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The Truth About Dating, Love, and Just Being Friends: And How Not to Be Miserable as a Teenager Because Life Is Short, and Seriously, Things Don't Magically ... Studd, But We'll Get to That Later...
Chad Eastham, with his typical wit and wisdom for teens, brings much sought after advice on girls’ favorite topics including dating, love, friendship, and other important stuff.
Chad shines some much-needed light on these major issues for teens. Rather than let their feelings navigate them blindly through their tumultuous adolescence, Chad offers clarity, some surprising revelations, and answers to some of their biggest How do I know who to date? When should I start dating? How should I start dating? Is this really love? And, Why do guys I like just want to be friends?
Packed with humor that adds to the sound advice, this book will help teens make better decisions, have healthier relationships, and be more prepared for their futures. Just a few things girls will learn Five things you need to know about love; Eight dumb dating things even smart people do; Ten reasons why teens are unhappy; and Ten things happy teens do.
Any teen can live a happier, healthier they just need to hear The Truth.
Meets national education standards.
Chad shines some much-needed light on these major issues for teens. Rather than let their feelings navigate them blindly through their tumultuous adolescence, Chad offers clarity, some surprising revelations, and answers to some of their biggest How do I know who to date? When should I start dating? How should I start dating? Is this really love? And, Why do guys I like just want to be friends?
Packed with humor that adds to the sound advice, this book will help teens make better decisions, have healthier relationships, and be more prepared for their futures. Just a few things girls will learn Five things you need to know about love; Eight dumb dating things even smart people do; Ten reasons why teens are unhappy; and Ten things happy teens do.
Any teen can live a happier, healthier they just need to hear The Truth.
Meets national education standards.
257 pages, Kindle Edition
First published February 8, 2011
33 people are currently reading
194 people want to read
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 32 reviews
December 2, 2011
The Truth about Dating, Love & Just Being Friends is a non-fiction, self-help book. I don’t normally read this kind of book – I prefer fiction, and I’m stubborn enough to believe that if anyone can help me with anything, that’ll be me. And not some self-help guru, the Easter Bunny or a guy named Chad Eastham. However, when I saw this book being featured on Booksneeze, I was curious about it. The synopsis sounded funny and entertaining and not patronizing at all. It actually seemed like it was written not only for teenagers, but by a teenager as well. Now I know Mr. Eastham is NOT a teenager, I’m just trying to say that he can write like one, and I’m pretty sure that this skill appeals to his public. It’s one thing if adults tell you to do something, but it feels entirely different when someone else tells you, using the same kind of language you use and while adding some humor to it. So after reading the synopsis, I thought: why not?
I have to say that The Truth (I’m not going to write the entire title everytime because, face it, it’s just too long and I’m lazy) is a very hilarious, fun and entertaining read. In just under 250 pages, Chad Eastham talks about subjects like the Twilight-phenomenon and why all young teenage girls (and sometimes even boys!) seem to be infatuated with vampires, werewolves and the likes, while in all honesty, dead guys and enormous dogs don’t seem all that appealing when looked at from another perspetive. He talks about social media and how it ruins our dating skills, about what we should keep in mind while dating, why some people are just meant to be friends and to never get together and he even dedicates an entire chapter to why his book could be stupid.
The book is filled with charts, lists, notes from readers, jokes and fun facts. It’s a very entertaining and fun read, very casual, and I enjoyed the fact that he didn’t scare away from certain topics, like dating the wrong people and what that could do to you. On the other hand, I have to say that he mentions Christianity a lot, and the view of religion on certain things, and he quotes from the Bible too. While I personally don’t have a problem with that, I don’t think this was the smartest move. Nowadays teenagers, especially here in Europe (I don’t really know about the States), aren’t that much into religion anymore. Most of them still believe in God and Jesus, but they don’t let religious principles dedicate their lifestyle, and mentioning the Bible occassionally in a book of this kind, a self-help book aimed at teenagers, might seem patronizing or old-fashioned to them. Now, Chad mentions a lot of time that the religious views he includes are only aimed at those who believe in them, but he is actually turning away a large part of the teenage public by including them in the first place.
Muslims, jews, teenagers who are followers of the new-age religion, will all be frowning upon the casual mentioning of the Christian religion all through-out this novel. And even Christian people might seem confused at why religion is such a strong theme in this book. I’m not really against it, but it bothered me. I feel like it’s unfair to write a book aimed at teens and then basically exclude half of the teenage population. I think it would have been a wiser decision to include some of the religious themes in a not-so obvious way, like by explaining the principles without actually mentioning they’re religious, because when we look at the basic principles of most religions, they’re more or less the same or at least based on the same morals. Either you include the views of not only the Christian religion, but of some other major religions as well, or you don’t include religion at all. Not if you don’t want to scare off half of your potential public.
