Book Description
Anyone can write a book about how to get rich. The bookstores are full of them. They rarely work, though, which isn't surprising since the people who write them rarely know much about money.
But it takes Ben Stein, economist, finance expert for Barron's, commentator on finance for Fox News, and (fairly) successful investor to write a book called How to Ruin Your Financial Life. Written with the same tongue-in-cheek cheekiness as his bestselling How to Ruin Your Life, this book is a humorous road map showing you how to make something useful of the money that comes in and out of your life. Follow the rules—in reverse gear—and you're bound to be a lot better off than you are now. Follow the rules as they're written—and you're highly likely to wind up in bankruptcy court—as millions do every decade.
Here are some of the rules, just to whet your appetite: Collect as Many Credit Cards as You Can and Use Them Frequently; Compete with Your Friends to See Who Can Own the Most Expensive and High-Status Possessions; Know in Your Gut That Only Suckers Work Hard for Money and That Smarties Like You Only Have to Find an Angle; Remember That Retirement Is a L-ooo-nnn-g Way Off, and Don't Even Think about It Right Now; Bear in Mind That Only "Little People" Pay Their Bills or Taxes; Don't Bother to Own Your Own Home Because Home Ownership Is a Hassle...and many more.
This book is a laugh-out-loud way to educate yourself, your children, and your friends about how money really works...and a way to smile while you're straightening out that mess you call your financial life.
Customer Reviews:
What not to do with your money.......2007-05-12
I am in the financial planning business. I manage my money well. Often it is hard to recall some of the silly things folks do with their money and how they make financial choices. Thanks to Ben's book, it is obvious why a fool and his money are soon parted.
Perhaps the best personal finance guide yet written........2007-03-13
Sure, there are plenty of books out there about how to get rich. They almost always fail because the authors are ignorant of how money works. Ben Stein is a true financial expert and only someone of his caliber can teach us how to blow it all. A hilariously written book and a tongue in-cheek way of assessing one's own financial foibles. I must admit that I am guilty of more than a few of these tips (I won't say which ones!) The essay titles say it all. Here are a few:
*Save money only when you feel like it, and if you just don't feel like saving, then don't.
*Forget to pay your taxes.
*Collect as many credit cards as you can and use them frequently.
*As soon as you've succeeded in maxing out your credit cards, get new ones!
*Don't think about retirement- it's a loooooooong way off.
*Start a business with inadequate capital- in a difficult field and in a difficult location- and expect it to prosper. (also titled, "Open A Restaurant.")
and my favorite...
Find a man or woman with really expensive tastes and reckless financial habits- and marry him or her!
Read this and then read it WITH your kids (or give it to your teen)!.......2007-03-04
Ben Stein should be a keynote speaker on high schools (or even grade schools), because what he says could form the basis of an excellent class on financial literacy. After all, our kids are supposed to learn the basics of reading, writing and mathematics but...what about the basics of how to handle money? Isn't that equally important (and for those who say they learn it at home, the level of personal debt in this country is alarming, so I'd argue that point).
In any case, the humor and writing style of this book makes it very accessable and it should reach a readership that finds other financial books too dry or ho-hum. This one is not and if you simply do everything the opposite of what you'd do to "ruin" your financial life, you will be on a more solid financial path. Get this. Read it. Share it with a teenager or high school student or anyone being lured down the road to instant gratification, expensive cars and clothes and who is NOT looking at the larger picture - or their financial future.
Funny thing,too. With a little foresight and by starting early, it is possible to indulge (some) and have enough for the future. Read this book. You'll get the point.
Simple yet informative financial advice.......2006-07-24
Ben Stein knows how to dispense basic financial advice. Don't put it in a stuffy investment tome and don't give it as a lecture. Instead use sarcasm and satire, presenting poor financial decisions in an absurd manner which will hopefully induce people who need the advice to follow it. Let's face it-nothing Ben says is complicated-it's all common sense-and nothing should really even need to be said. But this book is for people who don't have a lot of financial sense, who don't save money and have a tendency to get bamboozled by get rich quick schemes. Stein shows, in a simple and unmistakable way, the folly of 55 poor financial decisions that are, alas, common. An example: in one short chapter Ben advises making only the minimum payments on credit cards, and in another he advocates transferring balances so you'll never have to pay them off. In doing so he points out what a poor decision this really is, and hopefully inspires people to avoid this pitfall. This book works because it is both simple and informative, without being either condescending or boring.
