Customer Reviews

The Choice Effect: Love and Commitment in an Age of Too Many Options

5 star:		(11)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

The Choice Effect is a wonderfully written book by three mid-twenties Stanford grads who all met freshman year and have managed to both keep their friendships in tact and travel the world together after college. They hilariously explore the dilemma that post-college/pre-marriage women find themselves in: when you've been told "the world is your oyster," how do you choose which of the thousands of paths in front of you to take!? They talk men, they talk careers, they talk family, they talk friendship, they talk self-reflection - in 200 pages, they cleverly cover it all, and they do so with insight, intelligence, research, and wit. McGibbon, Vogel and Williams are clearly on to something - it's about time we had a book that covered the modern-day dilemma we've often found ourselves in. I loved it from cover to cover!

As both a "child of the eighties" and someone with an interest in generational studies, I read the first half of the book with great interest and amusement. Once I got to the section on sex and relationships, however, I grew horrified--not by the fact that my generation of women, of which I am a part, can now enjoy casual sex, but rather, at the flagrant disregard for the humanity of the opposite sex.

Yes, men have historically mistreated women, and there is nothing wrong with the casual hookup, depending on what you want out of life. When these women apply the same sense of humor to choosing men that they apply to choosing shoes or even places of travel or a job, however, I grew sick to my stomach. The humor comes off as heartless and makes the previously witty, charming and likeable authors seem an unsettling combination of delusional, un-self-aware, and/or egregiously selfish.

Besides the way I have seen my friends, male and female, hurt by the hookup culture, I believe that certain life skills like bestowing dignity on a lover who has made a commitment to you transfer into being a good friend and overall human being.

Relationships are not valuable just because you always have a partner to screw or someone to share a lazy Sunday morning with, as the authors imply. While life can absolutely be rewarding without them, men are more than just a warm body at night. Relationships are worthwhile because you connect to the humanity inside a unique individual, then get to build something alive and vibrant that will last many years-- something so much bigger and more worthwhile than being able to hook up with that third guy wo grabs your ass.

Maybe I'm just a romantic. But as someone who fit the "Choister" profile to a T--overachiever, exotic travel, hook ups/dating around, moved a lot and loved not having to commit--then found my life turned upside down when I met & married "the one" within a year, I have a somewhat unique perspective.

Our generation is so beautiful, rewarding, and complex. While humor requires some reductionism, the girls' does a disservice to female "choisters." I grow very uncomfortable knowing that some elder generations will accept this myopic fluff as a true reflection of even most of us.

The girls' cavalier perspective is rewarding and funny till it makes men commodities and casts themselves in a garish light.

I was somewhat apprehensive to read this book but after seeing it was listed as free on my kindle I decided to give it a go. I was definitely surprised by the humor and how much I related to what the authors were saying. I am a Choister on every level and feel this book sums up my life in a nut shell. If you are unsure if you should read this...Don't be! I did not always agree with the personal opinions of the authors, however, that didn't stop me from enjoying it. I literally LOLed. So if you have the time, and are looking for a good read, this is a great choice! :) (No pun intended).

The Choice Effect is HYSTERICAL!!!! These three young authors got it right!! Finally, a good book that speaks to our generation about the problems we're all facing. I highly recommend the book. It's a keeper. Absolutely loved it!!!!

While I agreed with the overall idea that being presented with a multitude of choices can often be overwhelming, I didn't find that particularly insightful in itself. I found a lot of the ideas to be nothing new, in fact. The concept of the best relationship being the one you've never had (duh, hello idealized situation), the notion that sometimes you find yourself in a nebulous sort of relationship situation without being entirely sure of how you got there, and the fear that you might be missing out on something perfect by choosing something that is just good -- not exactly treading groundbreaking territory here.

I really could not identify with many of the things these women consider to be aspects of modern life, and after a while I found this so frustrating to read that I just put it down. It is, in every possible sense, the obvious prattling of three privileged young women. I just didn't connect with much they had to say, beyond the idea that it can be frightening to think that the choice you've made for yourself might not have been the best one, but I didn't need this book to convince myself of the validity of that feeling. However, I've never felt unsure about my relationship choices because it was cramping my international travel style, or because it was cramping the hard-partying lifestyle I lead with my friends. The people I've dated often did come from within my circle of friends, and if they didn't, it wasn't hard for them to integrate (whenever appropriate, of course).

To me, this read like a list of justifications for being unsure of yourself and afraid of the future. Since I was only able to finish about 60% of this book (kindle reader), maybe it improves in the last 40%. I really hope so, because I honestly feel pity for anyone who lives their life in such a way that they meticulously avoid committing to anything out of fear that it may not be a perfect choice.

Oh, and are they advertising for Skype or something? They bandied that service around like they were being paid to do so. I found it a little grating. Some of the humor also seemed very contrived. The combined effect of too much technology namedropping and their sometimes forced humor felt simultaneously immature and patronizing. I couldn't tell if they were the little sisters trying to impress their big sister's friends by throwing out a cuss word every now and then, or if they were just older writers trying to appeal to the hip young crowd by throwing in some stilted jokes and references to cool relevant stuff(SKYPE SKYPE SKYPE) to prove they're on the level. Either way, really gross.

I couldn't put it down: insightful, personal and funny... a clever picture and commentary about our generation. Often educational, controversial at times, The Choice Effect certainly sparked many conversations at work and with friends! If you are looking for an astute, honest and entertaining read, this is the one! I also bought a bunch for my friends... When's the sequel coming out?

i'm a woman in my 20's and this book does NOT explain my life. yes, i have options. however, i actually make choices. the women who wrote this are awful, self-serving, and obviously over-priviledged. they are basically trying to justify a life in which they are devoid of any serious responsibility. they don't even take responsibility for their lack of commitment. chapter 2 blames their parents. oh, how horrible our parents were to suggest we could choose whatever career we wanted. shame on them!
i'd like to have a little more hope for my generation than this book gives. i got it as a free kindle download expecting some fun and original insight (because it IS true that our generation is not known for their ability to commit easily and we DO have WAY more options than any generation before us). i got what i paid for. i couldn't even get halfway through (maybe i'll appear in their 2nd edition because i couldn't commit to finishing their stupid book... too many other choices out there, i guess).

The Choice Effect is an entertaining and thought-provoking read, a great book to share with girlfriends and book clubs. Don't miss it!!

This is a must-read for any 20s/30s girl! Vogel, McGibbon, and Williams know how to entertain you from start to finish. Coming from all different backgrounds, these Stanford ladies bring you hilarious and witty stories and experiences as they explore relationships, career, love, marriage-- all the topics we love to discuss! Read it and pass it around to all your girlfriends!

In the Choice Effect, the authors capture a central concern for the young women of our generation - can we have it all? At times funny, insightful, thought-provoking and witty, this book will keep you reading late into the night. I highly recommend this book if you are someone who wants to tackle the big questions in your life and look with a bit more introspection at the choices you make. Discussing everything from dating to careers, this book has something to offer to each reader. At times, I felt the authors were writing directly to me and capturing my actual thoughts - amazing!