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anadexx's review against another edition
3.0
Mind expanding and very informative. Interesting history wrapped in a deliciously nuanced package.
tonegaka's review against another edition
informative
reflective
medium-paced
2.75
Bit scattered, needs a different title, should have opened with definition of labor and what that looks like in love.
josh_paul's review against another edition
4.0
This is a fun book with many amusing anecdotes, but Weigel has an unfortunate tendency to gloss over facts to create a smooth narrative, so I only gave it four stars.
Stuff I liked:
* The book contains several fun sections on various fads over the years, such as the popularity of video dating services in the 80s.
* There are nice summaries of influential books and magazines that I'm not interested enough in to actually read but feel like I ought to get the gist of, such as "The Philosophy of Love," "The Rules," "The Game," and Cosmopolitan's many lists; Based on Weigel's summaries I feel vindicated in my decision not to read any of these things, but the Cliff Notes versions are interesting.
Nitpicky things that bugged me:
* In introducing the concept of planned obsolesce, she mentions Henry Ford's quip that you could get a model-T in any color, as long as it was black, and then says that after World War 2, "GM started making cars in many colors." Both Ford and GM sold cars in many colors long before World War 2. This is a minor point that doesn't matter much on its own, but Weigel is using it to support claims about broader historical trends.
* Another example: in discussing the rising popularity of makeup in the early 20th century, Weigel says that "previously only prostitutes and actresses [wore makeup]." However, the "previously" she's referring to is Victorian England, which was super weird. For much of history, the aristocracy wore makeup (see the portrait gallery in any museum). Weigel attributes the rising popularity of makeup to aggressive marketing and social pressure. Maybe she's right. It seems more likely, though, that the 20th century was a return to historical norms, in which people with money spend it to glitter themselves up in various ways. It's probably true that makeup became far more widespread in the 20th century, but that's because almost all the people who lived earlier were peasant farmers who couldn't afford makeup.
Stuff I liked:
* The book contains several fun sections on various fads over the years, such as the popularity of video dating services in the 80s.
* There are nice summaries of influential books and magazines that I'm not interested enough in to actually read but feel like I ought to get the gist of, such as "The Philosophy of Love," "The Rules," "The Game," and Cosmopolitan's many lists; Based on Weigel's summaries I feel vindicated in my decision not to read any of these things, but the Cliff Notes versions are interesting.
Nitpicky things that bugged me:
* In introducing the concept of planned obsolesce, she mentions Henry Ford's quip that you could get a model-T in any color, as long as it was black, and then says that after World War 2, "GM started making cars in many colors." Both Ford and GM sold cars in many colors long before World War 2. This is a minor point that doesn't matter much on its own, but Weigel is using it to support claims about broader historical trends.
* Another example: in discussing the rising popularity of makeup in the early 20th century, Weigel says that "previously only prostitutes and actresses [wore makeup]." However, the "previously" she's referring to is Victorian England, which was super weird. For much of history, the aristocracy wore makeup (see the portrait gallery in any museum). Weigel attributes the rising popularity of makeup to aggressive marketing and social pressure. Maybe she's right. It seems more likely, though, that the 20th century was a return to historical norms, in which people with money spend it to glitter themselves up in various ways. It's probably true that makeup became far more widespread in the 20th century, but that's because almost all the people who lived earlier were peasant farmers who couldn't afford makeup.
jennystout21's review against another edition
5.0
Excellent book that ties dating patterns throughout the 20th-21st century to economic patterns. It's always good to keep in mind that what we perceive as normal behavior today wasn't always normal, and that our views of the "good old days" are incredibly skewed. Choice quote: "Love consists of acts of care you can extend to whomever you choose, for however long your relationship lasts. Over the past century, dating has changed, changing how people imagine they must be in order to be loved. As it has, love has not stood still. Love changes in time, too."
novelesque_life's review against another edition
4.0
Rating: 4 STARS
(Review Not on Blog)
(I am working on a writing project on dating, love, romance, self confidence, creativity and self love. Currently, I am reading and researching the topics. The books I am reading for this I will also be reviewing, but may not discuss the project in the review.)
This is the book that inspired me to begin my writing project. I am currently dating, again (in my mid 30s) and it is just as bad as I thought it would be (and as last time), lol. As I started to read this book on the history of dating I became motivated to write. More on this in the essays.
I really liked Weigel's writing and her wit. She starts with how dating first came on the scene and grew in popularity. She describes the changes over the decades especially in the recent years with online dating. I am hoping to get my own copy to read again to see how (if it does) changes my thoughts, but also for more inspiration! I recommend this one to those who enjoy history, social customs, or are dating.
(Review Not on Blog)
(I am working on a writing project on dating, love, romance, self confidence, creativity and self love. Currently, I am reading and researching the topics. The books I am reading for this I will also be reviewing, but may not discuss the project in the review.)
This is the book that inspired me to begin my writing project. I am currently dating, again (in my mid 30s) and it is just as bad as I thought it would be (and as last time), lol. As I started to read this book on the history of dating I became motivated to write. More on this in the essays.
I really liked Weigel's writing and her wit. She starts with how dating first came on the scene and grew in popularity. She describes the changes over the decades especially in the recent years with online dating. I am hoping to get my own copy to read again to see how (if it does) changes my thoughts, but also for more inspiration! I recommend this one to those who enjoy history, social customs, or are dating.
outtheroad's review
"The training that most self-help books offer is how to make yourself malleable. Self-help tells you to bow to the world as it is. The approach that says that the sources of all your frustrations are in you is supposed to feel empowering. It tells readers that they can do something. Yet when addressing problems that are clearly social in origin, what it trains you best in is self-blame. It scolds you, while it offers you a hand."
Good good book
Good good book
nick_jenkins's review against another edition
5.0
Aka, Capitalism's Really Not That Into You.
I really enjoyed this book and really enjoyed teaching it in a Business and Economic History course. It's a deeply moving but also swiftly paced and intellectually stimulating examination of how our cultures of work shape the particular patterns of dating that predominate in a given moment.
I really enjoyed this book and really enjoyed teaching it in a Business and Economic History course. It's a deeply moving but also swiftly paced and intellectually stimulating examination of how our cultures of work shape the particular patterns of dating that predominate in a given moment.
ciwanski's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
lighthearted
reflective
medium-paced
4.0
rossbm's review against another edition
(read as ebook)
I got almost half way through this book before stopping. The history of dating is interesting, but the comments on more current affairs were kind of stupid and not interesting. The book isn't particularly well written. A lot of random words are capitalized, almost like Kant or some other weird German philosopher. It's too bad the book didn't focus on the history.
I got almost half way through this book before stopping. The history of dating is interesting, but the comments on more current affairs were kind of stupid and not interesting. The book isn't particularly well written. A lot of random words are capitalized, almost like Kant or some other weird German philosopher. It's too bad the book didn't focus on the history.