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The Real Thing #1
The List
Forget online dating, matchmakers, and awkward setups. In this insightful essay, Jade Chang, author of The Wangs vs. the World, exposes the secrets behind the latest solution for finding love in the twenty-first century.
The new dating craze among the divorced, recently broken up with, and frustrated singles of Los Angeles starts with the creation of “the List.” The converted swear by it—just write down everything you want in a partner, and the cosmos will provide. But could such a simple, old-fashioned technique actually work? Enter Jade, who investigates this increasingly popular path to a soul mate, with charming and hilarious effects, tracing the history of list making—and learning about dating and love along the way.
The List is part of The Real Thing, a collection of moving, hilarious, and big-hearted essays on the modern realities of friendship, romance, commitment, and love, with art by Geoff McFetridge. Each story can be read—or listened to—in a single sitting.
36 pages, Audible Audio
First published May 28, 2018
297 people are currently reading
366 people want to read
About the author
Jade Chang
8 books623 followersJade Chang's debut novel, The Wangs vs. the World, is being published on October 4, 2016 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt. She is a journalist who has covered arts, culture, and cities and a recipient of the Sundance Fellowship for Arts Journalism, the AIGA/Winterhouse Award for Design Criticism, and the James D. Houston Memorial scholarship from the Squaw Valley Community of Writers.
She was recently a member of the Goodreads editorial team, where she worked on newsletters, author interviews, blog posts, infographics, and the quote of the day!
She was recently a member of the Goodreads editorial team, where she worked on newsletters, author interviews, blog posts, infographics, and the quote of the day!
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews
March 10, 2022
"When you're single, people have a lot of advice...Unlike breast feeding or paleo diets, no one claims to know exactly how love works. No one, that is, but people who have successfully made the list."
In the amusing essay, The List (The Real Thing Collection), Jade Chang explores the craze of writing down everything you want in a partner (the list) and leaving it to the universe to provide for your soulmate. There were some interesting anecdotes here. I don't think the essay took itself too seriously. This allowed Chang to write with charm but not with the aim to convince.
In the amusing essay, The List (The Real Thing Collection), Jade Chang explores the craze of writing down everything you want in a partner (the list) and leaving it to the universe to provide for your soulmate. There were some interesting anecdotes here. I don't think the essay took itself too seriously. This allowed Chang to write with charm but not with the aim to convince.
December 6, 2024
Love List
If there was a perfect soul mate out there for you, do you think you know what qualities he will have? If you made a list of the what is most important to you in a mate, do you think the person you actually fall for will have those qualities?
Jade Chang talks about making a list of what you want most in your match, then you perform a personal ceremony to make it official with the universe. Supposedly this was a thing for a while; books were written, and Oprah approved this methodology.
I didn’t see why this was the subject of even a short book, but here you are. (Here’s your sign) Two stars for not bad writing of a ridiculous subject.
If there was a perfect soul mate out there for you, do you think you know what qualities he will have? If you made a list of the what is most important to you in a mate, do you think the person you actually fall for will have those qualities?
Jade Chang talks about making a list of what you want most in your match, then you perform a personal ceremony to make it official with the universe. Supposedly this was a thing for a while; books were written, and Oprah approved this methodology.
I didn’t see why this was the subject of even a short book, but here you are. (Here’s your sign) Two stars for not bad writing of a ridiculous subject.
June 7, 2018
Fun short read. I would believe in making The List but only if it were things that were first principles.
March 21, 2021
Not a terrible story but just not my kinda read. 🤷♀️
November 28, 2020
A typical fascination with lists and ultimately falling prey to the social standards while looking for love is all about the animated book. The writing ranges from carrying serious notion to the crazy and humours edge but, I don't know why I find the essay too lengthy and quite repeatative.
I got the book as I was keen on the theme and it was available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have nothing to do and won't mind wasting another forty minutes, just go for it. But, I personally suggest to stay away from the banter. But the art by Geoff McFetridge is the most uplifting thing in this book.
I got the book as I was keen on the theme and it was available on Kindle Unlimited. If you have nothing to do and won't mind wasting another forty minutes, just go for it. But, I personally suggest to stay away from the banter. But the art by Geoff McFetridge is the most uplifting thing in this book.
July 30, 2018
My Opinion:
This was a kindle in motion free audiobook from Audible. I enjoyed this relationship superstition. The author describes how writing a list of the person you want to be with, will come true. She talks of others that having written a list and of wondering if she should write a list. I enjoyed this tale. She goes through talking about people who have written the list and claim that is has worked for them and they have found love using this method.