Perhaps the Best Ten Bucks You Have Ever Spent.......2006-04-30
Most people in the US could really use this book. So many people believe things about finances that are not true or they don't think about their finances at all.
Anyway, Dr. Ben Stein will straighten the reader out with this excellent book (I hope).
Dr. Stein uses a sarcastic approach to helping the reader see what he/she is doing wrong. I nearly split my side laughing about the late night infomercials. Stein hammers away at people for not saving money or charging up credit cards, etc.
At the end of the book Dr. Stein tells the reader to save a portion of their income and buy index funds, annuities (which I wouldn't do), CD's, and good mutual funds.
Ben Stein has a Ph.D in Economics, so I think we should take him seriously.
How To Ruin Your Financial Life is a great book for students and for those who have just plain been getting kicked around by life.
An excellent buy. Don't delay this purchase.
Book Description
* Do you feel that no matter how hard you try it is never good enough?
* Do you spend too much time trying to get things exactly right in order to avoid criticism?
* Does it seem that at any minute people will find out that you are not really what you seem to be?
If you answered yes to any of these questions, you may be struggling with perfectionistic tendencies. They can serve a positive purpose in your life. But having extremely high standards for yourself and others can leave you feeling let down -- over and over again -- when these expectations aren't met. As psychologist and researcher Monica Ramirez Basco explains, uncontrolled perfectionism can lead to depression, anxiety, low self-esteem, fear of failure, and broken marriages and friendships.
In Never Good Enough Dr. Basco helps you understand why you feel driven to get things "just right" and shows you how to make the best of your perfectionism. Filled with practical advice, encouragement, and strategies for self-discovery, this invaluable guide includes Dr. Basco's own thirty-question self-test that will help you recognize and manage the negative side of your perfectionism. You will learn how to stop the struggle with yourself and others, how to evaluate your worth and performance in life, and how to replace the pursuit of perfection with peace of mind.
Customer Reviews:
Not as impressed as other reviewers.......2005-01-10
While it might have a catchy title, I don't think this book is intended for those who already know themselves to be perfectionists. Basco spends most of the text examining scenarios faced by four fictitious perfectionists. I didn't find this to be of any value because I know what perfectionists do and I'm perfectly (ha!) aware of the problems they face every day - I am one and that's why I bought the book in the first place!
Basco's overly-simplistic approach on how to deal with the problems this personality trait creates is clearly from someone who doesn't have a serious problem with the issue herself. It is surprising to me that she has 'treated' as many perfectionists as she claims. It surprises me because she merely scrapes the surface of the problems that perfectionism brings about, and to be quite frank she doesn't show herself to have as good of a handle on this topic as someone writing a book about it should. Did Basco do any real research on this prior to writing the book? Where's the bibliography? While sources are readily available, this book seems to be based on the author's conclusions alone.
If you don't know whether or not you're a perfectionist and you want to find out, then this might be the book for you. And if you're a student of psychology and you want to be able to identify perfectionism when you see it, this book might be of some value. I gave the book three stars because I think it might be somewhat useful under either of those two circumstances. However, if you already know you have a serious problem with perfectionism (as I do) and you're looking for real-world solutions, I think you will probably come away very disappointed with this book. Had I been judging this book for the latter quality alone I would have granted it a single star.
The same day I picked this book up I was fortunate to happen upon a book titled "Overcoming Procrastination" by Neil A. Fiore (ISBN 1-56731-556-9). You may find it under the title "The Now Habit", the name it went by prior to reprinting. Those suffering from serious problems with perfectionism also typically confront issues with procrastination. "Overcoming Procrastination" also deals with perfectionism directly and proposes a workable approach towards getting an upper-hand on it. While the last two or three chapters border on silly, the tools the rest of the book provides makes it very much worth reading. I have used them myself and they have helped me considerably.
In summary, to the true perfectionist I highly recommend passing over "Never Good Enough" and heading straight for "Overcoming Procrastination". Good luck!