Apart from that, I thought the book was great. It was fun, hilarious (I even laughed out loud at times) and highly original. If you’re a teenager struggling with the entire dating process, then I advise The Truth about Dating, Love & Just Being Friends to you, and even if you’re not really struggling but just up for a fun non-fiction read, then I would advise this book as well.
I have to say that The Truth (I’m not going to write the entire title everytime because, face it, it’s just too long and I’m lazy) is a very hilarious, fun and entertaining read. In just under 250 pages, Chad Eastham talks about subjects like the Twilight-phenomenon and why all young teenage girls (and sometimes even boys!) seem to be infatuated with vampires, werewolves and the likes, while in all honesty, dead guys and enormous dogs don’t seem all that appealing when looked at from another perspetive. He talks about social media and how it ruins our dating skills, about what we should keep in mind while dating, why some people are just meant to be friends and to never get together and he even dedicates an entire chapter to why his book could be stupid.
The book is filled with charts, lists, notes from readers, jokes and fun facts. It’s a very entertaining and fun read, very casual, and I enjoyed the fact that he didn’t scare away from certain topics, like dating the wrong people and what that could do to you. On the other hand, I have to say that he mentions Christianity a lot, and the view of religion on certain things, and he quotes from the Bible too. While I personally don’t have a problem with that, I don’t think this was the smartest move. Nowadays teenagers, especially here in Europe (I don’t really know about the States), aren’t that much into religion anymore. Most of them still believe in God and Jesus, but they don’t let religious principles dedicate their lifestyle, and mentioning the Bible occassionally in a book of this kind, a self-help book aimed at teenagers, might seem patronizing or old-fashioned to them. Now, Chad mentions a lot of time that the religious views he includes are only aimed at those who believe in them, but he is actually turning away a large part of the teenage public by including them in the first place.
Muslims, jews, teenagers who are followers of the new-age religion, will all be frowning upon the casual mentioning of the Christian religion all through-out this novel. And even Christian people might seem confused at why religion is such a strong theme in this book. I’m not really against it, but it bothered me. I feel like it’s unfair to write a book aimed at teens and then basically exclude half of the teenage population. I think it would have been a wiser decision to include some of the religious themes in a not-so obvious way, like by explaining the principles without actually mentioning they’re religious, because when we look at the basic principles of most religions, they’re more or less the same or at least based on the same morals. Either you include the views of not only the Christian religion, but of some other major religions as well, or you don’t include religion at all. Not if you don’t want to scare off half of your potential public.
Apart from that, I thought the book was great. It was fun, hilarious (I even laughed out loud at times) and highly original. If you’re a teenager struggling with the entire dating process, then I advise The Truth about Dating, Love & Just Being Friends to you, and even if you’re not really struggling but just up for a fun non-fiction read, then I would advise this book as well.
Want to read
March 6, 2011I got this book t revolve and also the waffle book.
September 8, 2011
This is a very good book. It shows some problems kids have and helps them by answering them. This book is very interesting and the author, Chad, can be pretty funny.
December 7, 2022
I didn’t read this for me. I read it as a preview for my kids. I know not all kids want to talk to their parents about dating and crushes and all that. I know ideally they do, but knowing how I was and my kids seem to be, I wanted a resource for them to get answers. I feel like this is a great option. It’s pretty Christian (non-denominational as far as I can tell), so if that is not your family, there is probably a better book out there for you. I really liked it. It’s a step up from the advice I’d get from magazines in the ‘90s for sure. It’s not just about dating myths or relationship advice. It goes into loving one’s self or making your own life happy and not depending on romantic relationships for that. Pretty solid and right along the lines of what I was looking for for our family. Again, this will not align with everyone, but I’m happy I have it to share with my kids now.
(Edited to add: this is from 2011 so there are quite a few things that are dated. It obviously isn’t caught up with what the social media world is like now and how that affects teens and their interactions with one another.)
(Edited to add: this is from 2011 so there are quite a few things that are dated. It obviously isn’t caught up with what the social media world is like now and how that affects teens and their interactions with one another.)
December 30, 2017
This book was AMAZING and SO INSIGHTFUL. I wish someone would have handed me this book when I started middle school or high school; it would have saved me so much drama, heartbreak, lost friendships, and sleepless nights.
The pages are bleeding from all the sections I've highlighted.
