Shapiro, after having successfully set up twelve of her nearest and dearest to eventually get married, wrote Secrets Of A Fix Up Fanatic to share the first-hand skills and knowledge she learned. Most of the book's suggestions fall into the "ask your friends or family to set you up" category, which only works for those of us with larger families or a strong sense of community. But Shapiro's firmness that one must be datable before dating is a good one, and she provides plenty of assistance helping readers fix themselves up.
- Helpful and insightful, Shapiro is well aware you need to be dateable before finding a mate.
- Provides practical suggestions, already pre-tested by her friends and family.
- Shapiro's tone could be construed as condescending and/or smug.
- Most of the book is only applicable to those with large familes and lots of friends.
Author: Susan Shapiro
Publisher: Bantam Dell
ISBN: 978-0-385-34059-5
Published: 2007
Price: $12.00 USD / $15.00 CDN
Book Details: Paperback, 224 pages, no illustrations.
Susan Shapiro has a voice and isn't afraid to use it in her how to fix yourself up book, entitled, "Secrets of a Fixup Fanatic," although it may alienate some readers (including myself) with her oftentimes singular viewpoint that only her suggested matchmaking tactics work in the field of love. For instance, the intro blurb supplied by her publisher states:
"Unlike all those relationship experts who are incapable of having a real relationship, or who took off their first ring to pledge their vows to their second or third life partner, Shapiro has witnessed and scored on all sides of the setup spectrum."
... which for anyone who is currently single, divorced, or has failed numerous times at trying to find the perfect mate, might seem a tad harsh as well as judgmental. Although it is certainly reasonable to assume that some people are single for a reason, or that some relationships fail because of lack of effort, not all do - and to remind readers repeatedly of this somewhat close minded ideology is a put-off. This one (repeated) issue is a shame, considering more than a few people will most likely find offense at Shapiro's tone and never get to the juicy bits that "Secrets of a Fixup Fanatic" excels at.
What juicy bits, you ask? Shapiro has some unusual and inventive suggestions for finding and keeping a mate, such as finding and utilizing a love mentor (someone who's relationship you admire), and ensuring you're ready to date before actually trying to set yourself up (a simple premise, but one that many singles forget or ignore completely in their search for love).
A solid read for those who don't mind skipping past the first few chapters to get some great ideas with which to fix themselves up.