Very Useful.......2001-09-24
I love this book. It helps the reader determine if they are a perfectionist, how this impacts their lives negatively, in what areas perfectionism is a problem, and gives ways to cope with perfectionism. The techniques to manage perfectionism are based on sound psychological theory. The author has a clear writing style and she uses alot of good quality illustrative examples. She makes the more theoretical material come alive and simplifies it without insulting the intelligence of the reader.
Some of the activities can be time consuming, but they are well worth it. In fact, the book will really not be as valuable if the reader is not willing to put the time and effort in to doing at least some of these activities. The book also contains ideas to help people who do not consider themselves perfectionists cope with the people in their lives who are perfectionistic. Well worth reading!!
Making friends with your own perfectionism!.......2001-08-02
There are dozens of books on perfectionism, but I think this one is the best. Research psychologists Hewitt & Flett (1991) have shown that perfectionism is not always liked with neurotism, instead there are three different types: self-oriented, other-oriented, and socially prescribed perfectionism. Dr. Basco catches up this latest trend and translates it into the readable language for lay persons, without losing scientific facts. The first chapter offers a wonderful self-diagnosing test. The second chapter compares the advantages and disadvantages of perfectionism. I think this is especially valuable. Traditional books on this topics use very strong words like ¡§Beat your perfectionism,¡¨ or ¡§Fight your perfectionism¡¨¡Ketc. Sometimes it feels even more depressed to learn that the part of yourself is so bad. Dr. Basco uses a more peaceful way to help you make friends with this part of yourself. Perfectionists are no longer blamed for themselves! The remaining chapters are some step-by-step guidelines to change the inner thoughts that lead to maladjusting perfectionism, which are mainly based on cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). At the professional level, being a mental health counselor, I wish I could find more about the etiology and origins of perfectionism, and the psychodynamic approach to treat this issue in this book. (Am I too perfectionistic??) But at the personal level, I gain a lot of insight about my own perfectionism and its effect on my work and relationships. That's why I give this book five stars!!
Book Description
The choices we make when we are in our 20's follow us for the rest of our lives. Steve Farrar encourages men and women to make good choices so the repercussions of bad ones are not felt for years to come. In addition to Godly advice, Steve illustrates some of the real-life consequences when this advice is not followed. Based on several messages he gave to students at Biola University, Farrar uses his trademark style to capture the attention of young men and women, provoking them to consider the consequences of the choices they are making now.
Book Description
This essential “how not to” guide explains how to act and what to say in the presence of police to minimize the chances of being arrested and to avoid add-on charges—which can often lead to permanent disqualification from jobs, financing, and education. Citizens can learn how to avoid arrest both on the street and when pulled over in a vehicle and are alerted to basic tricks cops use to get people to incriminate themselves. Sprinkled with absurdity and humor, this urgent, eye-opening book is a guide to criminal justice for all Americans.
Customer Reviews:
Not Just for the Clueless.......2007-09-30
There's more to the book than the other reviewers are acknowledging. The advice on what to do is very specific and detailed, and as a person who has had some professional involvement with law enforcement, and who is fairly tuned-in and intuitive with cops, I still felt I learned some important advice, and to have some of my existing practices confirmed by an insider. In terms of pure amusement, the section on "jits" is especially funny and insightful. As a citizen, I found learning about the injustice and range of effects of an arrest to be sobering and scary. And seeing the world though a cop's eyes while getting some really good advice may just prove to be worth a million bucks someday. But the people who need it the most are young folks, especially guys, especially other-than-white, and the people who care about them.
Excellent advice that could save your skin.......2007-04-25
Cops are the alpha predator of the urban jungle; they live to hunt. But what they don't or can't see, they can't pounce on. And an arrest (NB: an _arrest,_ not a _conviction_; arrest records are kept on a federal level and are increasingly available to anybody who asks) can scramble up your whole life, making it difficult to get credit, a good job, or an apartment.
Funny and Astute.......2007-04-03
Dale recently ran for Sheriff in Jacksonville. I didn't hear anything about him or this book in the local media ( imagine that!). I just stumbled upon this via a link from another site. He got 20% of the vote in a three way race. It's too bad people didn't know about Mr. Carson or this book, I am sure he would have done better in the poles.
