Table of Contents
Advance Praise for
HOW TO SURVIVE DATING
Im not a fan of the so-called experts. What do they know? This is the first book (and series) that gives it to you straight from real people who have been there in the trenches. Unlike so many other self-help books, I actually read this one.
STEVE LINOWES
WASHINGTON, D.C.
A great handbook to one of lifes best adventures. HUNDREDS OF HEADS sharing their wisdom. Practical, readable and fun.
J.R. WILLIAMSON
J.R. WILLIAMSON
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
I couldnt put it down. The stories and advice are hilarious and wise. I cant wait to try some of this in the real world.
LESLIE KIMERLING
NEW YORK, NEW YORK
Everyone is trying to uncover the mystery of dating (and have some fun along the way). If your Eight Ball isnt working, this book is a great place to begin.
KEN HABER
LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA
The journey of dating can be a 5-star adventure or a slow windy hot bus ride. How to Survive Dating gives practical and authentic advice for finding love, or at least how to have fun while trying.
DEBRA AND KEN CHIZINSKY
SANTA CRUZ, CALIFORNIA
WARNING:
This Guide contains differing
opinions. Hundreds of Heads
will not always agree.
Advice taken in combination may
cause unwanted side effects. Use
your Head when selecting advice.
Introduction
Who among us has not spent countless hours analyzingand overanalyzingour dating situations? Should I ask her out? Should I call him back? Did I say the right thing? Should I call again? Should I let him pay? Will he really look like his Internet picture? When do I ask her to live with me? How do I get out of this one...
This book the second in the HUNDREDS OF HEADS Survival Guide series, grew out of the simple idea that when youre facing any of lifes major challengessuch as navigating the treacherous currents of datingits good to get advice from people who have been there, done that. Why make all the mistakes for yourself?
Other advice books, no matter how smart or expert their authors, are generally limited to the knowledge of only one person. This book takes a different approach: It assembles the experiences of hundreds of people, stalwart daters who play the dating game andwin or loseemerge with some wisdom to share. If two heads are better than one, as the saying goes, then hundreds of them should be even better.
To create this book, we interviewed men and women from all over the country (and even a few from around the world). What they told us about their dating experienceswhether satisfied, relieved, or regretfulwas remarkably universal. It confirmed that all of us encounter similar obstacles and oddities, pain and pleasure, fun and funniness, whatever our dating goals.
As you might expect, we heard many different viewsand youll often find opposite views on the same aspects of dating life: where to meet your next date, whether Internet dating works, who should pay, should we have sex, should we live together? You may not agree with a particular respondents point of view, but in this book you can choose from hundreds of others. So read on. Armed with the wisdom of all these people, you may make fewer mistakes yourself and have more fun along the way.
MARK W. BERNSTEIN
YADIN KAUFMANN
SPECIAL THANKS
Thanks to our intrepid headhunters for going out to find so many daters from around the country with interesting advice to share:
Jamie Allen, Chief Headhunter
Lindsay Brillson
Jennifer Blaise Kramer
Scott Deckman
Sara Faiwell
Marlene Goldman
Teena Hammond
Gomez
Elizabeth Hockstad
Lisa Jaffe Hubbell
Shannon Hurd
Natasha
Lambropoulos
Nicole Lessin
Robin Lofton
Lindsey R. Miller
Jennifer Nittoso
Christina Orlovsky
Adam Pollock
Lisa Powell
Pedro Ramirez III
William Ramsey
Kazz Regelman
Jennifer Bright Reich
Graciela Sholander
Laura Roe Stevens
Helen Trickey
Beth Turney
Matt Twetten
Jade Walker
Sara Walker
Thanks, too, to our editorial advisor Anne Kostick. And thanks to our assistant, Miri Greidi, for yeomans work keeping us all organized.
The real credit for this book, of course, goes to all the people whose experiences and collective wisdom make up this guide. There are too many of you to thank individually, of course, but you know who you are. Thanks for sharing.
American Idol: What Were Looking For
It seems most people in the dating world are searching for someonebut whom? The answer differs with every dater. Whether youre in it for momentary fun or looking for a lifelong mate, it helps to be honest with yourself about your goalsand honest with others, too. Read on to discover what people want, what they dont want, and what they really, really dont want.
DATING IS LIKE SEARCHING FOR THE PERFECT WINE.
One date is too fruity, another too dry, and still another too much bouquet (cologne overdose). But once you find the perfect variety that suits your taste, get drunk.
KATIE KOSKO
PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA
THE CONCEPT OF DATING IS MUCH BETTER THAN THE PRACTICE.
J.S.
NEW YORK,
NEW YORK
THERE ARE TWO KINDS OF DATING: The fun kind, purely for entertainment, and then the kind thats more serious. Be open about your intentions so no one gets hurt.
K.B.
DANVILLE, CALIFORNIA
I only date men who dont speak English. That way, everything they say is funny, and very, very sexy.
ISABELLA
CHAMPAIGN, ILLINOIS
SARAH
SEATTLE,
WASHINGTON
DONT COMPROMISE IN YOUR SEARCH. Im looking for the person whos going to make me want to be with her for the rest of my life. Compromise on the color of your car or the size of your house, but not on the girl youre going to be with the rest of your life.
RICHARD
ATLANTA, GEORGIA
I LIKE A WOMAN WHO IS SASSY AND SMART, does not wear a bathrobe, and can hold her own with a menu. A friend of mine shaved her boyfriends head while he was passed out drunk. Thats the kind of girl for me.
JONATHAN ADAMS
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA
IF A DATE CANNOT TAP INTO YOUR SENSE