Chad's words of wisdom are incredible, and his writing style is engaging, intelligent, and hilarious. God indeed spoke to me while I was reading these words.
Highly recommended!
The pages are bleeding from all the sections I've highlighted.
Chad's words of wisdom are incredible, and his writing style is engaging, intelligent, and hilarious. God indeed spoke to me while I was reading these words.
Highly recommended!
December 1, 2023
Heavily Christian book in disguise. In fact it actually hides it pretty well until you get to about page 20 or so. Up until then it only lightly brings up non descriptive faith and science. It’s also a bit dated having a copyright mark for 2011. It’s also a pretty big red flag that this book written by a man of the church is specifically about teens and them dating and having sex, no really there's passages where he shifts to pointing at girls specifically. From talking about abstinence to Juvie, I don’t trust this man to be responding to boys asking questions about little girls and little girls asking him questions about their bodies.
It’s actually pretty heavily focused on shaming girls and telling them how to behave. There’s a section about not being desperate that provides good advice but then it takes a left field into “the top 10 things you should never say to a guy”. With stereotypical responses and questions that show the age of this book and the author. But hey at least it has a section about what turns girls off.
The book has some good examples and some pretty decent advice lets be honest. But the train kind of goes off the rails once it starts to put Bible quotes around and to go online to ministry websites. I thought about getting this book for my friend with really strict religious parents who didn’t teach her about sex and I think that might be the kind of person this book was perhaps made for. Either way don’t be fooled, it literally asks you to detach yourself and use your faith in God to help you solve your questions. You know cause you’re talking imaginary friend in the sky can help you with an abortion or a boy who didn’t use a condom.
At least this book had a little bit of science and a biography area where it got its sources. It’s also a little bit of a self-help book as it has sections where you can write answers and think through your questions and problems.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there is no section about gay relationships, despite this generation being the most queer friendly. Children struggling to come out or even create relationships while they’re young is a big factor for dating but this book doesn’t touch on it whatsoever.
All in all I think the ending drive for the book is just to encourage people to not be taken advantage of and to enjoy their life. While I do think it could’ve been handled a bit better and with less of a judgmental and demanding tone by an older creep, it’s still a decent book to give to somebody who might be struggling or might not have been given the proper tools to go into the realm of dating. Just be aware of its flaws.
—
It literally quoted the Bible on page 75 with “from the best selling book on planet earth." Dude get over yourself, people buy that fireplace kindling to shove it in hotel rooms and use it to take away rights of others.
"I believe love is not complete until it first rests in God." What does that mean??? "Because God made us for himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in him." Creepy bro, this is a dating advice book for people who play video games and eat lunch in a cafeteria, why do you want kids to put so much faith in you to tell them how to have sex.
I think it's pretty disturbing to think that God would own our hearts. Our hearts are free and independent, and no one has the right to control them but us. It's a really messed up concept that essentially denies any free will and autonomy. 'God made us for himself', so we are just slaves bound to his will, who will never be complete or fulfilled unless we are in submission to him? It's a twisted idea that is used to control and oppress people. They're pretty much saying that love isn't complete or real unless God is involved. Subtly telling you not to date outside your faith.
God is not necessary for love to exist or be complete. Just look up that serial killer who was Christian. Love is an innate trait that we all have within us, and it manifests in many ways. It's an emotion that arises from care and bond between two people, and it can exist without any religious involvement or influence whatsoever. Love is a powerful feeling, and it's completely possible to have a complete and fulfilling love without requiring that your god be involved in it.
The idea that people need to have faith in order to truly love someone or something, and that their love is meaningless unless it comes from faith, is just so twisted and wrong. It's a very controlling mindset that tries to make people believe that love is only possible and true if it's based on faith and submission to God. This book is about teenagers asking about holding holds, what is wrong with you.
At least add "With God" to your long title so you don't slowly drip feed kids your dogma. The fact that they're preaching that ideology to young impressionable teens is- Well I’m not surprised. The church is very keen on indoctrinating people from a young age so as to make it easier to control them later in life, and get their money from donations. It's much easier to teach a child that God is the only way to happiness and fulfillment than it is to convince an adult who has free will and autonomy.
It is not very romantic, but reality is a better basis for building a relationship than fantasizing about a soulmate or counting on a god to find you a partner. The book is simply false advertisement as it is more of a recruiting tool.
It’s actually pretty heavily focused on shaming girls and telling them how to behave. There’s a section about not being desperate that provides good advice but then it takes a left field into “the top 10 things you should never say to a guy”. With stereotypical responses and questions that show the age of this book and the author. But hey at least it has a section about what turns girls off.
