Customer Reviews

Tell Me About It: Lying, Sulking, Getting Fat... and 56 Other Things Not to Do While Looking for Love

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(5)
3 star:		(1)
2 star:		(3)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Unlike some of the other reviewers here, I was completely unfamiliar with Carolyn Hax before reading this book. Here, she comes across as wise, witty, funny, realistic--and yes, a bit unapologetically preachy and moralistic, but in a good way. There's good advice here for any woman or man whose love life is less than 100% satisfactory. It's mostly obvious, common-sense type stuff, but there are plenty of people who need to hear it. (And yes, I found a couple of words of wisdom here that I personally need to take to heart.) This is the kind of advice that your best friends would give you, if they were smart enough to see it and foolish enough to risk offending you.

I've been an obsessed fan of Carolyn's column and online discussions for years. I finally bought her book for myself and for my equally obsessed best friend, and I read it all in one night. For me, it was like hearing old stories from an old friend, because the points she makes in her book are issues she has covered many times before -- always with wit and naked honesty.

Carolyn has always maintained that love is not the answer to everything, and sometimes divorce is the best solution (after, in her words, you've "worked like dogs to fix it"). To me, her divorce represents an honest attempt to follow her own wise advice. I don't think it makes her any less credible -- in fact, it makes her more so, because she's been through it, and it's not advice she gives lightly.

Finally, to quote Nick, her ex: "Who would you rather have leading you into battle? The novice West Point graduate or the grizzled, battle-hardened warrior?"

Battle on, Carolyn.

The title may say that this regards "things not to do while looking for love", but actually most of the "tips" are just as relevant to life in general -- regardless of your romantic situation.

I prefer reading her online discussions to reading the book, but that's only because I suspect she is a little constrained by the book's format. She really shines when in a give-and-take with people.

Buy the book so you can get a "Carolyn fix" anytime you want. Check her out online at washingtonpost.com

This is the only "relationship book" I would recommend without reservation to anyone, of any gender/age/sexual orientation combination you can think of. Carolyn covers--with humor, compassion, and common sense--all of the mistakes that so many of us make when looking for luuuuuuv. Actually, just about everything she says could easily be applied to any kind of relationship. She has a lot of good stuff to say and she's totally unpretentious. This is a readable "relationship" book that actually applies to real people in real situations. Who knew?

I'm a big Carolyn Hax fan and I have been looking forward to her new book for a long time. I just finished reading it and I am not dissapointed. Not only is her advice meaningful and thoughtful, but, wheather you agree with her or not, she's funny and has a razor sharp wit which is very refreashing these days. It's a quick read and, like her column, gets right to the point and the rude truth (no matter how much it hurts). Okay, granted, it's not Pulitzer Prize worthy, but I recommend it highly to anyone new (or in dire straights) in the game of love and in need of some non sugar coated direction. The perfect beach book.

...who always gives thoughtful insight while making you laugh at the same time. Offers good, humorous advice on what not to do when meeting that special someone. Some booboos are obvious, others not. Enhance communications with coworkers, friends, and with family members, in a positive way--the key is to be yourself and not put your life on hold until...

Who says advice columnists are all fluff? They've never read Tell Me About It. Hax is funny, curt, and no-nonsensical; however, don't confuse those qualities with a lack of compassion. She wouldn't tell you the horrid truth if she didn't care.

Buy it if you are smart enough to appreciate sharp relationship-oriented wit.

In reading this book, I found a lot of the wit that exists in her columns and chats, something I definitely hoped for! Ms. Hax, in the book as in her columns and chats, has a very tell-it-like-it-is sensibility. Although most of what existed in the book were issues derived from the numerous columns and chats over the past couple of years, the advice she offers is a very generic (in a good way!) type of advice that we really all should be following. Although she discusses other life issues as well, if you are in the market for love, this is a must read for how to behave in seeking out the right partner!

I recently started reading Carolyn Hax's daily columns and weekly chats. I really enjoy her wit and wisdom, so I came looking to see if she'd written any books. I am about half way through this book and I really don't care for it. She has so much more humility and compassion now than she seems to have when she wrote this. I know, it was 10 years ago, and that's probably why. But honestly, it felt a little harsh, and a little smug. I wonder what she thinks about this book now, looking back. It's not awful, just not _her_, at least in my opinion.

I adore Carolyn Hax and have read her column in the Washington Post daily for six years. Her humor combined with sound advice on what NOT to do is such a nice change from a typical "land a man" book (which I never make it through).

A quick, fun read, but you will want to keep it as a reference.