I am not sure that this will work or not as I have never written a list. But this author searches for the answer of writing the list. She states that maybe it's your mind that can get you what you want not exactly writing a list alone. Maybe it's magic, maybe it's just because you can conjure it up? By writing it, it comes true. Listen to the book and find out for yourself if she has written a list.
I did enjoy the author narration of the book.
I enjoyed this short tale of maybe's. I thank the author and Audible for the book to enjoy!
I give this book 3.5 of 5 stars!
This was a kindle in motion free audiobook from Audible. I enjoyed this relationship superstition. The author describes how writing a list of the person you want to be with, will come true. She talks of others that having written a list and of wondering if she should write a list. I enjoyed this tale. She goes through talking about people who have written the list and claim that is has worked for them and they have found love using this method.
I am not sure that this will work or not as I have never written a list. But this author searches for the answer of writing the list. She states that maybe it's your mind that can get you what you want not exactly writing a list alone. Maybe it's magic, maybe it's just because you can conjure it up? By writing it, it comes true. Listen to the book and find out for yourself if she has written a list.
I did enjoy the author narration of the book.
I enjoyed this short tale of maybe's. I thank the author and Audible for the book to enjoy!
I give this book 3.5 of 5 stars!
Read
October 28, 2021Jade is the best!
Read
September 12, 2019I gave up about 25% through as it was more about consulting her friend who is Wiccan and performs rituals to find The One with celebrities, high profile business people, financiers, etc. etc.
This just was not for me as I just didn't feel a connection with Chang's writing. Not that she isn't a good writer, she is, but her story seemed disjointed to me.
This just was not for me as I just didn't feel a connection with Chang's writing. Not that she isn't a good writer, she is, but her story seemed disjointed to me.
August 16, 2024
“Rather than judging love by its duration, we should give up judging love at all. Love is the life force flowing through us. Love is the moment when the walls that separate us from the rest of the universe come tumbling down. And we stand there, naked and afraid, but not alone. Even a glimpse of that not-aloneness is worth it. Because it’s proof that we are part of something larger and more important than ourselves.”
If you write down the list for everything that your perfect partner must have, would you say it was magic or something else if it turns out to be true? I enjoyed this essay about all the mysticism about the list and trying to find your forever love.
All I'm going to say is that you don't need to do the list, when its time its time for that forever love to show up in your life. Is it something magical, do you manifest for it or you just let it work itself? It doesn't matter what you decide to do list or not, when it happens it happens... and if it doesn't happen you will be fine.
If I were to make a List now, though, it would have only one line: someone who truly enjoys being a person in the world.
We are all the center of our own universes. Even if your life is full of people you love and care for, you have to breathe for yourself first.
These are some of the extra readings that I'm going to consider later from the Notes section:
● What to do if your love spell fails by Amanda Yates Garcia
If you write down the list for everything that your perfect partner must have, would you say it was magic or something else if it turns out to be true? I enjoyed this essay about all the mysticism about the list and trying to find your forever love.
All I'm going to say is that you don't need to do the list, when its time its time for that forever love to show up in your life. Is it something magical, do you manifest for it or you just let it work itself? It doesn't matter what you decide to do list or not, when it happens it happens... and if it doesn't happen you will be fine.
If I were to make a List now, though, it would have only one line: someone who truly enjoys being a person in the world.
We are all the center of our own universes. Even if your life is full of people you love and care for, you have to breathe for yourself first.
These are some of the extra readings that I'm going to consider later from the Notes section:
● What to do if your love spell fails by Amanda Yates Garcia
January 1, 2022
Interesting.
I vaguely remember hearing about "The List" some years ago. My natural skepticism prevented me from paying much attention to it, plus I was still married at the time.
While I am single now, it still doesn't sound like a workable option. I mean - we all have wants and needs...and sure writing them down might help one fine-tune what they really want in a mate - but then for there to be divine, magical, karmic, or fateful manifestation...Eh. *Shrug*
The essay itself, however, is a good read / listen.
I vaguely remember hearing about "The List" some years ago. My natural skepticism prevented me from paying much attention to it, plus I was still married at the time.
While I am single now, it still doesn't sound like a workable option. I mean - we all have wants and needs...and sure writing them down might help one fine-tune what they really want in a mate - but then for there to be divine, magical, karmic, or fateful manifestation...Eh. *Shrug*
The essay itself, however, is a good read / listen.
