The Program: Fifteen Steps to Finding a Husband After 30 (Paperback)

Unless you want to be written off professionally, as someone who has conducted recruitment I suggest that you ignore her advice that you mention at job interviews that you are changing job because you want to find a life partner. Asking everyone you meet at business networking events if they know any single prospects they could set you up on a blind date with, must be a quick way of totally ruining your professional reputation.

Would most people think it is sensible to phone/email business acquaintances saying this is the year that you want to find that special someone and you want their help to do so? How would you honestly feel about the sender if you were to receive such an email?
Perhaps you are desperate enough to fly from one side of the U.S. to another for a blind date; but would most people find that sort of desperation attractive?
The author does briefly acknowledge -late in the book - that some of the actions she suggests may lead to you losing your job, but seemingly believes that this is acceptable because finding a relationship will be more important to you.
Here is a suggested experiment for you - mention to a cross section of friends, work colleagues, acquaintances that you've read about this book, mention some of the things it suggests and see what the reaction is. I bet in Europe at least it is roaring with laughter or appalled horror that anyone would be stupid enough to do these things. There is some sound advice in here about self-image and self-marketing: but this uptight Brit would suggest that some of the more wacky advice needs to be taken with a large pinch of salt.

On the positive side I'm sure that if someone followed these 15 Steps they would greatly increase their chances of finding The One. The Program is a tireless and exhaustive approach to finding a partner which leaves absolutely no stone unturned. Unfortunately I can't help but think that few women would actually be able - or willing - to follow the majority of the steps as they are so incredibly extreme. Examples are getting friends to conduct `exit interviews' with past boyfriends (basically interrogate them about why the relationship didn't last) and telephoning everyone (and I mean absolutely EVERYONE) that you have ever met and asking them to set up blind dates.

In conclusion The Program is a fun and entertaining book. I'm not in search of a husband or over 30 but I thoroughly enjoyed defining my personal brand and reading about the rest of the Steps. That's where it ends as I could never, ever imagine myself actually implementing them. Therefore I'd recommend this as an interesting book to read but not as an actual manual on dating. It would probably be useful for very outgoing women who are absolutely determined to succeed in the dating arena and don't mind doing WHATEVER it takes to reach this goal.

JoAnne