Rules for not being arrested.......2007-03-24
This is a very good book about how not to get arrested. To summarize the main themes of the book, on how not to get arrested:
- Don't carry guns in your vehicle
- Don't have drugs in your vehicle
- Don't mouth off to cops (actually, shut up when around them)
- Never, ever touch a cop or physically invade his space, etc.
- If a cop sees you, just keep doing what you were doing before he saw you (i.e., the police look for people who change their behavior around the police suddenly).
The entire book is basically variations on those themes. His basic point is that the "clueless" get arrested, because they do one or more of the above. One main message of this book is "if they can't see you, they can't arrest you". Think about it. Who gets arrested ? The guy who is highly visible to police. The white collar criminal, operating behind closed doors is just not visible. The hurdle of a warrant to search a private home in the U.S. is massive. But the hurdle to stop and search a vehicle is not great at all. For that reason, the people who get arrested in the U.S. are people who do stupid stuff in their car (transport guns, transport drugs, get an attitude when stopped, physically touch the officer, etc.
A cops-eye view of the "Terry" stop........2007-01-23
I almost cannot believe this book was written by a cop. If Hunter S. Thompson were not dead before the publication date, I would swear this was ghost-written. When he advises the reader to consider SOILING his or her PANTS to avoid being taken into custody, I can't vouch for the quality of the advice, but I have to admire the author's balls. Other bits of advice are undoubtably real gems; when the author recommends to always ask the cop for a Notice to Appearance in court (or "NOA" - this is to be attempted before resorting to the pant-pooping) he is dispensing uncommon practical wisdom. His discussion of racial profiling, and direct advice to young black and hispanic men, is jaw-droppingly frank. Not unlike Thucydides, the author says, in effect: "Let us have no talk of just and unjust."
The bulk of this book is not unlike the various "Know Your Rights" resources published by groups like the ACLU, but it is vastly better. Those other resources give sound advice in the form of "rules," but it is abstracted from 4th and 5th Amendment case law. The truth is that the justice system exists primarily in the cracks between the laws - in the form of police and prosecutorial discretion. The subjective aspects of an encounter with the police - namely police incentives and psychology - are at least as important to your outcome as the positive law is. Any student of the Supreme Court can tell you what to do in a police encounter (e.g. "shut up"), but without any understanding of why you are doing it, it may be VERY difficult advice to follow.
Following the old adage "know your enemy in order to defeat him," the author shows you what a police encounter looks like from the cop's perspective. Police, the author emphasizes, are NOT "just people" - they are "Great White sharks" (his words) trained to churn as many arrests and seizures as possible. But -like sharks- they share certain natural tendencies that make them predictable, (to a limited extent) manipulable, and (above all) avoidable.
Another way it differs from the ACLU brand of rights books and videos is in its urgency. The author argues that, in the electronic panopticon that is today's justice system, an arrest is effectively as damning as a conviction. Computer databases mean that today, not just your penal interests, but also your future employment and your credit can be ruined by an arrest. This is why you - the citizen - must read this book. Not even the best attorney can get you "un-arrested" - you must help yourself by staying free in the first place.
That said, I think the author overstates this point a bit. The class of the offense and your age at the time still matter a great deal. Not even the CIA can afford to exclude everyone with a blemish on their record. Moreover, the panopticon is not really all that efficient (yet). If your name is "Joe Smith," from "Los Angeles," your legibility to the system is still pretty minimal.
Carson limits his advice to those bits helpful to the "clueless" petty criminal - the people most likely to be arrested in a random police encounter. This book tells you only how to navigate what the law calls a "Terry" stop. He's not interested in helping dangerous and/or professional criminals - who are in any event much more likely to be arrested pursuant to a warrant of some sort. (If your house is going to be raided, get a book on prisons, because this won't be of much help.)
This brings us to the author's very interesting editorial thesis: namely, that economics keeps petty offenses criminal. On this account, simple possession marijuana remains a criminal offense primarily because courts and cops need something to do while they are between rapists and murderers. Petty crime is the daily bread of the justice system. This is a very interesting hypothesis, and while it probably deserves a more scholarly treatment than it recieves here (any U of Chicago grad students in the room?), it seems to me intuitively correct. This beast must eat a steady diet of petty offenders so that it's still in shape when we really need it. But this obviously sucks for the petty offenders (who, when you think about it, are really doing a public service) and Carson is interested in teaching them how to avoid the beast's jaws.
