In every area of life—career, health, finances—we accept that success takes time and effort. But when it comes to love? We’re told to “just let it happen.”
No wonder so many smart, successful people feel stuck, frustrated, or burned out by modern dating.
What if there were a more strategic way to find real connection?
In Date Smarter, dating coach and former university lecturer Tim Molnar draws on behavioral science to offer a research-backed approach to finding love.
Whether you’re dating online or off, this guide gives you the tools to take control of your romantic life.
Learn how Take charge of your dating life with a goal-oriented mindsetUse behavioral science to optimize how (and who) you dateSet your personalized “Date Number” to stay motivatedAsk people out with confidence, no apps requiredMeet people IRL with research-backed strategies that actually workReframe rejection to build resilienceCreate an irresistible dating profile (backed by real data)Plan better dates that fit your budget and scheduleKnow when to stop searching and commitIf you’re ready to date with more clarity, confidence, and purpose, Date Smarter will show you how.
Tim Molnar is a dating coach, author, and former Fulbright teaching fellow whose work blends scientific insights with real-world strategies to help people date smarter. Drawing on his background as a university lecturer and social science researcher, Tim helps singles take a more intentional, goal-oriented approach to modern romance.
His book, Date Smarter, offers readers a clear blueprint for finding love in today’s complex dating world. Tim empowers people to let go of outdated myths, reduce dating burnout, and build meaningful, lasting relationships.
Tim holds a J.D. and Ph.D. from the University of Colorado Boulder.
Though this book is primarily about the risk and numbers game to dating, I found the tips really helpful in many aspects of my life! The approaches Tim Molnar advises for risk assessment and decision making have helped me on my search for a new apartment. The writing is very personable and Molnar's enthusiasm and passion for the subject shows clear.
The very beginning pulled me in immediately, grabbing and holding my attention. I like how Molnar gives the reader a glimpse into who he is and his background, right from the very first chapter. Letting us know a bit about his life gives the reader a feeling that we know him and makes his book more relatable and trustworthy. I found passages frequently funny, and several times I chuckled out loud. I love how Molnar stated his calculations, data used, and statistical findings. Plus, he actually backed it up! Very refreshing! When the author spoke of brainstorming, I was ready to journal! The list of questions to ponder certainly are not questions we would normally ask ourselves. Listing them out, visualizing them, having to provide answers, brings them to life and absolutely causes us to take pause and ponder. I enjoyed how Molnar has key takeaways and action items, as well as journaling space, throughout the entire book. Very interactive and helps the reader stay proactive and engaged in their task. Throughout the book, it was delightful that he used real life experiences for examples and included photos of himself. These personal touches maintain that very important connection with the reader. Extremely effective in helping build the readers’ trust as well as giving them hope that this coaching will work for them as well. Effective=Win! Highly recommended.
Tired of swiping and want to try and meet someone in the real world? This book is full of tips and tricks for meeting the one out in the wild and giving you the perfect set up for a meet cute scenario.
Prefer to keep the initial interaction online? Molnar has you covered there too. He has stats and recommendations on how to set up your profile and what to do to up your likelihood of success.
This book is not just for people looking to meet the one, but also for friends of single people. I am currently in a relationship and immediately thought of single friends who would really enjoy this book. Plus the writing style is fun and approachable, the anecdotes are relatable, and it’s all grounded in science.
I really enjoyed this book! It provided a lot of insightful and actionable advice on how to meet and engage with prospective dates in order to maximize the chances of finding a great long-term partner. And it wasn’t just a collection of anecdotes – the author describes how to put together an intentional and systematic plan to find your “forever person”, backed up by a great deal of scientific research. This book really resonated with me, and gave me many ideas on how I should change my approach to finding a long-term partner.
I'm not super into non-fiction, so I wasn't sure what to expect from this book, but I definitely needed the advice after feeling like much of my connection was happening behind screens recently. This book has given me new strategies to interact with more people in the real world and (hopefully!) build lasting connections. I was surprised by how quick I flew through the chapters. Fun stories and great examples to contextualize all the research that went into the advice and action items. Would recommend!
This book provides a roadmap to break down the overwhelming world of dating into approachable baby steps. The author's real life experience gives important credibility to the book, and it's written with humor and insight that make it truly enjoyable to read. Relevant studies and data provide context and reference points for each aspect of the dating process, and are balanced with relatable anecdotes from the author's life and his work with other clients. Highly recommend!
Date Smarter is a true game-changer—clear, insightful, and a novel way to think about dating. It’s filled with practical, real-world advice that actually makes dating feel more fun and empowering. Whether you're frustrated by modern dating or just want to approach it more intentionally, this book is a fantastic read. It’s like having a smart, supportive friend walk you through every step with clarity, compassion and some humor! I highly recommend.
Tim offers smart, practical tips for making meaningful connections in a world that often feels disconnected. While I’m not dating right now, I found many of his insights surprisingly relevant for building friendships and strengthening everyday interactions. A thoughtful read for anyone looking to connect more intentionally.
Finally, someone put numbers to this stuff! I found a lot of it not only helpful, but comforting in the fact that it statistically takes work to find your one true love. I thought the book was really upbeat, uplifting, and useful!
Was recommended by a friend and I'm glad I checked it out.
Good writing, helpful advice for someone in the throes of modern dating, and an easy read. Overall, really enjoyed it and will be passing it along to my book club!