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labunnywtf's review against another edition
3.0
I think this is my fault.
I saw this book on Edelweiss, and I got excited. What a great idea. Dating + geekery = fun. I expected huge things from this book.
This is what happens when you start out with high expectations. I set myself up for big fat failure.
I am always the wrong kind of geek in any crowd. Unless you want to talk about all things Joss Whedon, I am never one of the more knowledgeable in the crowd. I've never watched anything starting with "Star ___", the last time I played video games, it was on the original Nintendo and Sega Genesis. And my comic book reading is, to say the least, abysmal.
There are 6 Whedon references (You bet your sweet ass I bookmarked to go back and count), one Dr Horrible, one Buffy (season 1, so it barely counts), and 4 Firefly.
There's also some BSG sprinkled in, and a few other lighter references that I did get, quite happily.
So, despite the handful of Whedon references, this book was already a little shaky for me on the "geek" part of the title.
So, then there's the dating part. Woo hoo, dating in the age of the geek. This started out strong, despite the fact that the only people this book talks to are straight males. A small bone is thrown to the women folk at the beginning, that, "This could work for you, too!"
Yeah, well. Though it is honestly wonderful that this book addresses not being a complete fucker to female geeks, including condescending at them about their geek cred. That shit is not cool, and he's very adamant throughout about not being that guy that Tumblr hates.
The rules in this book are actually very basic dating rules for anyone, not just geeks. Though it does throw in the comic cons, and talks about taking her to a comic book store, having a picnic with handheld video games and comic books. Everything is worded around games or TV or movies, which is really quite adorable. But maybe I would've liked it more if I understand the more in depth references. Again, wrong kind of geek.
I desperately wish the author hadn't used the term Friendzone, a term used almost exclusively by assholes to describe women who are under the mistaken belief they can be just friends with said asshole, when all he wants is to bang them. He mentions how to fast track so that you can skip right over the Friendzone, and I just ugh.
"When you feel the Friendzone closing in on you, act quickly, like Marty McFly charging up the flux capacitor during a thunderstorm. Hit the gas pedal and floor it to 88 mph while there's still a chance lightning will strike."
Alternately, geek boys, accept that not every women who interacts with you will want to date you. Some (GASP) actually just want to be your friends.
Yeah, I didn't love this. My expectations were way too high.
I saw this book on Edelweiss, and I got excited. What a great idea. Dating + geekery = fun. I expected huge things from this book.
This is what happens when you start out with high expectations. I set myself up for big fat failure.
I am always the wrong kind of geek in any crowd. Unless you want to talk about all things Joss Whedon, I am never one of the more knowledgeable in the crowd. I've never watched anything starting with "Star ___", the last time I played video games, it was on the original Nintendo and Sega Genesis. And my comic book reading is, to say the least, abysmal.
There are 6 Whedon references (You bet your sweet ass I bookmarked to go back and count), one Dr Horrible, one Buffy (season 1, so it barely counts), and 4 Firefly.
There's also some BSG sprinkled in, and a few other lighter references that I did get, quite happily.
So, despite the handful of Whedon references, this book was already a little shaky for me on the "geek" part of the title.
So, then there's the dating part. Woo hoo, dating in the age of the geek. This started out strong, despite the fact that the only people this book talks to are straight males. A small bone is thrown to the women folk at the beginning, that, "This could work for you, too!"
Yeah, well. Though it is honestly wonderful that this book addresses not being a complete fucker to female geeks, including condescending at them about their geek cred. That shit is not cool, and he's very adamant throughout about not being that guy that Tumblr hates.
The rules in this book are actually very basic dating rules for anyone, not just geeks. Though it does throw in the comic cons, and talks about taking her to a comic book store, having a picnic with handheld video games and comic books. Everything is worded around games or TV or movies, which is really quite adorable. But maybe I would've liked it more if I understand the more in depth references. Again, wrong kind of geek.
I desperately wish the author hadn't used the term Friendzone, a term used almost exclusively by assholes to describe women who are under the mistaken belief they can be just friends with said asshole, when all he wants is to bang them. He mentions how to fast track so that you can skip right over the Friendzone, and I just ugh.
"When you feel the Friendzone closing in on you, act quickly, like Marty McFly charging up the flux capacitor during a thunderstorm. Hit the gas pedal and floor it to 88 mph while there's still a chance lightning will strike."
Alternately, geek boys, accept that not every women who interacts with you will want to date you. Some (GASP) actually just want to be your friends.