The book has some good examples and some pretty decent advice lets be honest. But the train kind of goes off the rails once it starts to put Bible quotes around and to go online to ministry websites. I thought about getting this book for my friend with really strict religious parents who didn’t teach her about sex and I think that might be the kind of person this book was perhaps made for. Either way don’t be fooled, it literally asks you to detach yourself and use your faith in God to help you solve your questions. You know cause you’re talking imaginary friend in the sky can help you with an abortion or a boy who didn’t use a condom.
At least this book had a little bit of science and a biography area where it got its sources. It’s also a little bit of a self-help book as it has sections where you can write answers and think through your questions and problems.
It shouldn’t come as a surprise that there is no section about gay relationships, despite this generation being the most queer friendly. Children struggling to come out or even create relationships while they’re young is a big factor for dating but this book doesn’t touch on it whatsoever.
All in all I think the ending drive for the book is just to encourage people to not be taken advantage of and to enjoy their life. While I do think it could’ve been handled a bit better and with less of a judgmental and demanding tone by an older creep, it’s still a decent book to give to somebody who might be struggling or might not have been given the proper tools to go into the realm of dating. Just be aware of its flaws.
—
It literally quoted the Bible on page 75 with “from the best selling book on planet earth." Dude get over yourself, people buy that fireplace kindling to shove it in hotel rooms and use it to take away rights of others.
"I believe love is not complete until it first rests in God." What does that mean??? "Because God made us for himself, our hearts are restless until they rest in him." Creepy bro, this is a dating advice book for people who play video games and eat lunch in a cafeteria, why do you want kids to put so much faith in you to tell them how to have sex.
I think it's pretty disturbing to think that God would own our hearts. Our hearts are free and independent, and no one has the right to control them but us. It's a really messed up concept that essentially denies any free will and autonomy. 'God made us for himself', so we are just slaves bound to his will, who will never be complete or fulfilled unless we are in submission to him? It's a twisted idea that is used to control and oppress people. They're pretty much saying that love isn't complete or real unless God is involved. Subtly telling you not to date outside your faith.
God is not necessary for love to exist or be complete. Just look up that serial killer who was Christian. Love is an innate trait that we all have within us, and it manifests in many ways. It's an emotion that arises from care and bond between two people, and it can exist without any religious involvement or influence whatsoever. Love is a powerful feeling, and it's completely possible to have a complete and fulfilling love without requiring that your god be involved in it.
The idea that people need to have faith in order to truly love someone or something, and that their love is meaningless unless it comes from faith, is just so twisted and wrong. It's a very controlling mindset that tries to make people believe that love is only possible and true if it's based on faith and submission to God. This book is about teenagers asking about holding holds, what is wrong with you.
At least add "With God" to your long title so you don't slowly drip feed kids your dogma. The fact that they're preaching that ideology to young impressionable teens is- Well I’m not surprised. The church is very keen on indoctrinating people from a young age so as to make it easier to control them later in life, and get their money from donations. It's much easier to teach a child that God is the only way to happiness and fulfillment than it is to convince an adult who has free will and autonomy.
It is not very romantic, but reality is a better basis for building a relationship than fantasizing about a soulmate or counting on a god to find you a partner. The book is simply false advertisement as it is more of a recruiting tool.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
June 29, 2020
This non-fiction book is great for those who are just learning how to navigate the dating scene. Eastham gave great insight to how to be kind and understand situations and I found his advice very sound. I would recommend this book to anyone who is trying to better understanding dating at the beginning.
Read
May 22, 2025I guess if you believe God is the answer to everything then this is the book for you. But God is not the answer to our problems. He can’t solve them, only we can. No useful information in this, I would not give this to my 13 year old sister.
December 21, 2017
Great youth ministry book
August 1, 2018
Excellent book! I loved how everything was so well explained. It helped me understand a lot about how different relationships are.
September 20, 2023
review to come
October 22, 2024
This book was a good book the author gave lots of advice on things about being a teenager and being at that stage where you start to have feelings for other people.
December 30, 2024
This book was a little outdated, and wasn’t as applicable to me because it was geared toward younger teens, but it had some stuff that was helpful to think about. I also liked the parts about relying on God and how loving Him first over any boyfriend or girlfriend is important.
May 18, 2016
so what is up with the loooooonog title. Well the thing is this book is written for teens. I think the author hits the mark and will get their attention. It reminds me of The Life Book (click here for my review) although it is bigger. There are doodles, and different fonts used throughout the book. And questions posed by teens.