October 27, 2019
I toggled this to the audio version, thanks kindle. It was ok. That’s not a great review. It was a descent, general fiction read about another single lady looking for love.. or not b. It sounded like it might have a new angle. The writing was good, the characters were interesting but the topic (unless spectacular at this point) is like a million other books.
April 23, 2021
Short, cute - wonder if there could have been more. It felt like bits of good ideas and interesting stories but then would tapper off and feel not complete. Want her to do a longer version and really play up some of the stories! Let us get to know her a little more and why we should care about her and The List.
June 13, 2022
When I picked this up, I was expecting a romance story. Instead it was a how to do book. My issue with it was that it was presented as Wiccan magic for most of it. I'm not sure that the magic in the book was from the origin of the idea of the list or if it was just the power of positive thinking. Either way, I was not a fan.
August 17, 2018
Interesting approach to those "lists" we all make up on our minds, worth reading!
January 14, 2020
This was another short story for Amazon prime readers and I really like this one!
July 26, 2021
Quick fun read
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May 26, 2024La nuova moda degli americani: fare La Lista di tutto ciò che vogliono trovare nel partner dei sogni. E magicamente i nostri desideri avverranno.
#credici
#credici
June 13, 2020
Honestly am not sure why I read this (other than that it was for free), this didn't speak to me on any level
July 7, 2018
Horrible. Is this supposed to be a book with a clear purpose or point? There was no coherent narrative, just the author babbling on about love spells and lists. Chang seems to have published her unedited diary.
June 9, 2018
Audiobook and Kindle in Motion!
The List by Jade Chang is the first piece in The Real Thing Collection. Each book is short enough to read in one sitting. I listened to the audiobook on Audible, and it was about 50 minutes long. The plot description tells you exactly what this story is about so I won't bore you with my own extra details. :-) I randomly came across this series on Amazon as I was aimlessly browsing. It sounded good to me, and because it was also available on Audible, I grabbed it. I sometimes enjoy listening to shorter books and stories in between the longer ones, and this one fit the bill perfectly. If liked it, I could easily move my way through the collection, as they are all fairly short. Each story is written and narrated by a different author and can be read in any order.
I really wanted to love The List, but, truthfully, I wasn't overly impressed. To me, the story was just kind of "blah," and the narration wasn't bad, but it wasn't super good, either. Basically, it just gave me something to listen to while I did some organizing.
My original plan was to give the audiobook a rating of 3-3.5 stars, but after reading some of the reviews on Amazon in regards to the Kindle version, I decided to give that a try, as maybe I misjudged it. It is a Kindle in Motion book, which means you are able to view animated illustrations and videos on some of the pages as you read. You also have the option to turn them off, making the format the same as other books in your Kindle library. I thought the Kindle in Motion features added to my overall reading experience, so I bumped my rating up a star. For those who are going to get this book, I recommend you give this version a try.
Because each of the pieces in this collection are short, I'm going to give the next one a try. I like being able to sample writing from various authors because I might find a new favorite!
Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. :-)
The List by Jade Chang is the first piece in The Real Thing Collection. Each book is short enough to read in one sitting. I listened to the audiobook on Audible, and it was about 50 minutes long. The plot description tells you exactly what this story is about so I won't bore you with my own extra details. :-) I randomly came across this series on Amazon as I was aimlessly browsing. It sounded good to me, and because it was also available on Audible, I grabbed it. I sometimes enjoy listening to shorter books and stories in between the longer ones, and this one fit the bill perfectly. If liked it, I could easily move my way through the collection, as they are all fairly short. Each story is written and narrated by a different author and can be read in any order.
I really wanted to love The List, but, truthfully, I wasn't overly impressed. To me, the story was just kind of "blah," and the narration wasn't bad, but it wasn't super good, either. Basically, it just gave me something to listen to while I did some organizing.
My original plan was to give the audiobook a rating of 3-3.5 stars, but after reading some of the reviews on Amazon in regards to the Kindle version, I decided to give that a try, as maybe I misjudged it. It is a Kindle in Motion book, which means you are able to view animated illustrations and videos on some of the pages as you read. You also have the option to turn them off, making the format the same as other books in your Kindle library. I thought the Kindle in Motion features added to my overall reading experience, so I bumped my rating up a star. For those who are going to get this book, I recommend you give this version a try.
Because each of the pieces in this collection are short, I'm going to give the next one a try. I like being able to sample writing from various authors because I might find a new favorite!
