations.

Other reviews give this book low marks for encouraging lying, which I suppose it does. But then again, if you always tell the truth about everything to everyone, why on earth would you need anything this book has to say? For those of us who lack the ability to regularly dish out potentially painful truths ('To be honest, I don't want to go out to dinner with you because I find you incredibly irritating and your table manners are Cro-Magnon'), this book can be a lifesaver.

Martinet provides a wide range of strategies for extricating yourself from awkward situations that require no theatre training to pull off. She also gives you ways to prevent the need to dodge, such as the preemptive strike. Her anecdotes of these strategies in action, both working and backfiring, provide great humor and make this a quick read. I heartily recommend this book for anyone who's looking for a gentle way to avoid dreadful dinner parties and overwhelming acquaintances.

Some lazy weekend afternoon, pour yourself a cup of tea and sit down with this charming little petit four of a book. Should you require a modicum of instruction in the gentle art of tact, rest assured, your lean collection of shopworn excuses will emerge polished to a swanky sheen. You may even pick a few sly new tales with which to bewitch your audience unaware. You will feel slippery enough to escape even the stickiest of predicaments. If, however, you happen to be one of nature's more cunning creations, capable of fending of the most persistent of life's little inconveniences with a nonchalance that borders on the virtuosic, you may snicker quietly behind the shielding pages in the pleasure of a well-shared private joke.

As someone who travels often and is naturally prone to the sorts of predicaments that require dodging -- artful or otherwise -- I thoroughly enjoyed this book. Jeanne Martinet dispenses advice with such wit and intelligence that I read the book in one sitting, a feat I was able to pull off thanks to her clever suggestions for ducking the usual interruptions and intrusions. Martinet's blend of stylish writing and brittle social commentary has made me a fan ever since "Art of Mingling." Can't wait for the next one from Jeanne Martinet!

Have you ever had that 'friend' who called 8 times a day ...and kept saying on the machine...."are you there? Pick up.... are you there." Or someone whe keeps asking you to volunteer at their club....and you have zero spare time. You feel guilty saying "no"??? This book is funny, light hearted, and I love it. I can't believe this is out of print. There is a reviewer who says, "when is it o.k. to lie?" I politely disagree, due to the fact this author has a chapter titled....the 7 Dodging Sins. Things you should not do to dodge folks... i.e. never returning their calls. She just teaches you a crafty way to return the call. I vote- BUY IT.

Martinet's book is at times useful and amusing, but I have to disagree with its underlying premises: that lying is OK and that selfishness is more rewarding than doing things for other people. While there are times when the techniques she describes would come in handy, I would find it exhausting (and lonely) to have to be that creative about dodging people all the time!

Lying is NOT an acceptable means for getting out of your responsibilities. This type of book adds to the free-fall of society by endorsing the notion that it's just fine to break a commitment to someone and not suffer any consequences. This is all done under the idea that as long as you're not rude about it, then it's fine. Nothing could be further from the truth.