It begins with some statistics. Some I thought were rather interesting and some I actually questioned because I was not familar with the research.
For parents I would check out the statistics found in Chapter 1 page 6 through 10. These statistics might blow you away.
For teens you'll really enjoy this book. It gives you great wisdom and insight without being 'preachy'. In fact there are more quotes from people than there are actually scriptures. There are quotes from people like Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Groucho Marx(do teens know who he is? I wonder); and some from people that I am clueless about but maybe the Johnny Depp quote just took me somewhere else!
Personally I don't take the lack of scripture as a negative because I see this book as an evangelism tool.
Because I believe it could be a great evangelism tool for a young 'seeker'
If I was the parent of a pre-teen and I was a little concerned about the issue of dating then I might wish there was a little more Biblical truth.
But, I believe that when all was said and done the auther did an excellant job. Here's The last paragraph of the book. . . .
"If you get lost along the way, I hope you will look to good people to help you, and I hope you will look up to God. You are imporatant, and so is your journey. This life is wonderful, and it is also really difficult, but it's beautiful. I'll be here for you, hoping and encouraging, and praying for you. These are your choices, and this is your heart; go and do good things with them. "
And the last quote of the book:
Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than you. Dr. Seuss
I would highly recommend this book. I would even recommend to a small group leader or to your Y.M. check it out!
For more info. about the Author click here.
Here's the info. from the publishers website:
Chad Eastham, with his typical wit and wisdom for teens, brings much sought after advice on girls’ favorite topics including dating, love, friendship, and other important stuff.
Chad shines some much-needed light on these major issues for teens. Rather than let their feelings navigate them blindly through their tumultuous adolescence, Chad offers clarity, some surprising revelations, and answers to some of their biggest questions: How do I know who to date? When should I start dating? How should I start dating? Is this really love? And, Why do guys I like just want to be friends?
Packed with humor that adds to the sound advice, this book will help teens make better decisions, have healthier relationships, and be more prepared for their futures. Just a few things girls will learn include: Five things you need to know about love; Eight dumb dating things even smart people do; Ten reasons why teens are unhappy; and Ten things happy teens do.
Any teen can live a happier, healthier life: they just need to hear The Truth.
And the product info:
Format: Trade Paper
Author: Chad Eastham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 1400316413
ISBN-13: 9781400316410
Length: 240 Size: 5.40 x 8.10 x 0.80
Weight: 0.50 lbs Carton Qty: 36
To purchase you can find quick links at the publishers site. Click here. Or you can go to
Amazon or Christian Book (dot) com
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
It begins with some statistics. Some I thought were rather interesting and some I actually questioned because I was not familar with the research.
For parents I would check out the statistics found in Chapter 1 page 6 through 10. These statistics might blow you away.
For teens you'll really enjoy this book. It gives you great wisdom and insight without being 'preachy'. In fact there are more quotes from people than there are actually scriptures. There are quotes from people like Abraham Lincoln, Mother Teresa, Groucho Marx(do teens know who he is? I wonder); and some from people that I am clueless about but maybe the Johnny Depp quote just took me somewhere else!
Personally I don't take the lack of scripture as a negative because I see this book as an evangelism tool.
Because I believe it could be a great evangelism tool for a young 'seeker'
If I was the parent of a pre-teen and I was a little concerned about the issue of dating then I might wish there was a little more Biblical truth.
But, I believe that when all was said and done the auther did an excellant job. Here's The last paragraph of the book. . . .
"If you get lost along the way, I hope you will look to good people to help you, and I hope you will look up to God. You are imporatant, and so is your journey. This life is wonderful, and it is also really difficult, but it's beautiful. I'll be here for you, hoping and encouraging, and praying for you. These are your choices, and this is your heart; go and do good things with them. "
And the last quote of the book:
Today you are You, that is truer than true. There is no one alive who is Youer than you. Dr. Seuss
I would highly recommend this book. I would even recommend to a small group leader or to your Y.M. check it out!
For more info. about the Author click here.
Here's the info. from the publishers website:
Chad Eastham, with his typical wit and wisdom for teens, brings much sought after advice on girls’ favorite topics including dating, love, friendship, and other important stuff.
Chad shines some much-needed light on these major issues for teens. Rather than let their feelings navigate them blindly through their tumultuous adolescence, Chad offers clarity, some surprising revelations, and answers to some of their biggest questions: How do I know who to date? When should I start dating? How should I start dating? Is this really love? And, Why do guys I like just want to be friends?
