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136 of 140 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
a mixed bag -- some good insight, some overgeneralization, January 6, 2002
This review is from: Date Like a Man: What Men Know About Dating and Are Afraid You'll Find Out (Paperback)
The first half of this book provides a self-esteem pep talk and great insight into how men operate, and probably makes it worth the price. It explains how men often think and why some things that you make think are kind (giving him little gifts or paying for dinner) or innocuous (introducing him to your friends or family too soon) are actually scary to many men. The second half was a disappointment. It is filled with simplistic filler -- like lists of types of men & descriptions of each. For example, the "Jock" has "great sexual stamina" and "likes a screamer in bed." The "Nerd" "will go with you to flea markets" and has "kinky Star Trek fantasies", but, the author cautions, "don't bother with a Nerd if sex is vitally important to you". The author advises that take up sailing if you're looking for "Republicans and politically conservative men"; take up rock climbing if you like "high achievers" who are "always reaching for the top." Scuba divers are "deep"; runers "go the distance in relationships." You get the idea -- stereotypes abound. There are also pages titled "Men LIke Blow Jobs" and "Men Like Women Who Swallow" and (although I haven't met them) "Men Don't Like Kissing". I found the initial pep talk section, which tells us that men adore strong, smart, confident women and encourages us to pursue the PhD or MD and to beat him on the tennis court, to be inconsistent with the advice in the second half of the book -- which suggests that we allow men to rescue us in some ways, so when you find a mouse or spider in your house, don't be afraid to call that cute guy down the street & ask him to come over & help. He may even spend the night on the sofa if you act really scared. (Yes -- that story is in the book). The author also describes a scenario where a client deliberately fell (while rollerblading) in front of a guy she wanted to meet so that he could help her up and give her rollerblading lessons. The message seems to be -- be strong but act weak. Although the author acknowledges up front that dating is game-playing (because men like to play games, she tells us), the advice in the second half of the book seemed a little too manipulative, advising single women, for example, to take a fly-fishing course in Montana. This is worth reading for pep talk & the insight into how men think & operate. I'm not sure I'd bother with the overgeneralizations & game-playing advice in the second half.
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64 of 70 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
Biased, maybe? - From a guy., April 21, 2003
This review is from: Date Like a Man: What Men Know About Dating and Are Afraid You'll Find Out (Paperback)
Okay, so after reading this book, I've learned that I'm the only guy on the planet that likes to kiss girls, and I'm "homophobic" because I'm ...insecure about my "size." C'mon ladies! Where do you get this information? A little too much TV, huh? I saw a girl reading this book, and she had so many pages bookmarked, I had to check it out. I have to agree with many of the themes and statements, but ladies, we're not all this insane. I wear cologne everywhere I go, and half the time its because I like the smell of it. This books says "No guy wears colgne unless he's trolling." Really? So I suppose I'm in love with my cousins, since I wear cologne around family... huh? Don't be so general, and give a guy a break, would you? Don't fill the head of my future wife with such [junk].
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113 of 132 people found the following review helpful:
2.0 out of 5 stars
This book depressed me., September 17, 2003
This review is from: Date Like a Man: What Men Know About Dating and Are Afraid You'll Find Out (Paperback)
I recently decided to join the fun-filled world of dating again. Dating for fun. I read a couple of other books and was really psyched up about it. Then I read this book and wanted to crawl under a rock. I thought maybe I am not ready to get back in the game. Maybe I can't do this. I did not feel entirely good about the situation. Perhaps it was the generalizations about men. I personally do not feel that all men are either pigs or unemotional robots, who care nothing for human beings and all they want is sex, sex, and more sex. Perhaps it is because I am a woman. And I like being a woman, and I don't want to treat dating like a science. I also like to be whimsical and have fun. I don't like my relationships with people to be structured. The authors recommend that you only see the person that you are dating once a week for four months. And that you have a pair and a spare. I just felt her whole attitude towards dating was very cold and machine-like. Date one hundred men before you get married??? What if number 7 is your lucky number? She claims that the goal towards dating should not be marriage. But it sure felt like that was supposed to be the goal to me. Who knows, maybe I am wrong and will end up alone. Admittedly, I read this book for a reason, so I might not know what I am talking about. The author keeps referring to the book as a "program" and I may be wrong, but this isn't a "program." It is a bunch of advice. I did give the book two stars because I did feel that there was some good advice. She talks about where to meet people, and the type of men you are likely to attracted at these activites. (generalizations) She also recommends not to dress like a slut, because then men will want you for the dreaded "one thing only." She also focuses on working on the inner self, which is probably the most important advice to ending up in healthy relationships. There is also a lot of stress on not depending on a man for financial resources. Become financially dependent on yourself. Which I think is great advice. If you want to be a man-eater and approach dating in a very cool scientific manner, then this book is for you. If you want to focus on positive fun relationships with people, then this isn't the book for you.
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