Singular Existence

by Leslie Talbot

A fierce, funny read that redraws the fine line between alone and lonely. One part memoir, one part self-help, with a dash of shrewd social commentary and a liberal dose of snark, Singular Existence is the surefire cure-all for your single-girl blues. Creator of the popular website singularexistence.com, author Leslie Talbot deftly-and hilariously-eviscerates the media fads, self-help quackery, and bogus social science that plague the unmarried, offering you a refreshing perspective on the state of singledom. Shallow, Self-Centered, and Opinionated Seeks Opposite (an undercover investigation into the tangled web of online dating)The Rules of Disengagement (a coward's guide to breakup etiquette) Warning-Contents May Settle (the dire consequences of marital desperation) He's Just a Big Fat A**hole (the real reason he's "just not that into" you) Manifesto Destiny (a Declaration of Independence for the proudly unmarried) Smart, scathing, and singularly entertaining, Singular Existence proves once and for all that relationships are not the only path to happiness. "Wonderful, fluid, intelligent, engaging stories" -Mediajunkie.com "Wickedly funny. Leslie Talbot's observations on the single life will have you laughing out loud while nodding in recognition" -Chuck Leddy, book reviewer The San Francisco Chronicle, The Writer, and The Boston Globe

Genres: Nonfiction, Memoir

Paperback

First published January 1, 2007

Reviews

[Unwisely · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book was ... fine? I'm not entirely sure who it's aimed at; women who are single and think that makes them broken, I guess. I don't know anyone like that, but they must exist, given the number of books aimed at them.

Some of it seemed very strange to me, but she is from Boston and Seattle is ... very different. I agreed with a lot of it, although I'm not sure I would describe this book as funny, exactly. My favorite bit was the three men you meet in the bar, which was pretty thought-provoking. (One you start talking to and are best friends with by the end of the night, one talks to you but is mostly talking about himself and checking out other women, one Really Listens and wants to get lunch; they're clearly gay, single/straight, and married, respectively.)

Also, I should note that it was a pretty quick read.

[Chavonne · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book started off as quite funny, but toward the end was just too mean-spirited. There are many ways to celebrate being single without condemning partnerhood/parenthood, but this author doesn't seem to get that. I don't think that being partnered or parenting makes anyone stupid. Just like being single, it's a choice. The beginning tales of how horrible dating can be made me laugh out loud, though. I could have tried to finish this, but there are too many good books out there to waste my time.

[Janelle · Rating 1 out of 5]

What started out as a witty book on the life on singles ended as a piece of soapbox lit. From the view of a "single" woman she went on to blame the problems of the world on those who are married--leading me to believe that she wasn't so much celebrating her singledom as she was bitter because of it. This just made me mad.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Started out as a great little witty number on life being a single, but took a downward spiral into a lot of whining. You start losing your audience when you cease to be funny and start to sound preachy. I love being single, and I don't necessarily think the whole world is out to get me. I just wanted to laugh, and I ended up feeling defensive.

[Becca LovesBrooklyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I could have/should have written this book! Kristen - read this NOW!

[Oswald · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a self-help book, but I really didn't learn anything from it. I did not finish reading it, since I don't need instructions on how to be single and self accepting at the same time. lol

[Leigh · Rating 5 out of 5]

Brilliant, funny, "snarky". Also written by my fabulous sister.