Dating For Dummies

433 Pages·2006·7.64 MB·english

by  Joy Browne

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Praise For Dating For Dummies!
“Voted top female radio talk show host of the year in 1996 and 1997!”
— Talkers Magazine
“Her instincts are good enough to have made her one of radio’s best-
known psychologists.”
— New York Daily News
“Can we talk about Dating For Dummies? This book explains everything
you need to know from finding a potential date, to having a great time on
your date. It is a must read!”
— Joan Rivers
“Dating For Dummiestakes one of the most complicated, anxiety-filled
social rituals we have and provides the reader with an easy-to-understand
handbook for success. Short of sending flowers, I can think of no better
way to survive dating as we head into the 21st century!”
— Jim McCann, President, 1-800-Flowers
“Dating For Dummiesoffers many insightful ideas on how to become the
perfect date.”
— Frederick Ragsdale Jr., Finance major
“This book is very insightful — it makes the reader feel that he or she is no
longer alone in the challenging world of dating.”
— Kerry O’Brien, Chicago law firm Administrative Assistant
“A practical, yet humorous guide to dating. Full of dating scenarios with
real tips for finding that special person. Great resource.”
— Angie Synder, Public Relations Account Executive
“This book provides a whole new outlook on dating.”
— Sean Jones, Industrial Technology major
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More Praise For Dating For Dummies!
“This book has a somewhat conversational style which made me want to
keep reading. I actually found myself agreeing out loud to many of the
tips and suggestions in every chapter. I especially enjoyed the ‘Ten Tips
to Happy Dating’ chapter, because every tip made perfect sense for
today’s dating habits.”
— Paula M. Novak, Researcher Executive Recruiting Firm
“Dating For Dummiesprovides helpful tips for overcoming all of your
dating fears.”
— Janice Mull, English major
“This book gives a fresh perspective on living single. The anecdotes and
tips are honest, informative, and always humorous.”
— Allison Solomon, Administrative Assistant
“No matter what the circumstance, Dating For Dummieswill successfully
guide you through the agonies and ecstasies of the dating game.”
— Janice Flegel, Systems Analyst
“Dating For Dummiesserves as a fun and complete resource for ways to
develop and increase one’s dating self-confidence by providing tips and
warnings to prepare potential daters’ for nearly any scenario.”
— Anish Sheth, Business Analyst
“A much-needed, refreshing and encouraging alternative for singles
trapped in the futile bar-scene.”
— Sara Karp, Physical Therapist
“Being 33 in New York City, I not only felt impatient about dating but I had
high expectations each time. Chapter 14 helped me to relax and be realis-
tic about the date; to just roll with it and enjoy the ride.”
— John O’Halloran, Fine Art Import/Export
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Dating
FOR
DUMmIES
‰
2
ND EDITION
by Dr.Joy Browne
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Dating For Dummies®, 2nd Edition
Published by
Wiley Publishing, Inc.
111 River St.
Hoboken, NJ 07030-5774
www.wiley.com
Copyright © 2006 by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published by Wiley Publishing, Inc., Indianapolis, Indiana
Published simultaneously in Canada
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Library of Congress Control Number: 2005935159
ISBN-13: 978-0-471-76870-8
ISBN-10: 0-471-76870-7
Manufactured in the United States of America
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About the Author
Dr. Joy Brownehas won numerous awards, including back-to-back female
“Talk Show Host of the Year”; was nominated for the Marconi award for best
talk show host; was named one of USA Today’s 10 most influential broadcast-
ers; and is a member of Vanity Fair’s Radio Hall of Fame. She is currently the
author of 13 books and counting including Getting Unstuck(Hay House) and
Dating Disasters and How to Avoid Them(Hay House). In her spare time she
has appeared on everyone’s television show, including her own on CBS and
Discovery Health. Dr. Joy enjoys hot air ballooning, yoga, and helping people
to improve their lives.
She’s gotten her dating experience on the front lines, by watching, listening,
and doing, and she’s always working on a book about relationships.
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Dedication
To everyone who’s out there giving it the old camper’s try — courage!
Author’s Acknowledgments
Writing is hard, lonely work, which is why this section is so often over the top
in sentiment. People who were there when you were going through the labor,
saw you sweaty and cranky, and still stuck by you are much to be valued, and
this group certainly qualifies.
Tami Booth was the midwife, if ever there was one. From moment one, she
stayed the course, even with elements that seemed part of a cruel joke.
Kathy Welton backed the project, even if it meant taking on the gods of con-
formity and wrestling them to the ground. Tracy Barr kept the work feasible
when the effort was literally dissolving before everyone’s horrified eyes, and I