Packed with humor that adds to the sound advice, this book will help teens make better decisions, have healthier relationships, and be more prepared for their futures. Just a few things girls will learn include: Five things you need to know about love; Eight dumb dating things even smart people do; Ten reasons why teens are unhappy; and Ten things happy teens do.
Any teen can live a happier, healthier life: they just need to hear The Truth.
And the product info:
Format: Trade Paper
Author: Chad Eastham
Publisher: Thomas Nelson
ISBN: 1400316413
ISBN-13: 9781400316410
Length: 240 Size: 5.40 x 8.10 x 0.80
Weight: 0.50 lbs Carton Qty: 36
To purchase you can find quick links at the publishers site. Click here. Or you can go to
Amazon or Christian Book (dot) com
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Thomas Nelson Publishers as part of their BookSneeze.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.
April 3, 2011
This book is geared towards teenagers and is full of relationship advice for them. It takes a look at teen dating (starting off with some statistics about our generation and actually defining "dating"), discussing the good things that can come about from dating and also the negative results from making bad decisions. It makes it clear that dating in itself isn't a bad thing, but that it's the decisions the people in a relationship make that can turn it sour.
Chad Eastham also discusses the whole concept of "just being friends," and how that could actually be a good thing. He talks about our emotions and the differences between miserable teenagers and happy teenagers. This book humorously answers all of the questions teens have about relationships, while encouraging them to make smart decisions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I had never read any of Chad Eastham's other books, but I have seen him speak several times at the Revolve Tour and always enjoyed his talks. This book is, of course, written from a Christian moral standpoint, but it's not preachy.
I read a lot of books like this when I was 14 or 15, because even though I wasn't dating anyone, I wanted to know everything I could about guys. :) I would have loved this book when I was that age. I feel like this book would be best for younger teenagers, or for ages 14-17 or so. And even though it's perfectly appropriate for girls and guys (some parts are even directed just to guys), I honestly can't imagine a guy picking this book off of the shelf. The cover just looks a little girly, but I wish that wouldn't keep guys from reading it!
As usual, Chad Eastham is a funny guy. His writing style is really casual and relaxed, a lot like listening to him speak at conferences. He writes directly to teenagers and is in touch with what's going on in their lives. He talks about how texting is hurting our communication (I agree with that!). And he dedicates a whole chapter to the whole Twilight-based phenomenon, with hilarious looks at what a relationship with vampires, werewolves, etc. would really be like. :)
Chad Eastham also discusses the whole concept of "just being friends," and how that could actually be a good thing. He talks about our emotions and the differences between miserable teenagers and happy teenagers. This book humorously answers all of the questions teens have about relationships, while encouraging them to make smart decisions.
Overall, I really enjoyed this book. I had never read any of Chad Eastham's other books, but I have seen him speak several times at the Revolve Tour and always enjoyed his talks. This book is, of course, written from a Christian moral standpoint, but it's not preachy.
I read a lot of books like this when I was 14 or 15, because even though I wasn't dating anyone, I wanted to know everything I could about guys. :) I would have loved this book when I was that age. I feel like this book would be best for younger teenagers, or for ages 14-17 or so. And even though it's perfectly appropriate for girls and guys (some parts are even directed just to guys), I honestly can't imagine a guy picking this book off of the shelf. The cover just looks a little girly, but I wish that wouldn't keep guys from reading it!
As usual, Chad Eastham is a funny guy. His writing style is really casual and relaxed, a lot like listening to him speak at conferences. He writes directly to teenagers and is in touch with what's going on in their lives. He talks about how texting is hurting our communication (I agree with that!). And he dedicates a whole chapter to the whole Twilight-based phenomenon, with hilarious looks at what a relationship with vampires, werewolves, etc. would really be like. :)
December 30, 2014
This book is a breath of fresh air. I wish everyone in their teens and young adult years and just anyone who feels like their dating life is not going in the right direction would read it. This guy is a genuine Christian, but he doesn't come across as overly teachy or uptight. I am a Christian, but oftentimes with Christian authors on subjects like this, that is my fear. Thanks, Chad Eastham, for not being like that! He is relatable, real, open, and delves into everything we really want to know without pulling punches or talking down to us. He brings a valuable Christian perspective into the discussion, which is what I would be looking for.
Overall, this book sets out to answer the questions guys and girls alike have about the opposite gender and figuring out how to interact in various relationships including dating, and it gives priceless insight into those things. I still don't feel like my questions about why guys do what they do are completely answered (maybe if I interviewed the author personally and could be more specific, it might help) but I think most of that is because the genders will always be something of a mystery to one another, purely because they are so absolutely different.