Sadly, the few people who really need this book are unlikely to have the foresight to read it. But, if you are going to be arrested sometime soon (...or even just thinking about it) this book is for you! If you look weird, are a young male, belong to a racial minority group, spend a lot of time walking or driving after midnight, use illegal drugs, have a prior record, or have friends or family who do any of the above, this book is worth taking a look at. Also highly recommended for people who work in the CJ system (except cops, who know this stuff).
Book Description
How to Ruin Your Life is a powerful self-help tool in the form of a work of humor. It is sardonic advice, presented in a tongue-in-cheek style, explaining how people can "ruin" their lives. Topics include essays such as "Convince Yourself That You're The Center of the Universe," "Think The Worst of Everyone," and "You Can Change People."
Seriously, though, to anyone who reads this book, it is an earnest warning about falling into traps of self-destructive behavior that can ruin any man or woman's life. More than that, it comprises 35 steps which—if read and understood—provide a road map to making life work in the most effective way possible. It is humor and self-help all in one, delivered by Ben Stein, a man who has witnessed more than his share of people who did ruin their lives—as well as those whose lives have been wildly successful.
Customer Reviews:
Yes, it's a bit repetitive but..........2007-08-10
...there really are only a few simple rules to getting along in this world. Plus, some people need to be told the same thing several times in several different ways just to grasp a new concept. My copy is going straight to the shelves on my high school classroom's library.
There are 2 versions of this title on the market. One is just the first book in this series entitled "How to Ruin Your Life."
The other includes 3 titles under one cover:
"How to Ruin Your Life"
"How to Ruin Your Love Life"
"How to Ruin Your Finanancial Life"
Good reinforcement tool.......2006-01-23
This book is quite funny and can be revisited whenever you need a reminder about what is important in life, I had a good chuckle over the P.Diddy comment.
A great light read.......2005-11-20
Don't get too excited, it's ment to be sarcastic. For those of you who know much about how to not ruin your life, this book wittingly reminds you that you're lucky to know such things. And for the young person still in school or learning their way into the world, this book might just be more convincing to get your act together then a prechy self-help book. Just don't forget to look for other books that might be more helpful in a more serious way after you put this one down.
the Realm of Existentialism.......2005-04-14
"Ignore life's little pleasures. Don't take pleasure in a child's smile. Don't enjoy a sunset. Don't take pleasure out of a simple but well-cooked meal. For you, things have to be elaborate, intricate, and incomprehensibly grand to make sense. So just gloss over a friendly smile from a clerk or a pat on the back from a friend. Go for the big stuff. And if you can't get it, be miserable about the fact that the world has cheated its only deity...again."
How to Ruin Your Life, by Ben Stein, is a must-have, must-read, by every human being that can have and read, in the known universe. Forget Shakespeare, forget all those (so-called) self-help books, forget the Bible, forget Yoga...none of that stuff will ever help you find your true self, and get back on a more productive and satisfying path in life, than this little book, in my opinion. It will quickly help you isolate all the mistakes you've made to lead up to your present "ruined" life. As you read, you may find yourself wondering how Ben Stein knows so much about your pathetic little life. If you have an arrogant, thick-headed, wiser-than-thou teenager -- headed down a blatantly unproductive path (and who doesn't), this book is for them. Read it first, then stick it in the bathroom, right where they will find it ---beside the toilet. If your life is perfect, and your teenager's lives are perfect, buy the book for the humor. --Katharena Eiermann, 2005, the Realm of Existentialism -- Presidential Hopeful
Excellent guide on how to save yourself alot of trouble.......2005-02-21
This books is both funny and informative. When I first saw the book and read the title "How to Ruin Your Life" I was immediately intrigued; a book on ruining your life? After picking it up and opening it, it was immediately obvious that it was meant as a guide on how not to ruin your life by doing the opposite of what he tells you to do. I of course thought that I had no use for such a book as I already know how not to ruin my life. But after I read the table of contents I conceded to myself that I did alot of the things he suggests that ruins your life, so I purchased it and read it. It was hilarious, and made me take a much more honest look at myself. Most people are not going to be guilty of all his "recommendations", but many will be guilt of a majority of them. This book shows you how to aviod the pitfalls of ego, selfishness, and laziness. This book is especially usefull for an overconfident young college punk like myself who likes to think I got everything already figured out. I highly recomment this book to anyone.
