Be Your Own Dating Service: A Step-By-Step Guide to Finding and Maintaining Healthy Relationships (Paperback)

by Nina Atwood (Author) "Once upon a time, there was a princess...well, she wasn't really a princess, but she thought of herself as one..." (more)
Key Phrases: Dating Game Plan, Shopping Conversation, Northbound Train (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Review
"Ms. Atwood's book empowers singles in their journey toward healthy romantic love. "-John Gray, author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

"A must-read for singles. "-Pat Love, author of Hot Monogamy
-- Review

Review

"Ms. Atwood's book empowers singles in their journey toward healthy romantic love. "-John Gray, author of Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus

"A must-read for singles. "-Pat Love, author of Hot Monogamy

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 304 pages
• Publisher: Holt Paperbacks; 1st edition (January 15, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0805040978
• ISBN-13: 978-0805040975
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.6 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #208,015 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

33 of 33 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars It changed my life!, September 2, 1999

By	Jim Turner "jturner6" (Tucson, AZ USA) - See all my reviews

The only thing I didn't like was the title. This book is so much more than how to date. I followed the suggestions to the last detail. I began by looking at previous relationships, what was good and bad about them and what happened. Then I looked at what I wanted in a relationship. I followed suggestions about increasing my network of friends and acquaintances. I paid attention to where I was in the stages of life and where the other people were. There were so many excellent insights into the psychology of relationships and how to match the physical, emotional, intellectual and not settle -- and also why I settled before and how not to. I can't say enough, and after three months I found someone so incredibly right for me I can't believe it, and she feels the same! Thank you so much, Nina Atwood, I'm telling all my single friends about your book!

29 of 29 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Insightful, useful insights into dating with a purpose, January 12, 1999

By A Customer

Want to pick up women? This isn't your book.

Want to manipulate men into asking you out? This isn't your book.

Want to date with a purpose -- to eventually find and develop a relationship that might become a committed, lifetime relationship nourishing two people? This is it!

Nina Atwood combines her professional training, personal experiences and the experiences of those she has counseled, coached and corresponded with to offer insight into the problems, reassurances that you aren't the only one having them, and concrete, achievable solutions.

While slightly slanted toward the female experience (like duh), it is only slightly slanted. The male experience, problems and point of view are clearly represented. Males can benefit not only from the direct information, but also from the subtext about what women want and expect (or at least should want and expect).

In addition, it isn't just about snaring someone. It is about living a full life, discovering who you truly are, being open and honest both to yourself and the world, and attracting someone who is like you.

I can't say enough good about this book.

If you have never had problems dating, if you've never wondered why you broke up, if you and your partner always seem to be on the same page, if your relationship is going where you want, if you truly understand what the other is feeling, if you never quarrel about "nothing", you don't need this book.

Otherwise, you cannot afford NOT to buy it.

26 of 26 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars The best, January 10, 2002

By	bradley v williams "brad646" (USA) - See all my reviews

The best book about dating relationships I have found... and it's about much more than just getting dates. As a male psychiatrist at a major university student health service where inability to make good choices in finding a healthy relationship is a common presenting complaint I recommend this book when I feel the patient could benefit from some study concerning the matter. Ordinarily I'm not really a fan of what I consider pop psychology but this book is very insightful and gives a good framework for understanding a process that we are taught very little about but somehow we are supposed to know. The reality for most us is learning in a trial and error fashion, often blindly, without much understanding about why things are going so badly and accumulating baggage along the way. There should be a course on this in high school if education is about preparing people for life, and if so, this book would be on my required reading list.