It's Complicated (But It Doesn't Have to Be) : A Modern Guide to Finding and Keeping Love

The “Modern Day Matchmaker” presents a refreshingly optimistic and plainspoken dating guide to finding romance—both on- and off-line. Finding and keeping a mate has never been harder. New rules are needed to navigate the complicated and changing modern-love landscape. If someone wants to find “the one,” what are the guidelines he or she needs to know, now that online dating and Google-searching a prospective love interest are the norm? Happily married for ten years, Paul Carrick Brunson is a husband, a father, and a rising star in the matchmaking world. In It’s Complicated (But It Doesn’t Have to Be) , Brunson tackles relevant questions such as: Is marriage right for my personality type? Do the rules of chivalry still apply? How can I date more than one person without hurt feelings? What is the best mode of communication (text messages, phone, e-mail, etc.) for asking someone out? With an appealing mix of humor, candor, and real-world examples, It’s Complicated (But It Doesn’t Have to Be) is a breath of fresh air in the dating guide category, offering a message of eternal optimism from a man who believes in true love—and practices what he preaches. INTRODUCTION There Will Always Be Rules XI CHAPTER I Marriage Isn’t for Everyone I CHAPTER 2 Men and Women Are from Earth 22 CHAPTER 3 Love Yourself Before Someone Else 4° CHAPTER 4 Know Your Relationship Vitals 54 CHAPTER 5 Get Over the Word “No” 69 CHAPTER 6 Sloppy Comes in Second 86 CHAPTER 7 No Mean Muggin’ 102 CHAPTER 8 The (Instant) Message Should Match the Method XI4 CHAPTER 9 Move Online to Off-line, Quickly 126 CHAPTER IO You Will Be “Googled” 142 CHAPTER II Sex Is Not Super Glue (It Won’t Make Him/Her Stick with You) 153 CHAPTER 12 It’s What They Do, Not What They Say 170 CHAPTER 13 Dating Is a Numbers Game 183 CHAPTER 14 Your Friends Are Not Relationship Experts 195 CHAPTER 15 Communication and Conflict Resolution Are Key 210 CHAPTER I 6 Those Aren’t Your Kids 221 CHAPTER 17 Know When to Fold ’Em 232 CHAPTER 18 The Butt Pads Have to Come Off 243 CHAPTER 19 There’s No Difference Between Your Brain in Love and Your Brain on Drugs 254 CHAPTER 20 You Can’t Direct Change, but You Can Inspire It 264 CHAPTER 21 You Can Fall in Love Again 273 Acknowledgments 283 A professional matchmaker and certified life coach outlines a straightforward, optimistic guide to finding romance, discussing how to assess one's marriage suitability, relationship etiquette in modern times, and the appropriate use of current technology