The value in this book is less what the author TELLS you and more what he ASKS you. He isn't setting out to tell you what or how to be, and he isn't interested in absolutes beyond the basics of Christian faith and morals. He's not going to set your boundaries for you; that's your parents' and ultimately your own job. But what he does do is ask you why you are dating, what you are looking for, how you want to be treated, what is a fair way to treat others (especially your significant other), and what you want to do with your life. He does explain a few key principles and statistics, but only as a way to let you figure it out for yourself by handing you the best tools for the job. If everyone taught like this, can you imagine how well-off we would be? Yes, telling has its place, but asking makes us do the work and come up with answers specific to ourselves and our unique situations.
Chad, bless you for your questions.
Overall, this book sets out to answer the questions guys and girls alike have about the opposite gender and figuring out how to interact in various relationships including dating, and it gives priceless insight into those things. I still don't feel like my questions about why guys do what they do are completely answered (maybe if I interviewed the author personally and could be more specific, it might help) but I think most of that is because the genders will always be something of a mystery to one another, purely because they are so absolutely different.
The value in this book is less what the author TELLS you and more what he ASKS you. He isn't setting out to tell you what or how to be, and he isn't interested in absolutes beyond the basics of Christian faith and morals. He's not going to set your boundaries for you; that's your parents' and ultimately your own job. But what he does do is ask you why you are dating, what you are looking for, how you want to be treated, what is a fair way to treat others (especially your significant other), and what you want to do with your life. He does explain a few key principles and statistics, but only as a way to let you figure it out for yourself by handing you the best tools for the job. If everyone taught like this, can you imagine how well-off we would be? Yes, telling has its place, but asking makes us do the work and come up with answers specific to ourselves and our unique situations.
Chad, bless you for your questions.
February 3, 2011
The Truth About Dating, Love & Just Being Friends by Chad Eastham
Chad Eastham uses a lot of the questions he receives from teens as a springboard and answers them honestly from his opinion, experience, and documented evidence. The teenage years are about relationships and Eastham covers the popular questions of when to start dating, being friends, what is love, what is dating, how to know if someone is into you, and more.
This is an informative book, packed with humor and I wish this book had been around when I was a teenager. Eastham presents answers to typical questions in a normal, down-to-earth fashion that I think is quite palatable to teens. He presents Biblical principles without being preachy. My favorite part is when he addressed the issue of a lot of teens being miserable and suffering through high school. Eastham gave practical advice about what makes happy people happy and how to be positive. This book was an enjoyable read that I didn’t want to put down. He answers questions I remember having, I just wish someone had delivered the answers the way he does. Not only will I be recommending this book to anyone with teens, works with teens, but also a few who just left their teenage years and it will become a permanent part of my library. I look forward to passing it along to my daughters when they enter their teens.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
Chad Eastham uses a lot of the questions he receives from teens as a springboard and answers them honestly from his opinion, experience, and documented evidence. The teenage years are about relationships and Eastham covers the popular questions of when to start dating, being friends, what is love, what is dating, how to know if someone is into you, and more.
This is an informative book, packed with humor and I wish this book had been around when I was a teenager. Eastham presents answers to typical questions in a normal, down-to-earth fashion that I think is quite palatable to teens. He presents Biblical principles without being preachy. My favorite part is when he addressed the issue of a lot of teens being miserable and suffering through high school. Eastham gave practical advice about what makes happy people happy and how to be positive. This book was an enjoyable read that I didn’t want to put down. He answers questions I remember having, I just wish someone had delivered the answers the way he does. Not only will I be recommending this book to anyone with teens, works with teens, but also a few who just left their teenage years and it will become a permanent part of my library. I look forward to passing it along to my daughters when they enter their teens.
Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through the BookSneeze®.com book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”
February 11, 2011
This latest book by Chad Eastham is an amusing yet practical guide for teenagers to focus on what's important in life -- which is usually not what they think it is. I enjoyed reading it because, even though the focus is on teenagers, a lot of the practical points made in the book still apply even after teenagers become adults. After all, the extended title is "... and how not to be miserable as a teenagers because life is short, and seriously, things don't magically get better after high school and lots of other important stuff, but we'll get to that later ..."
Chad goes through several different topics, including good points and bad points of dating, being a happy teenager vs. an unhappy one, dealing with feelings, and other stuff. He approaches everything with simple conversation, humorous stories and remarks, and activities to get everyone thinking. I liked the way he keeps things light, and yet doesn't skimp over the important things of which teens need to be aware. As a small group leader within my youth group, I think this book covers a lot of questions and emotions that my teens are definitely dealing with. I like that Chad is straightforward with some of the facts about teens and relationships, even the not-so-popular ones. He's not discouraging, but he still gets the point across. I like this book and would recommend it for any of the teens in my small who are willing to read it.
