Modern Romance

Modern Romance

Author: Aziz Ansari

Genre: Self Help/ Funny/ Tom Haverford gives advice on love

Grade: A

I became a huge Parks and Recreations fan at the end of course because that’s usually when I catch up to things. This book is not biographical or as laugh out loud funny as Yes, Please but I enjoyed it just as much. Ansari attempts to get a handle on “modern romance” or dating/loving/hooking up in the age of social media and on-line everything.

The anecdotal evidence is funny and cringe worthy in some cases. (I’m a big believer that everyone needs to think about how their text messages sound not just people who are trying to get together.) I don’t even do on-line dating. No judgement. I just have a paranoid fear of that kind of thing. Yet there’s something in this book that everyone can relate to.

Plus if you’re familiar with Ansari or Tom Haverford you can totally hear his “voice” coming through which makes this a quick and easy read. Text messaging, Instagram, Facebook and the seemingly terrifying Tinder what it all boils down to is that people have too many choices. There is a comparison to the olden days and how people tended to marry those “in the neighborhood” where as today we can find our soulmate anywhere (or just someone to sleep with) so why take the time to get to know the person sitting across from you.

As you can tell I’m a bit cynical on this but I’ve always been crippled by options. There’s so many choices. For everything. So many better things if we just research for a little while on our smartphones. Ansari talks about how there’s always a better reviewed restaurant, the perfect job, the best car, the newest of this and that and I definitely don’t think you need to be an online dater to know that feeling. And yes even as a friend it’s annoying/maddening to email someone and wait hours for a response when you can look and see them posting on tumblr or Instagram all the while.

Recommend: Yes. Don’t expect a million laugh riots or anything like that but there is definitely something for everyone in this book. I recognized myself. I recognized my friends. I didn’t want to think about that anymore… It’s a fun read that’s actually trying to make a point about the way we love and communicate today. I also think it would make a great gift for a couple of people I know who have birthdays coming up.