Black and Single: Meeting and Choosing a Partner Who's Right for You [Paperback]

Larry E. Davis (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: October 1993

A specialist in the field of African-American social relations addresses the issues unique to black singles, such as the lower number of black males relative to females, and offers practical information on finding the right partner. Original.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Sociologist Davis fought hard to convince publishers in 1993 that black singles faced a different dating scene than whites, and now he presents the third edition of this landmark book. The professor relays culturally specific advice, in addition to universal dating mantras, on finding and sustaining romance. Backed by his own research among black college students and professionals, Davis explores everything from the coldly formulaic concept of determining one's "Romantic Market Value" to cultural questions on interracial romance and skin color and beauty. Much of the information is geared toward black women, who vastly outnumber men and have, Davis says, increasingly stepped into traditional male roles. Davis probes the sociological nuances of relationships without too much over-racializing, but this analytical look at the "Black romantic market," while provocative, may be too dry for the lay reader.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From the Inside Flap

Meeting and Choosing a Partner Who's Right for You

Tired of the man-bashing and woman-hating drama of the modern dating game? In Black and Single, Dr. Larry E. Davis--a social psychologist and voice of reason--reconciles the sexes, providing an indispensable buyers' guide for the romantic marketplace. His unique ideas start with appraising your Romantic Market Value (RMV), then assessing what your romantic budget can reasonably handle, determining the want vs. need ratio of the make, model, and type of mate you desire, and ultimately deciding how much power and handling you require. Inside, you will discover:


How to manage expectations from past successes and failures
The differences between liking, loving, and lusting
What color and perceived beauty have to do with everything
Why the most may not be the best for you
How to alter traditional roles to suit a changing you
Straightforward advice for avoiding the pitfalls that lead to heartbreak


With entertaining and thought-provoking examples from the real dating world, Black and Single is a practical, one-of-a-kind tool that will help you find the love you deserve. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Paperback: 260 pages
• Publisher: Noble Pr (October 1993)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1879360292
• ISBN-13: 978-1879360297
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.4 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #3,837,838 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Practical, but lacks detail, September 3, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Black and Single: Meeting and Choosing a Partner Who's Right for You (Paperback)

Insightful, but only scratches the surface as to the life of single people. Too many case studies without helpful details. Didn't really offer enough solutions, more of a study of the dating game rather than useful tips.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very Informative, June 12, 2000

By 

"mallure07" - See all my reviews

This review is from: Black and Single: Meeting and Choosing a Partner Who's Right For You (Paperback)

this was an excellent book from start to finish I found it to be very relative & helpful to today's dating scene amongst african american singles. I can't wait for the follow up! Kudos :-)

2.0 out of 5 stars Somewhat useful, but outdated..., November 5, 2011

By 

caprice - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Black and Single: Meeting and Choosing a Partner Who's Right for You (Nia Guide to Black Women) (Paperback)

While reading this book, I definitely could tell that the author was very knowledgeable and had done a lot of research into African-American relationships. However, that being said, this book seemed more like a Phd dissertation than a self-help book. Dr. Davis "pointed out" the different issues that occur in relationships, however he rarely gave advice on how to resolve issues encountered in dating. It was as if I was reading a textbook about African-American dating, which is not what I was looking for when I bought the book. I lost interest in the book half-way through while hoping that the author would start giving more advice and pointers into dating, which sadly never came. Also, the book is very outdated. I know that this book was first published in the early 1990s, and it shows... There was no mention of internet dating whatsoever, which in current times, is a major part of dating and relationships and really can't be ignored. If you're seeking a book that can advise you and identify the issues that you are currently facing while being a single African-American, I have to suggest that you look for a different book.