thank her husband and babies for sharing her with me for weeks of phone
calls and faxes and really dedicated work. Mary Hogan slapped life into a pro-
ject that seemed oxygen-deprived and calmed me with her willingness to help
and set limits. Kevin Thornton rode in on his trusty white horse to shepherd
the project to the final glory.
The revision team included another Tracy as well as Kristin, Alissa, Trish —
thanks unto them and Odaliz Rivera, who made sense of everybody’s
scratches.
I also want to thank all my callers who’ve shared their tales of woe or wonder;
friends and family members (you know who you are) who’ve called at 2 a.m. to
cry or celebrate; and certainly all the guys who’ve made me part of the great
dating experience.
If you see yourself in this book, think kindly of both of us, because, after all,
when it comes to dating, we’re all dummies.
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Publisher’s Acknowledgments
We’re proud of this book; please send us your comments through our Dummies online registration
form located at www.dummies.com/register/.
Some of the people who helped bring this book to market include the following:
Acquisitions, Editorial, and Media Composition Services
Development
Project Coordinator:Adrienne Martinez
Acquisitions Editor:Tracy Boggier
Layout and Graphics: Andrea Dahl,
Technical Editor: Joseph Iacobellis BarryOffringa, Lynsey Osborn,
MelaneePrendergast, Heather Ryan,
Senior Editorial Manager:Jennifer Ehrlich
JulieTrippetti
Editorial Assistants:Hanna Scott, Nadine Bell,
Proofreaders:Laura Albert, David Faust,
David Lutton
Leeann Harney, TECHBOOKS Production
Cover Photos: © Getty Images/Altrendo Services
Cartoons: Rich Tennant (www.the5thwave.com) Indexer:TECHBOOKS Production Services
Publishing and Editorial for Consumer Dummies
Diane Graves Steele,Vice President and Publisher, Consumer Dummies
Joyce Pepple,Acquisitions Director, Consumer Dummies
Kristin A. Cocks,Product Development Director, Consumer Dummies
Michael Spring,Vice President and Publisher, Travel
Kelly Regan,Editorial Director, Travel
Publishing for Technology Dummies
Andy Cummings,Vice President and Publisher, Dummies Technology/General User
Composition Services
Gerry Fahey,Vice President of Production Services
Debbie Stailey,Director of Composition Services
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Contents at a Glance
Introduction.................................................................1
Part I: The Focus: Who Am I? ......................................11
Chapter 1: Thoroughly Modern Dating..........................................................................13
Chapter 2: Being Confident.............................................................................................21
Chapter 3: Polishing Your Social Self.............................................................................31
Chapter 4: Finding Out What Makes You Tick..............................................................53
Chapter 5: Making Sure You’re Ready............................................................................63
Part II: Who Do I Want?..............................................69
Chapter 6: Finding a Date................................................................................................71
Chapter 7: Planning a Cool Approach............................................................................81
Part III: Setting Up the Date.......................................87
Chapter 8: Asking for a Date...........................................................................................89
Chapter 9: Getting a Phone Number..............................................................................97
Chapter 10: Plotting the Place for Your First Date.....................................................107
Part IV: Date Day Preparations..................................119
Chapter 11: Getting Your Outside Ready.....................................................................121
Chapter 12: Getting Your Inside Ready........................................................................141
Chapter 13: Polishing the Act.......................................................................................155
Part V: The Date.......................................................167
Chapter 14: Having a Way Cool Time...........................................................................169
Chapter 15: Your Date Hates You.................................................................................189
Chapter 16: You Hate Your Date...................................................................................197
Chapter 17: You Hate Each Other.................................................................................203
Part VI: The Day After and Beyond............................209
Chapter 18: The Next Day..............................................................................................211
Chapter 19: The Second Date........................................................................................223
Chapter 20: Learning about Each Other......................................................................233
Chapter 21: Speed Bumps on Life’s Highway..............................................................247