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

Amalia McGibbon (Author), Lara Vogel (Author), Claire A. Williams (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 25, 2010

Love choices but hate choosing? Welcome to the club.

The Choice Effect is for young women who have all the opportunities in the world and no idea how to decide among them. It’s one thing to have lots of options when it comes to fulfilling careers or traveling the world—but what does it mean for our love lives? How can you know whether you’re with the right person—or if the time is right—when you haven’t vetted the other possibilities?

With hard-won insight, plus interviews with a whole host of other women who are living it, the twentysomething friends and authors of The Choice Effect explain why their generation is sidestepping traditional timelines. They look at the question of choice in the twenty-first century as they give voice to their generation’s dilemma: How do you choose when you’ve been taught you can have it all?

Editorial Reviews

Review

“In this wickedly funny bitch slap of a book, the authors establish themselves as the voice of a generation spoiled for choice. Williams, Vogel, and McGibbon nail the idiosyncrasies of the new old kids, baffled by too many options and paralyzed by their very freedom. I look forward to reading these brilliant authors’ analysis of Generation Y through parenthood, middle age, and into senility.” — Pamela Redmond Satran, author of the New York Times bestseller How Not To Act Old

“The Choice Effect is a hilarious, breezy, and ultimately insightful look at ‘Choisters’ – the young women of the Y Generation – and the mountain of choices they face in love, life and online shopping.” — Gigi Levangie, author of the New York Times bestseller The Starter Wife

“The Choice Effect navigates the liberating yet tricky terrain of a generation faced with an abundance of options–professional, romantic, and otherwise. This witty, clever, and insightful gem is the perfect guide for any young person who’s so overwhelmed by choices that it sometimes seems impossible just to make one.” — J. Courtney Sullivan, author of Commencement

“The sharpest take on dating in decades.” — Sara Parriott, author of Sex Doesn’t Count When…

“The Choice Effect is intelligent, funny and true. If you are a twenty-something women or you ever wanted to understand one, this book is for you.” — Howard Morris, author of Women Are Crazy, Men Are Stupid

About the Author

Amalia McGibbon holds a BA in English from Stanford University and a background in public relations. She currently divides her time between London, San Francisco, and Los Angeles. Amalia is the Food Editor for Gentry Magazine, and has been published in The Wave, BizBash Magazine, Caf, Diablo, and SF Downtown. --This text refers to an alternate Paperback edition.

Product Details

• Paperback: 224 pages
• Publisher: Seal Press (May 25, 2010)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1580052932
• ISBN-13: 978-1580052931
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 0.6 x 8.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.1 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,077,449 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastically hilarious and eye-opening book! June 4, 2010

By A. R. Sanchez

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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!

14 of 15 people found the following review helpful

2.0 out of 5 stars Devolves from witty into shockingly immature August 17, 2010

By Abigail Hostetter

Format:Kindle Edition

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.

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Well worth it! June 17, 2010

By Eyes For Change

Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase

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).