Saralee Says
Note to self: Do not read books that may be considered humorous while husband is next to you in bed trying to sleep. I should have known how much I would enjoy He’s Just Not that Into You (Simon Spotlight Entertainment) when I found myself laughing out loud late at night while reading the first chapter.
Greg Behrendt and Liz Tuccillo both worked on the television show, Sex in the City. Tuccillo was conferring with some of her female friends who also worked on this television show and one woman was complaining about why a guy who seemed great had not called her back. Tuccillo looked at Behrendt and asked him, since he was a man, what he thought. According to Behrendt, he responded with “He’s just not that into you.” From those words came this newest self-help book for romance.
Women ask Behrendt, in the form of letters, if the examples that men give them for not behaving the way women want men to behave are legitimate excuses. According to Behrendt, he dated quite a bit before getting married, therefore he can honestly speak for his sex.
Some of the chapters are “He’s Just Not That Into You If He is Not Asking You Out,” “He’s Just Not That Into You If He Does Not Want to Marry You” and “He’s Just Not That Into You If He Only Calls You When He’s Drunk.” At the end of each chapter, the authors summarize what women should have learned from the answers to the questions. If the reader still does not understand, there are exercises, role-playing and suggested actions for any woman who is spending her time with a jerk. I highly recommend giving this book to any friend who is wasting her life on a loser.
OK, book clubbers, do you think there is a real need for this book? How does it compare to Be Honest—You’re Not That Into Him Either: Raise Your Standards and Reach for the Love You Deserve (Regan Books) by Ian Kerner?
Larry’s Language
Remember in junior high school when your friends would dog-ear the pages of the good parts of any book they wanted you to read? Unfortunately the good parts version of He’s Just Not That Into You would only be about five pages long.
There is a great message in this book that is hidden by page after page of juvenile examples about dating, romance and sex. This is designed in question-and-answer format around letters from women who want advice about their life, their feelings, their relationships with men who do not care, are not concerned, are not calling for dates and exhibit no romantic interest. There are no letters from men since obviously that will be the next book after authors Behrendt and Tuccillo squander their ill-gotten royalties from this book.
The fake letters that the authors answer would make you think that they only hear from some of the world’s most stupid women. The attitude of the fake letter writers is that a man is necessary to make their life complete. Maybe it is just the authors who need an attitude adjustment about life.
The best part of this advice is expressed in the first few pages. People experiencing difficulty in relationships sometimes confuse hopeful and hopeless. In other words when one person wants a personal relationship and one does not, that’s hopeless. When both want the same thing, that’s hopeful and difficulties can be worked out. Recognizing the difference between those two situations is important for good mental health and a fun life.
What is the easiest way to recognize the difference? Do they care about you? Do they let you know they care about you? Do you they make you feel good about your life? Finally, what will your parents think when you take them home, and do you care?
Join us for our next Book Club discussion which will feature My Life So Far (Random House) by Jane Fonda.