Chad goes through several different topics, including good points and bad points of dating, being a happy teenager vs. an unhappy one, dealing with feelings, and other stuff. He approaches everything with simple conversation, humorous stories and remarks, and activities to get everyone thinking. I liked the way he keeps things light, and yet doesn't skimp over the important things of which teens need to be aware. As a small group leader within my youth group, I think this book covers a lot of questions and emotions that my teens are definitely dealing with. I like that Chad is straightforward with some of the facts about teens and relationships, even the not-so-popular ones. He's not discouraging, but he still gets the point across. I like this book and would recommend it for any of the teens in my small who are willing to read it.
September 9, 2016
Great Christian book about dating!Recommend it!
October 10, 2016
Actual Rating: 3.75 Stars
Considering that this is a Chad Eastham book, I had really high expectations. However, I was unaware that while this book does hark on Christian beliefs some, the message of the book as a whole was designed to reach more than just Christians. So though Chad does bring God into the mix, he does so sparingly and with the almost warning of "this is what I believe, sorry if I get preachy." Instead, this book really shares basic psychology and how you can use that type of knowledge to your advantage. Which is great, but not what I was expecting. Overall, this was a fairly enjoyable read.
Considering that this is a Chad Eastham book, I had really high expectations. However, I was unaware that while this book does hark on Christian beliefs some, the message of the book as a whole was designed to reach more than just Christians. So though Chad does bring God into the mix, he does so sparingly and with the almost warning of "this is what I believe, sorry if I get preachy." Instead, this book really shares basic psychology and how you can use that type of knowledge to your advantage. Which is great, but not what I was expecting. Overall, this was a fairly enjoyable read.
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June 2, 2014I really enjoyed this book because, it's gave me a small view if what I want in a relationship and have a relationship with your partner and god involved. It's gave me information about how your partner should treat you and it's the raw truth and what a good guy is and a bad guy is. I also know see how I need to fix a the relationship I have and make it better in order to have the success I want. Thanks mom your the best for this book.
March 7, 2011
I loved this book! I initially selected it because my daughter is currently in the throws of "teenhood" and I thought it would be a great read for both of us. As it turns out, the book is a great read for adults and teens alike. The author engages the reader and answers the common teen questions about love, dating, and just being friends. I highly recommend it.
July 4, 2013
good and entertaining book about relationships for teens but could help adults too.
Best quote - Things Happy People Do - Throw off the stuff. "It's so easy for teens, actually everyone, to fill their time and space with details. It's as if we fear stillness and silence. And yet almost all of the moments of clarity that I have ever had in life came in still places.")
Best quote - Things Happy People Do - Throw off the stuff. "It's so easy for teens, actually everyone, to fill their time and space with details. It's as if we fear stillness and silence. And yet almost all of the moments of clarity that I have ever had in life came in still places.")
Read
January 12, 2014p. 37 "10 Things You Should NEVER Say to a Guy"
p. 78 "5 Top Tips on Finding True Love"
p. 135 "Here's the secret: The key to whether or not a relationship will last --- and you need to know this --- is how well you can calm *your own* overwhelming feelings."
p. 174 "Choose a positive attitude."
p. 78 "5 Top Tips on Finding True Love"
p. 135 "Here's the secret: The key to whether or not a relationship will last --- and you need to know this --- is how well you can calm *your own* overwhelming feelings."
p. 174 "Choose a positive attitude."
July 22, 2016
I thought that was a really good book it helped with my questions about girls and it helped me with my relationship problems and i like how if you need a good book to read this is it tells you about not just girls but the important stuff in life.
November 15, 2015
Very good for any teenager; really shows the insights of dating and all that. However, sometimes I think it was focused more on the negative than positive, and so much information was inside it, that I've forgotten half of the book. But I think every teen should read one of his books.
December 5, 2016
Very interesting! I didn't agree with all of the dating stuff (I'm more of a light courtship gal myself) but it was still VERY entertaining and encouraging. I recommend it to every teen above 14 years old.
March 5, 2012
This book is an amazing book! it also opened up my eyes to not dating/ dating!
April 25, 2012
My mom made me read this book, now i know why she did. Supposedly all teenagers are irresponsible
May 8, 2014
This is a great book. He does such a good job at making it interesting and helpful. I have learned so much about relationships and dating.
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