Better Single Than Sorry: A No-Regrets Guide to Loving Yourself and Never Settling [Hardcover]

Jen Schefft (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 23, 2007

Advice, insight, and inspiration for relishing the single life!

We live in a country that places an unhealthy emphasis on relationships, yet nearly 50 percent of all American women are single. But does being alone mean you have to be lonely and miserable? Absolutely not.

Nobody knows that better than Jen Schefft, who got engaged to a rich and handsome man on TV's The Bachelor, only to break it off after six months—and who later stunned and infuriated viewers nationwide when she turned down the proposals of both finalists on The Bachelorette the following year. But even though she was reviled in the tabloid press and on the Internet, Jen believes it would be a far worse fate to commit to a relationship that was wrong for her.

Better Single Than Sorry is an indispensable guide to thriving as a solo in a couples-obsessed culture. In this warm, compassionate, down-to-earth, and empowering book, Jen Schefft has a positive message to impart to millions of sensational single women: Love yourself . . . and never settle for anything less than everything you deserve.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Schefft, who famously turned down two marriage proposals on national TV, would seem the perfect source for a book on finding inner happiness and self-sufficiency without a man; unfortunately, the former star of TV's The Bachelorette has a positive message and little else. Instead of providing juicy behind-the-scenes stories from her two seasons on TV, Schefft illustrates her message with anecdotes from a number of average women, a technique she leans on so often that these real-life tales start running together. Lists of questionable utility and appeal are provided throughout, such as "50 Reasons Why It's Great to Be Single" ("You still have an opportunity to hook up with Justin Timberlake if he suddenly knocked on your door"); ditto in-book quizzes and activities. Familiar lessons like "Don't Be a Doormat" and the grass isn't always greener lack fresh perspective, and the text can be frustratingly repetitive ("Chapter 4: Tell Mom-and Everyone Else-to %$#* Off" doesn't preclude sections in Chapter 8 on "Parental Consent" and the "Dutiful Daughter"). Though she provides an occasional surprise-a helpful look at the distinction between playing hard to get and being hard to get, for example-Scheff's advice is largely stale, providing more comfort than constructive ideas.
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About the Author

Jen Schefft won 2003's The Bachelor and starred in 2004's The Bachelorette. Walking away from both after turning down two proposals, she now works in public relations and lives in Chicago, Illinois.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 288 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow; 1 edition (January 23, 2007)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061228079
• ISBN-13: 978-0061228070
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 13.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (25 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #785,574 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

22 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Choose a Position, March 3, 2007

By 

Janice Ruiz "Michelle" (Chicago) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Better Single Than Sorry: A No-Regrets Guide to Loving Yourself and Never Settling (Hardcover)

This book was not good. Plain and simple. I read it because I saw Jen on TV, probably like everyone else who read it. The problem is Jen is very hypocritical and contradictive. She says be yourself and don't play games then tells women to withold sex for power. Yeah, no game there. She says she's not into money, yet she drops the profession of guys for no reason, like "Investment banker Bob"-or something. Then she tells a story about Bob that has NOTHING to do with his job. What's the point? Are we supposed to believe her more because Bob is an investment banker or be impressed? Sounds like she's into money to me.

I encourage any woman considering this book, or who has read it, to read "God is a Woman: Dating Disasters." It's hilarious and has really good advice. Amazon shopper "Nice Girl" writes a very thorough review of "Better Single Than Sorry" and "God is a Woman" on the "God is a Woman" page. She can't repeat the same review in two places, but you should go to the other book's page and read her review of both books. It's really good.

Jen's book is a pass. Save your money and put it toward a manicure. You'll feel better than you will reading this and have something to show for it.

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars REFRESHING!!!!, May 13, 2007

By 

bohemian theologian "Theologian, Sociologist,... (Saint Paul, MN) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Better Single Than Sorry: A No-Regrets Guide to Loving Yourself and Never Settling (Hardcover)

I read this book at Barnes and Noble on a study break and I will admit that I found it very refreshing!! Why? too many books about being single seem to focus on some aspect of trying to fetch a guy by improving your looks, by flirting better, by having fewer standards, by networking more, etc. While some of those principles are not always completely bad, they focus on life being better with having the ideal mate in your life (instead of learning how to manage or enjoy life). And then other times, they are outright anti-feminist with principles of encouraging submissiveness, a lack of communication and pretending to be something that you are not which is damaging to BOTH sexes, not just women.

This book I think gets it RIGHT. Jen Schefft talks about ENJOYING the single life, about NOT SETTLING, about not falling into the peer pressure when friends or parents want you to be with someone. I think that this is downright refreshing in contrast to other books on single life. More books should be like this! They should not encourage women to be any less than who they truly are, and changing something about yourself should be because YOU want to do it, not because you want to get someone's attention. This seems to have a slef help twist on a feminist perspective.

Other books that I think that people who might be interested in this book might benefit from are: The Meaning of Wife, Bachelor Girl, Feminine Mystique, A Room of Ones Own.

11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Sorry I Read This, January 2, 2009

By 

The Literaturette (Chicago) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Better Single Than Sorry: A No-Regrets Guide to Loving Yourself and Never Settling (Hardcover)

This book was a waste of time for me to read.

Like most, "yay rah single girl" books, it operates on the FALSE assumption that single women in their twenties and early 30's have amazing, complete lives.

Life isn't Sex and the City and a lot of single girls (past college age) don't have a huge gaggle of single girlfriends to hit the town with every weekend. Most of us aren't yet settled into our careers and our friends have moved all over the place to pursue careers, grad school...etc.

It's hard to just "love yourself and your life while you wait for Mr. Right" while your life is so full of uncertainties. Books written for single women always assume that you are awesome and have this great career and group of wonderful, supportive friends. That's just not the case for so many single women out there.

Unless you have a great job, live in a fun city, have a group of amazing girl-friends, and have no kids, this book has nothing to offer.