Thank you for reading my review. I hope it was helpful. :-)
Read
February 19, 2023This is a book by Jade Chang in the Kindle Unlimited 'The Real Thing' collection of short stories. It is a book with moving pictures inside like reading in the Hogwarts school library which I found distracting and unnecessary for a short 20+ page book. The animation also auto changed my font settings, and page layout from preferred dark background with white letters to black letters on bright white background which I hate and can barely see in the glare. I didn't like any part of this reading experience. In addition, the story itself was new age hokum and although hard to follow through the aforesaid distractions, easy to skip to the end only to find there was no real point to the story anyway. The entire experience made it an easy decision to go into KU and return it and the remaining collection without wasting further time on any of them. For all the animation, by the end of this book I had to physically change the result from Currently Reading to Read but, surprisingly, no stars popped up for a rating. Hence my move to Goodreads to submit these comments. Nothing against the author or the artist animator, just overall not my cup of tea. Glad to not be forced to give any stars, since I have seriously less than zero for this book experience.
May 18, 2023
Those hopeless romantics in Los Angeles have started to swear by “the List.” They say if you write down everything you want in a partner it will pave the path to find that person. Jade Chang watches some of her friends regarding this journey and looks at how long people have been using positivity to grant their wishes. Meanwhile she shares what she has learned about dating and love along the way.
* * * * * -----------* * * * * -----------* * * * *
Fads are interesting in their nature and the course they tend to run in society. Here we have some musings on looking for signs in the universe, falling prey to superstition, literal love spells, and the similarities we all look for when choosing a mate. I appreciate that this is more than a single testimonal regarding this practice and its outcome. Still, it does not feel quite like a social experiment or literary research standard. The lighthearted delivery keeps it from being bland, but it falls in this weird middle ground of not really skeptical or supportive. There is no linear flow and it does not bring her a fluffy-tailed prince.
* * * * * -----------* * * * * -----------* * * * *
Fads are interesting in their nature and the course they tend to run in society. Here we have some musings on looking for signs in the universe, falling prey to superstition, literal love spells, and the similarities we all look for when choosing a mate. I appreciate that this is more than a single testimonal regarding this practice and its outcome. Still, it does not feel quite like a social experiment or literary research standard. The lighthearted delivery keeps it from being bland, but it falls in this weird middle ground of not really skeptical or supportive. There is no linear flow and it does not bring her a fluffy-tailed prince.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
May 20, 2022
Here’s what this book is about:”The new dating craze among the divorced, recently broken up with, and frustrated singles of Los Angeles starts with the creation of “the List.” The converted swear by it - just write down everything you want in a partner, and the cosmos will provide. But could such a simple, old-fashioned technique actually work? Enter Jade, who investigates this increasingly popular path to a soul mate, with charming and hilarious effects, tracing the history of list making - and learning about dating and love along the way.”
I borrowed this book from Prime Reading. This is the first book in a collection of short stories from Amazon. I enjoyed listening to this book. I’m not looking for a relationship because I’m happy being single but I still enjoyed listening to this book. I found it very interesting and it made me think.
I borrowed this book from Prime Reading. This is the first book in a collection of short stories from Amazon. I enjoyed listening to this book. I’m not looking for a relationship because I’m happy being single but I still enjoyed listening to this book. I found it very interesting and it made me think.
November 30, 2024
When you’re single, people have a lot of advice…
Damn. How many fortune cookies did you have to open to come up with that gem, Confucius? 🙄
Jade encounters her first List devotee at a party in Los Angeles. Soon after, she begins meeting them everywhere.
Best friend Amanda is a Wiccan witch; Amanda performs ceremonies using the List.
Being specific. Being affirmative. Taking “ownership of the chaos.”
This would be called manifesting nowadays…
Vacillates. Could use more focus and discipline in her narrative.
It’s not a boring read; it just veers too existential.
And enough about capitalism. Are you donating the proceeds of your book sales? Are you sharing them equally, like a good little socialist? Didn’t think so.
Could have hit a mediocre 3 ⭐️ , but goes off on one too many bizarre anti-capitalist and anti-consumerism rants.
Take your own advice, Ms. Chang: Be positive and affirmative, ffs.
Love might feel like an achievement, but it is rarely dependent on merit.
Damn. How many fortune cookies did you have to open to come up with that gem, Confucius? 🙄
Jade encounters her first List devotee at a party in Los Angeles. Soon after, she begins meeting them everywhere.
Best friend Amanda is a Wiccan witch; Amanda performs ceremonies using the List.
Being specific. Being affirmative. Taking “ownership of the chaos.”
This would be called manifesting nowadays…
Vacillates. Could use more focus and discipline in her narrative.