Average customer rating:
- A quick, fun read that uses reverse psychology to drive home its point
- What you always knew
- Excellent!
- One of a great series, Good reverse Psychology
- In a man's world ...
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How to Ruin Your Love Life
Ben Stein
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Book Description
A good love relationship isn't really that important. In fact, it uses up a lot of time you could spend thinking about yourself . . . and doing things all alone or with your drunken, loser friends. That's why Ben Stein has written How to Ruin Your Love Life. Following up on the wild success of his pioneering "do-the-opposite-of-what-I-say" self-help book, How to Ruin Your Life, he now brings you, in 44 easy-to-follow-steps, ways to definitively and absolutely . . . ruin your love life.
The essays in this bitingly humorous book include such master strokes as: "Talk about Yourself Exclusively," "Make Fun of Your Lover's Family," "Demand Expensive Gifts from Your Lover," and "Compare Your Lover with Lovers You've Dated in the Past." And then there's the most important one of all: "If You're Dating Someone Who Has a Lot of Problems, Is Generally a Mess, and All of Your Friends Dislike Him or Her, Get Married Anyway—Marriage Will Solve All of Your Problems."
This work will not only make you laugh out loud, it will allow you to honestly assess how many of these relationship-killers you (and your lover) are currently engaging in. Learn from this book—and for heaven's sake, do the opposite right now!
Customer Reviews:
A quick, fun read that uses reverse psychology to drive home its point.......2007-03-13
Instead of writing another book of advice on what to do to KEEP your guy or gal, Stein writes a tongue in cheek book on how to drive your prospective lover or mate away. By doing so, he underlines the fact that you should clearly do the opposite of following his advice if you want to find romance- and does so humorously.
The information he provides seems as though it SHOULD be second nature but it apparently isn't, since so many people keep making the same mistakes. So Stein suggests they use certain tactics to GUARANTEE they'll keep people at a distance - talk too much about themselves, be interested in marrying only for money, be overdramatic, pick fights when things get too calm, etc. You get the point. This book is such a quick read that you could probably browse through it in the bookstore in less than an hour... but you might want to buy a copy for that friend (and everyone knows one) who keeps making the same romantic mistakes over and over. Or just buy a copy and leave it on your coffee table. I guarantee people won't be able to resist looking through it.
What you always knew.......2006-06-12
In this book, Ben Stein reviews many of the things we always knew were unattractive in a prospective or current mate or lover. They're in a lot of movies about romance. We see the behavior in others and shake our heads. And as we read this little book, we nod and say, "I knew that." So if we already know all this, why read the book?
We should read this book now and every so often just to remind ourselves of the behaviors that could kill our romance. It's like holding up a mirror and really taking a look at ourselves. All of us can see in others what we can't see in ourselves, even when the behavior is as obvious as pointing out our lover's imperfections in front of his friends. Or when it's a bit more obscure, such as overdramatizing everything. When you read about people who talk about themselves exclusively, don't you just want to shake them and say, "Wake up"? Well, consider this a wakeup call.
Stein's telling of the behavior in a reverse psychology form helps to clarify and isolate the behavior. It's different from saying "thou shalt not," possibly seeming sillier to some, but even viewing his style in that way can make what he says more immediate.
Readers may not find this pleasant reading, but most will surely find it thought provoking. And those who are interested in the subject might also enjoy "He's Just Not that Into You" or even "Sex and the City."
Excellent!.......2005-10-27
It's witty, funny, and accurate! Now I understand why my ex is still single at 42, and why I couldn't put up with that relationship anymore. My ex was very proficient when it came to doing all that this book says you shouldn't do. Following all this rules helped her to ruin her love life. And somehow that helped me to realize that there are some kind of people that I don't want to be with at all. You also learn by being on the other side of the one person that follows these rules.
