Build a Better Spouse Trap: A Street-Smart Dating Strategy for Men Who Have Lost a Love [Hardcover]

Theodore S. Wentworth (Author), Lexi von Welanetz (Contributor)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 25, 2002

When Ted Wentworth's first wife passed away, he went through the textbook stages of grief. Not being the type to succumb to self-pity, he would have to find the best way to continue. He picked himself up and devised a plan so he could continue his life. The plan the author devised works equally well for men who have lost a wife to death or divorce. Here are detailed guidelines readers can use when they are ready to face the world and start dating again.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

In his foreword, Chicken Soup for the Soul series coauthor Jack Canfield writes, "Ted Wentworth knew how to look for the woman his heart was yearning for... and he found her. We're lucky he decided to pass his secrets along to the rest of us." In this simple book, Wentworth shares plenty of tips and personal anecdotes on coping with loss, moving on, starting a new relationship and even getting married again. Although the title makes the book sound like a sneaky expos‚ on snaring a mate, Wentworth's guide is really about recovering from lost love and generating new romance. Agent, Carole Bidnick.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

About the Author

Theodore S Wentworth

Product Details

• Hardcover: 220 pages
• Publisher: M.Evans & Company (January 25, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0871319594
• ISBN-13: 978-0871319593
• Product Dimensions: 9.2 x 6.2 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 15.2 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,652,741 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Not Your Everyday Book on Dating, March 15, 2002

By 

John S. Niendorff (Los Angeles, CA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Build a Better Spouse Trap: A Street-Smart Dating Strategy for Men Who Have Lost a Love (Hardcover)

This unusual, very helpful book is by a no-nonsense guy who presents straightforward talk about the real issues of dating and relationship. I find that his combination of practicality and personal experience is savvy, down-to-earth, and useful. "Useful" is the operative word here. I think of the chapters on reinventing yourself after the loss of a mate, strategies for finding and nurturing a new relationship, identifying women who may be emotional time-bombs, and being realistic about STDs. These -- along with subjects like meeting on the Internet, knowing when you're really serious, confronting money issues, fighting, and even breaking up (if things come to that) -- make this a great overall book on relationships. But I think its most notable accomplishment may be this apparent impossibility: it offers, in effect, a basic, practical course for men on romance. How rare is that?

"Build a Better Spouse Trap" says it's for men who have lost a wife to death or divorce, but it also turns out to be one terrific guide to creating a successful relationship, full of practical understanding for both men and women, whatever their circumstances may be.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! A Great Book for Single Men!, February 5, 2002

By 

Mary Olsen Kelly "Survive and Thrive" (Honolulu, HI United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Build a Better Spouse Trap: A Street-Smart Dating Strategy for Men Who Have Lost a Love (Hardcover)

I applaud Ted Wentworth for writing a terrific relationships book targeting male readers. Most personal growth, love relationships, and self-help books are designed to appeal to women. This one is for men (and the women who love them). It is filled with practical tools for healing a broken heart, understanding the emotions that come with losing a lover through death, divorce or disease, and getting back out into the scary singles scene.
This is a great gift book. I purchased several books to give to my male friends who long to be in committed loving relationships. I know that with this book they will be able to construct a strategy and action plan that will really help them find their ideal mate.
This street-wise strategy is also great reading for women by the way. I learned a lot about recovering from loss, dealing with grief, and learning to trust again. So, I guess it's not just for men.
I give this book the highest possible rating and I sincerely hope it finds its way into the lives of millions of lonely men and women who are ready to build their next partnerships and marriages.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Real Answers to Difficult Men's Issues About Love., August 14, 2002

By 

Steve Nakamoto "The Friendly Voice of the... (Huntington Beach, California USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Build a Better Spouse Trap: A Street-Smart Dating Strategy for Men Who Have Lost a Love (Hardcover)

Here's a book that a truly sincere and mature man can appreciate. While there are so many books written for women about love, there are very few good ones directed toward men.

This one, however, is one of those gems.

What's great about this book is that it is very male, bottom-line friendly and therefore, speaks the language of its intended audience. As a relationship author myself, I found this book a great help (and confirmation) in understanding what are the most key issues about men, women, and love.

Some of the things that I thought were very useful include:

* "The Five Stages of Grief" and particularly the last stage called "acceptance." This is one that I overlooked in my life and is one of the most valuable to me personally.

* "Inventing the New You" which is about moving forward by learning and growing. The author selects some great books and tapes to help in the recovery phase. I found that most people underrate the value of audio programs, but it is the live audio program format that first got me interested in attending seminars and lectures which I feel have the greatest impact for creating lasting personal change.

* "The Psychological Land Mines" which includes a look at what could be early signs of potentially damaging relationships. I found this to be the most informative part of the book.

I could go on and on about the different features of the book, but the bottom line is that there is something for every man in this book. For me personally, I think that I respect the author for his personal journey and his willingness to share his brilliant interpretation of how to intelligently go about creating a new love relationship the second time around.

Here's a man who has felt the ultimate pain of a love one's death and has turned his life around to enjoy and contribute to another relationship in what seems like a relatively short time.

When you read this book, you'll come to appreciate that it comes straight from the heart. There is nothing self-serving about Spouse Trap. For men wanting straight talk about finding love and intimacy, here's a great book for you.