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

by Nina Atwood

Book Overview

Where are all the good people to date? Why do I always end up with the wrong person? Why is love so hard to find? This upbeat and on-target book answers these questions and many more, providing... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0805040978
• ISBN13: 9780805040975
• Release Date: January 1996
• Publisher: St. Martins Press-3PL
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.7" x 8.4" x 5.5"

Customer Reviews

The best

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.

Dating for a *committed* relationship

Ok, I have to give my 2 cents on this book. I am almost done (about 10 more pages left), but I want to give my impression while the ideas are fresh in my mind.First of all, the reason why I like this book is because the targeted audience of this book is geared toward my type of people. I wanted to search for someone that I can share my life with and I'm ready for an exclusive and committed relationship. I really want to know how I can go out and find someone like that will fulfill my needs. If you are someone who wants to know how to date a beautiful model or use the best pick-up lines, then this book isn't for you.I think the bottom line of this book is easy to understand and it's straightforward. This book tells you "not seattle for less." I think it gives several convincing arguments on why we will be better off if we dump someone that isn't making us happy. Furthermore, the author explains the essential ingredient needed for a healthy relationship. I will not spoil the bean, but I ask a lot of my friends and they all agree that those ingredients are needed. For those of us who is too shy to find a date (a lot of male friend I know is in this situation), this book addresses ways we can expand our chance of finding a date. I think it does a pretty good job of expanding our horizon.Furthermore, this book addresses the importance of communication. I can't agree more. The author delineates common misconceptions that couples faces after the fireworks wear out. This book is much more than a dating book. It teaches interpersonal skills as well. I am always seeking ways to grow and I think this book does a great job of giving advice. It is a keeper for me.

It changed my life!

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!

This book is excellent

This is not just how to meet people, but an excellent book on sorting out your priorities on what you want in a relationship, being upfront with your dates about what you are looking for, and doing this by the third date-- how to build and maintain healthy relationships as the title states. I would highly recommend it!!

Insightful, useful insights into dating with a purpose

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.