At Long Last Love: Sage Advice and True Stories from America's Premier Matchmakers [Hardcover]

John Wingo (Author), Julie Wingo (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: April 1994

The founders of one of the most exclusive, successful matchmaking services worldwide furnish illuminating anecdotes and sensitive, respectful advice on finding--and keeping--the right romantic relationship. Tour.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

This husband and wife team, owners of a matchmaking firm, J. Wingo International, combine corporate headhunting approaches with advising readers who want to enter into and maintain a long-term relationship. Emphasizing that self-knowledge and openness are more important than strategy, the authors suggest that many people remain unattached because they cling to stringent requirements for potential dates (or mates) in such areas as appearance, income or profession. Chapters on such issues as overcoming past experiences, first meetings and making commitments begin with lengthy case histories illustrating how difficulties were solved--with the authors' help. The Wingos' frequent references to themselves and their business make their book more advertisement than self-help guide. Author tour.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Kirkus Reviews

Based on years of experience as professional matchmakers, the Wingos present advice, backed up by case histories, for those seeking committed relationships. This upscale how-to is most effective and insightful when discussing how people undermine their own efforts to achieve long- term relationships. Among the causes of social failure are inaccurate self-perception, self-sabotage, the pursuit of fantasies, excessive self-protection, and impatience. John and Julie Wingo, married for 20 years themselves, are somewhat less successful in conveying strategies that work. Too much of this book is an infomercial for the Wingos' pricey matchmaking service (J. Wingo International). Because clients are paying $5,000 fees, too many of the subjects of the case studies here are affluent people with the class-related idiosyncracies and years of psychotherapy to fit their incomes. A vast number of middle-class readers, therefore, will have difficulty empathizing with and learning from these subjects. The authors also impart anachronistic and chauvinistic pearls like, ``To catch a man's eye in our culture, women need to be on the thin side.'' A similar bias is projected against religion. The authors will not work with a client with a religious preference, as ``such a specification is usually connected to a kind of closed-mindedness that goes beyond religious issues.'' Not only do the Wingos ignore a proven ingredient in stable couples, but they leave out church-sponsored singles events from their list of recommended social activities. Some of the strengths here include a firm stand against early sexual encounters and a lack of the pat formulas that limit other self-help/relationship books. -- Copyright ©1994, Kirkus Associates, LP. All rights reserved.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 221 pages
• Publisher: Warner Books (April 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0446517291
• ISBN-13: 978-0446517294
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.7 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #8,389,021 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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