The Most Dismissed Dating Book Of The '90s Might Be The Most Useful One Today
A few years ago, I was at a party in Brooklyn, listening to some acquaintances bemoan the struggles of dating. Over crudites and a cheese platter, they swapped horror stories of situationships, ghosting, breadcrumbing, and various other indignities inflicted on them by the male species. The speakers were attractive, smart women–the kind you might describe as a “catch.” So why had some gone years without a nice boyfriend?
One woman sighed and announced that she would no longer bother getting dressed up for dates. They should see the real her–sweats and rumpled ponytail–and that should be enough. I cringed. In my dating years, I had no shortage of boyfriends, or thoughtful dates. And it’s not because I’m some kind of perfect specimen. I’m not a supermodel. I barely know how to apply mascara. I talk non-stop and daydream the day away. I have the full range of flaws and annoying habits anyone might have. The secret to my dating success is something anyone could practice. It’s called The Rules.