18 of 23 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
How to achieve happily ever after, October 11, 2009
This review is from: Prince Harming Syndrome: Break Bad Relationship Patterns for Good—5 Essentials for Finding True Love (and they're not what you think) (Hardcover)
When I was asked if I would like to review Prince Harming Syndrome: Break Bad Relationship Patterns for Good - 5 Essentials for Finding True Love (and they're not what you think!) by Karen Salmansohn I thought to myself, why not? I am not a self-help reader, listener, follower but I definitely have a history of starting relationships with those rough and tumble, sexy, sweet-talking, powerful guys only to find that they are just not long-term material, hence the singledom I am still in today. Maybe I would gain some insight as to why these Prince Harmings are so attractive.
Ms. Salmansohn uses her own experiences, research and some advice from that ol' love guru Aristotle to differentiate between three kinds of relationships (some for pleasure and one for happiness), to explain the difference between charm and character, and to explain the five essential elements one should include when looking for in a Prince Harming:
1. Does he want to be in a committed relationship?
2. Does he value growing as a person?
3. 4. 5. You will have to read the book to find out.
Ms. Salmansohn encourages the reader to write down what your "happily ever after ending" would include in great detail (including the five elements she lists) and to read and visualize your response for 5 minutes, three times a day. Eventually, visualizing positive images and thoughts will lead to a more positive outlook on relationships and life in general. There are also questions that should be asked of your potential Prince before you devote your self (and/or your body) to them and the relationship. This book is not only about the men. There are chapters devoted to becoming a Princess Charming ("Be The Change You Want To Date") and breaking the habits that seem to attract those bad boys.
I thoroughly enjoyed this book and not only for the visual appeal. There were a few eye-opening moments and times I said "Ah hah - makes sense!". The writing is fun, practical and straight-forward. A great choice for those looking for their own happily ever after.
Now, you may wonder "who is Karen Salmansohn?" as I did when I first looked at this book. I had not heard of her and was pleasantly surprised to see her extensive background.
* best selling author of 29 other books such as How to be Happy Dammit
* regular blogger on The Huffington Post online
* regular speaker at seminars
* interviewed on The Today Show, The View and Politically Incorrect
When asked why she feels the philosophies of Aristotle (many referenced in her book) are relevant today, she provided this answer:
One of Aristotle's big philosophies is that many people are unhappy because they foolishly confuse pleasure for happiness - when the two are incredibly different.
1. Pleasure is about immediate gratification and merely brings temporary joy - which is unsatisfying in the long run. Basically, pleasure is all about immediate fleeting gratification of the body and ego.
2. Happiness creates long-haul joy, because it's all about growing into your highest potential - your best favorite you. True happiness comes when you surround yourself with people and experiences which increase your soul's self-development - hence the joy lasts as long as you last - because the joy created becomes an integral part of who you are as a unique, and thriving individual.
I would encourage anyone to take a peek at Ms. Salmansohn's Facebook page website. It is is chock full of tips on dealing with stress, career, being happier (dammit) and of course love including chapter one of Prince Harming
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
More Fluff than Substance, April 5, 2010
This review is from: Prince Harming Syndrome: Break Bad Relationship Patterns for Good—5 Essentials for Finding True Love (and they're not what you think) (Hardcover)
The book was recommended by one of the ladies in my date coaching and group support organization, The Journey (Lynx Dating Solutions). We go over questions that you need to know the answers to while you are dating someone and before you advance with them into the Courtship phase of a relationship. The recommending member thought this book's questions would be a great source for all our members. I don't think the book is good enough academically to warrant recommendation to my group, but if they have an afternoon to kill then maybe they should read the book for fun. I give it a C at best.
I wouldn't go completely out on a limb and say this book sucked. Some of information in the book is very good but it's all standard date coaching fair that you can get in other, better written books. There are no surprises or new information, just a reiteration of good solid dating practices. I will say that the "Questions to Pop' was a good selection.
The problem with the book was all the 'buddy-buddy' wording and elaborate back-stories intertwined with Aristotle philosophy. Really made the book hard to follow. I wasn't sure if I was reading a self-help book or another Pray Laugh Love book. I would be happy with either, but not mixed. I felt like the author was trying to overcome her lack of formal training in this area by using Aristotle's teachings rather than an enhancement to her message. The chapters were way too chatty for a self-help book to be taken seriously. Pick up the book second-hand and save yourself a few bucks if you must have it. The title is very cute.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A+ FROM A THERAPIST, December 8, 2010
This review is from: Prince Harming Syndrome: Break Bad Relationship Patterns for Good—5 Essentials for Finding True Love (and they're not what you think) (Hardcover)
I love this book! I am a mental health therapist who has had her eye open for a book such as this for quite some time. I've had a number of female clients over the years who struggle with the common problem of choosing men/being attracted to men who end up being "jerks", "losers", "users", or simply not the "marriage material" they thought. I think this author takes a unique, but very common sense approach to the problem, breaking down her points into easy-to-read and humorous excerpts. She speaks personally as if writing woman to woman, and at the same time essentially educates women about paying attention to the reality of the man they are considering/dating versus considering/dating that man's potential. I think this book can really help women stay focused on developing their own self respect, giving easy to follow guidelines to help decipher the qualities they are looking for, and in turn aide women to be able to see a man for what he is versus being fooled or caught in a fantasy of who he is. She really trumps other relationship self-help books when it comes to the section about maintaining a healthy relationship with a good man, too. After years of counseling women who become dissappointed, hurt, and at times blindsided by the man they are dating or married to--and counseling some of those men they've ended up with--I think this author really pegs the topic and clearly knows the core of what true, mature love is. I've recommended it a number of times and will continue to do so!
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