Yeah, I didn't love this. My expectations were way too high.
papertraildiary's review against another edition
3.0
Look for my review, coming soon on DorkShelf.com.
samrushingbooks's review against another edition
4.0
Okay, so I picked this book up while at BookExpo because it sounded like a fun little book. Of course when I bought this book I was already two months into a wonderful geeky relationship (We're now at almost 5 months and still going strong), so most of this book wasn't really applicable to me. I loved all the geeky references throughout the book though; it is obviously written by geeks for geeks. Oh, and the book looks beautiful "naked." I will say though that it sort of bothered me that the book was written seemingly for lonely geek guys searching for ladies, when really it should be applicable for all geeks.
ansl's review against another edition
4.0
Tof boek, leuke verwijzingen.
Mensen die klagen dat het voor mannen is bedoeld, lees de disclaimer.. Is dat nu zo'n ramp?
Mensen die klagen dat het voor mannen is bedoeld, lees de disclaimer.. Is dat nu zo'n ramp?
beastreader's review against another edition
4.0
If you are a geek in any form of the work either by appearance or at heart then you will enjoy this book. Even if you are not looking for someone. I am a geek in the form of a computer gamer. I have played some video games but my heart really belongs with computer games like Duke Nukem, Wolfenstein, Civilization, and World of Warcraft.
So as I was reading this book I could relate to references that the author was making on the different persona, how to approach and interact with your date, and what each type of geek can bring to the table with their special abilities.
For example me being a gamer:
Our strengths are:
Dedicated and loyal but we are also seekers of novelty. Because a computer game can get old quickly without our patches or expansions. We are constantly questing and leveling up, a competitive instinct that suits the thrill of the chase in the dating world.
Our weaknesses are:
We have a tendency to conflate girls IRL with our virtual damsels in distress. We need to learn to look at women like NPCs, they are quest givers and not just rewards. Or best yet think of them as playing on the same team against the rest of the world.
So as I was reading this book I could relate to references that the author was making on the different persona, how to approach and interact with your date, and what each type of geek can bring to the table with their special abilities.
For example me being a gamer:
Our strengths are:
Dedicated and loyal but we are also seekers of novelty. Because a computer game can get old quickly without our patches or expansions. We are constantly questing and leveling up, a competitive instinct that suits the thrill of the chase in the dating world.
Our weaknesses are:
We have a tendency to conflate girls IRL with our virtual damsels in distress. We need to learn to look at women like NPCs, they are quest givers and not just rewards. Or best yet think of them as playing on the same team against the rest of the world.
erincataldi's review against another edition
3.0
I didn't read beyond the cover, so I was unsure as to what to expect. For some reason I thought this would be a fictional book, but to my surprise (because I clearly don't read descriptions!) it truly was a dating guide. It was definitely fun to listen to the audiobook version because the narrator had great inflection and helped make it more fun. This guide is actually filled with pretty solid advice (it is geared solely to males, but you can get a general idea on most sections as to what applies to the ladies) and is very punny. Eric Smith has it loaded with references from every fandom, video game, and pop culture hamlet you can think of. He often uses common scenarios found in pop culture to illustrate certain points or to point out what is super unrealistic in what to expect in a relationship. Very funny and creative way to frame a dating book.
imrogers's review against another edition
4.0
Dating advice books come in many shapes and forms, and while much of the guidance in The Geek's Guide to Dating can be found in other dating books (many of which are more relevant in today's online dating landscape), few, if any include such excellent wordplay, references, and discussions based on characters from geek pop culture.
The result is an incredibly entertaining book that's fun to read as Smith relays each stage of the geek dating world through a different geek premise. The book itself is also impressively illustrated and designed, with a sleek hardcover version, cool dust jacket, and an 8-bit theme that prevents it from feeling dated.
Most importantly, though, is that Smith treats his geek reader with compassion at every step of the way, because dating is hard, breakups suck, and the dating scene can be a confusing and overwhelming place. More than any other dating book I've seen, Smith clearly gets that and is honest about it, and I wish this was something I'd been able to read in high school.
The result is an incredibly entertaining book that's fun to read as Smith relays each stage of the geek dating world through a different geek premise. The book itself is also impressively illustrated and designed, with a sleek hardcover version, cool dust jacket, and an 8-bit theme that prevents it from feeling dated.
Most importantly, though, is that Smith treats his geek reader with compassion at every step of the way, because dating is hard, breakups suck, and the dating scene can be a confusing and overwhelming place. More than any other dating book I've seen, Smith clearly gets that and is honest about it, and I wish this was something I'd been able to read in high school.
mairimav's review against another edition
5.0
Thank you universe for this wonderful piece of art! Thank you Eric Smith for your never ending wisdom and your on point references!! We've been blessed!
peytiebear's review against another edition
2.0
I was disappointed. I didn't realize how much this book was aimed at dudes. I didn't find it very helpful.