Modern Romance in Pop Sugar's Annual Ultimate Reading Challenge

Jul 16, 2015 Caitlin rated it it was ok · review of another edition

Shelves: audiobook

The first thing I am going to say is that YMMV and my experience is far from the definitive reader/listener experience with this book.

The second thing I will say is that I'm glad I listened to Aziz read the audiobook and if you're interested i this book and have the opportunity to I would recommend you read it that way as well.

Ultimately I was disappointed in this book. I had heard and read interesting things about the research Aziz and Eric were doing around online dating, I tend to read a lot The first thing I am going to say is that YMMV and my experience is far from the definitive reader/listener experience with this book.

The second thing I will say is that I'm glad I listened to Aziz read the audiobook and if you're interested i this book and have the opportunity to I would recommend you read it that way as well.

Ultimately I was disappointed in this book. I had heard and read interesting things about the research Aziz and Eric were doing around online dating, I tend to read a lot of things about modern dating and online dating, and a friend who read it just before me loved it.

I did not. The book started out pretty strong in terms of my interest and engagement, although there was more recycled material or things I had heard before than I would have liked there was also some great insight on the new works of texting/snapchatting/facebookstalking men or women you are interested in dating and here I appreciated Mr. Ansari's willingness to pull not just audience anecdotes but material from his own life.

But again, there really wasn't enough material. I was waiting for the section on modern romance around the world which would be original research for the book, but ultimately that section was really disappointing. It was interesting but also very surface level, at least in the areas I was interested in. I guess I would've liked more about how the lack of dating in Japan or the "no means not yet" attitudes in ... Columbia? Brazil?(view spoiler) affect the women there and less on the alternatives to sex with another person that have been developed in Japan.

I was also really frustrated by the section on adultery and whether monogamy is really right for humans that was really the last major section of the book. I felt that it quoted expert opinions with the same weight as actual data earlier in the book but without providing data to support what they said and cursorily mentioning that other experts in the field didn't even agree.

The book ended up going downhill for me which was disappointing because it started out fairly strong if a little re-tread and ended so blah that I didn't even care that I had read it. I debated on the score I would give it for a long time before deciding that I did enjoy the beginning enough for 2 stars.

Again, YMMV but for me, I could have left this. ...more

2 likes · Like · see review

Jul 05, 2015 Ms. Jared rated it really liked it

I started reading this one and enjoyed it, but a friend recommended the Audible version read by the author and it made all the difference. Granted, the book had funny parts when I read it myself, but hearing it in Aziz voice made it ten times funnier.

And although it had lots of funny parts, it was also interesting and insightful and made me think I might just decide to get back into the dating thing again. Someday. Maybe.

Overall, a good, fun read, but I think you'll like it in Aziz voice better ...more

1 like · Like · see review

Oct 18, 2015 Dana rated it really liked it

Not at all what I expected going into it. I was pleasantly surprised at how well researched and thought out this book was, while maintaining the element of comedy, not taking itself too seriously. I learned quite a bit about how dating and relationships have changed with time and also felt like it was not at all judgmental. That is a bonus for a single woman in her 30's! ...more

Like · see review

Dec 08, 2016 Sarah rated it it was amazing

Shelves: audiobook-version, non-fiction

Fascinating research on romance in the age of smart phones and on-line dating that is further enhanced by Ansari's comedic talent. Don't dismiss the book because it was written by a comedian. The research is thorough and solid. They interviewed hundreds of people through focus groups in several different countries, polled people through a sub-reddit, and consulted with psychologists and sociologist on the factors that influence relationships.

I listened the audio book with Ansari narrating. Alth ...more

Like · see review

Mar 09, 2016 Gabrielle S rated it it was amazing · review of another edition

I loved this. The only quibble I have is that he kept implying that audio book listeners were too lazy to read. Nope. I listen to the audiobook while moving heavy boxes but that's a minor quibble. ...more

Like · see review