One of a great series, Good reverse Psychology.......2005-06-20
Ben Stein is one of those rare Renaissance men who seem to be able to put their talents to any task and do a good or better result. This Book is one of his better efforts! Unfortunetly, it won't be read by those folks who need it the most! (Not that I am any paragon of virtue myself.)Bless you Ben and save Ferris!
In a man's world ..........2004-06-22
... everyone is born on an even playing field, and a chirpy, positive mental attitude combined with advanced degrees automatically = big money & nice cars (which seem to be Mr. Stein's definition of success). Mr. Stein, tell that to the people I know who have Ph.D.'s from prestigious institutions, but who work for $6.00 an hour because they weren't born with the right knobby connections that obviously surrounded you from the time you first drew breath.
In a man's world, "real-world" examples in self-help books for women always include references to "making their husband a home-cooked meal for the first time in ages" and "cleaning the house", while the examples for men contain references to "doing yard work" and "working extra hours on the job."
I have to say that I was a bit surprised to find the anti-working class, anti-female bias in this book, but I was actually flabbergasted to see Mr. Stein's childish blasts against vegetarians.
Because Mr. Stein is a household pet rescuer, I find it bizarre that he hates vegetarians so much and thinks that we should be chowing down on veal (in order to not appear "holier-than-thou"??) if it is offered to us at our friends' houses. Excuse me, but all of the vegetarians I know (including myself) are the most discreet people on earth when it comes to not eating meat and would not dream of even disclosing that we are vegetarians if we are guests somewhere; preferring to come up with some polite excuse not to eat the dish served or to simply say nothing at all and push the food around the plate to make it seem like we did indeed eat. In fact, we often find *ourselves* on the receiving end of unprovoked "holier-than-thou" verbal attacks from anti-vegetarian people such as Mr. Stein as our intelligence, personalities, and very souls are attacked by people who are very defensive about vegetarianism for some reason.
The fact that there are more female vegetarians than male vegetarians and the fact that being vegetarian is seen as a "feminine" characteristic in our society surely added fuel to Mr. Stein's petulant fire.
In a man's world, this is a great book. In my world -- it's not.
Book Description
Dating is supposed to be fun, right? Yet it seems that we as Christians have complicated the experience. Singles worry about their marital status, analyze other people's behavior, or frantically pray for their dream mate--sometimes all at once.
Maybe it's time for a new perspective on dating.
In three unique sections, How to Ruin Your Dating Life offers wit and wisdom for guys and girls. Kerri connects with women's issues, Matthew serves up relevant topics for men, and both meet for an engaging "he said/she said" commentary on the joys and pitfalls of dating.
This one-of-a-kind release gives readers insight on the opposite sex while sharing hilarious life lessons learned in the trenches of Christian dating.
Books:
- Hugs & Kisses (Baby Faces)
- Humor and the Presidency
- I'm Not in the Mood: What Every Woman Should Know About Improving Her Libido
- It's A Guy Thing : An Owner's Manual for Women
- Jokelopedia: The Biggest, Best, Silliest, Dumbest Joke Book Ever
- Killed Cartoons: Casualties from the War on Free Expression
- LAbyrinth: A Detective Investigates the Murders of Tupac Shakur and Notorious B.I.G., the Implication of Death Row Records' Suge Knight, and the Origins of the Los Angeles Police Scandal
- Ladies in Waiting: From the Tudors to the Present Day
- Lady or the Tiger? And Other Logic Puzzles Including a Mathematical Novel That Features Godel's Great Discovery
- Las Vegas Little Black Book: A Guy's Guide to the Perfect Vegas Getaway
Books Index
Books Home
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- Charming Billy
- Global Strategy
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- Intermolecular and Surface Forces, Second Edition: With Applications to Colloidal and Biological Sys
- Fish! Tales: Real-Life Stories to Help You Transform Your Workplace and Your Life
- Markets and Moralities: Ethnographies of Postsocialism
- Conduct expected: The unwritten rules for a successful business career
- Start Young and Grow Rich: Seven Steps to Financial Independence for High School
How to Ruin Your Love Life