It’s not a boring read; it just veers too existential.
And enough about capitalism. Are you donating the proceeds of your book sales? Are you sharing them equally, like a good little socialist? Didn’t think so.
Could have hit a mediocre 3 ⭐️ , but goes off on one too many bizarre anti-capitalist and anti-consumerism rants.
Take your own advice, Ms. Chang: Be positive and affirmative, ffs.
Love might feel like an achievement, but it is rarely dependent on merit.
February 8, 2025
This is the first in Amazon's "The Real Thing: A Bundle of Love Stories". I thought it would be appropriate to read through these since Valentine's Day is part of this month. And is exactly a week from today!
This story turned out to be self-discovery during the search for "the one", aided by "the List". Tidbits about the human experience are deftly woven herein as well - about reliance on speaking (or "listing") something into existence, or self-deprecating and attributing something to chance or realizing that events indeed aligned to make a thing happen (and it's not always just due to whatever effort one puts into said thing).
I like that Amazon (and the author) allows us to "read AND LISTEN for free" ... I can get my "reading" done while doing other things. Like exercising or cooking dinner. :D
This story turned out to be self-discovery during the search for "the one", aided by "the List". Tidbits about the human experience are deftly woven herein as well - about reliance on speaking (or "listing") something into existence, or self-deprecating and attributing something to chance or realizing that events indeed aligned to make a thing happen (and it's not always just due to whatever effort one puts into said thing).
I like that Amazon (and the author) allows us to "read AND LISTEN for free" ... I can get my "reading" done while doing other things. Like exercising or cooking dinner. :D
June 15, 2024
I literally don't know what the fuck I just read/listened to. I was so excited to read this book because it was the first one in the new amazon originals series that pertains to love stories but I have to say that love was very much surface level in this one. There wasn't a flow between each break and I just felt like they're were rambles about certain things. I'm not even going to blame this on the genre and how I don't read a lot of fiction but I've read fiction stories where they were better articulated. I just feel like there was nothing that caught my attention and I just kept waiting for something to make me feel something but there was nothing. I was very hopeful about this read and I just felt myself losing interest quickly and rushing to finish it, I'll definitely give this series a chance but I won't lie, so far, it hasn't been great.
May 4, 2019
More an extended essay than a book, Chang presents accounts of and explores the cultural fascination with "The List" -- a spell casting, new-agey, old timey method of finding yourself some love. The recipe: write down what you want and it will appear. Good news! Chang does well in floating from serious to playful. I reduced my rating because of my disdain for the conclusion that any list is about the self, the list-maker. Whether true or not, the List thus becomes another arrow in the narcissistic quiver. I'd much prefer a bit of magic, or, according to some traditions, divine intervention.
In the meantime, I must get dressed and ready, lest I entertain angels unawares.
In the meantime, I must get dressed and ready, lest I entertain angels unawares.
June 13, 2018
I quite enjoyed reading this brief essay from the Amazon "The Real Thing" collection. The List, a method of willing the universe to provide you with your soulmate via making a list of qualities you'd like them to have, reminds me of one of my favorite guilty pleasure movies from the 90's - Practical Magic. I found Chang's style entertaining and humorous, and her research on this popular belief was interesting. Definitely worth a listen on a commute (the book comes with Audible narration) or a read on a lunch break.
October 21, 2024
Reminds me of the phenomenon known as the Secret. If I’m remembering that time properly, it was a plan that if you thought it, you’d get it.
My husband was very into it. We had tapes, books, signed up for online stuff way back before doing that was common and I have no idea what he planned to achieve by following the plan. That’s sort of the premise of this short story.
Make a list of what you want abs you will meet the person who meets those needs. Everyone in the story was sweating by it and finding love.the whole idea is to make the list and let it be. The UNIVERSE WILL PROVIDE,
My husband was very into it. We had tapes, books, signed up for online stuff way back before doing that was common and I have no idea what he planned to achieve by following the plan. That’s sort of the premise of this short story.
Make a list of what you want abs you will meet the person who meets those needs. Everyone in the story was sweating by it and finding love.the whole idea is to make the list and let it be. The UNIVERSE WILL PROVIDE,
June 4, 2018
Decent little read. Some parts of it made me laugh, even though I admit I roll my eyes at the very idea that writing a list will somehow result in some cosmic force bringing you and your true love together. Still, this was an interesting little foray into how much some people buy into the idea of the power of positive thinking. My favorite part was her interjection of cultural differences, when she talked to her parents about Taiwanese traditions. I would have liked to read more about that.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 115 reviews