Book Review: Modern Romance by Aziz Ansari

A couple months ago, I watched Aziz Ansari’s Netflix show Master of None. I laughed a lot, and became super intrigued by his exploration of relationships.

Then I remembered he published a book on the subject called Modern Romance. In it, Ansari continues exploring his interest in relationships, explaining how they have reshaped throughout time and vary by culture. I was expecting something hilarious, a sort of clever personal narrative on Ansari’s romantic life. Instead, the book was more of a history of today’s dating culture, presenting compelling research and some of Ansari’s personal exploits.

Pros

• If you love hard facts and data and are interested in looking at dating through a more analytical lens, read the book. Ansari worked with a sociologist named Eric Klinenberg to gather tons of data. They held group discussions, participated in online forums, traveled to other countries and spoke with leading field researchers.
• The spirit of Ansari is still in the book (don’t worry!) and ever entertaining.
• I liked how the research made me more aware, especially of the dating patterns in other cultures.

Cons

• It’s not a “how to date” sort of book, so if you’re looking for a step-by-step guide, this may not be the best pick for you.

I found Modern Romance a lot of fun. Gave me a new viewpoint, like a different way of processing a subject I already spend a lot of time and energy thinking about. Definitely give it a try.

 

 

 

 

 

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