Rating: 
Summary: A must for all minglephobics!
Review: Anyone seeking to increase their speaking skills should read"The Art Of Mingling. "The Art Of Mingling" describes mingling fantasies for the times you can hardly breath; when you can't remember your name or what you are talking about. The Naked Room Fantasy is a valuable tool for speaking. Just imagine that everyone in the room is naked and this technique will enable you to take control of your speech. "The Art Of Mingling" honest approach always works because it strikes a familiar chord in almost everyone, and because it immediately offers power to the people you are addressing, creating a non-threatening situation. When it comes to being a good mingler, subject matter isn't everything. "The Art Of Mingling" discusses a few tried-and-true tips about how your eyes-the most important asset you have-should behave. 1. Look straight at anyone who is speaking to you. 2. Use the time when you are speaking to look away. 3. Use your eyes for emphasis. Never discuss a topic you know nothing about. "The Art Of Mingling" suggest the three steps of the Smooth Escape. 1. Take control of the conversation. 2. Change the subject. 3. Exit gracefully. "The Art Of Mingling" claims not all mingling is done with the mouth. Your whole body speaks every time you move. Body language is important to learn for all areas of life. "The Art Of Mingling" states to keep in mind that everyone, at one time or another, makes a fool of himself while mingling. In fact, if you never made any mistakes, socially, you'd never improve your mingling skills. In conclusion, "The Art Of Mingling" is an excellent tool for speaking skills. Read "The Art Of Mingling" to enhance your mingling skills. Then choose an interesting topic of the nineties to improve your speaking skills. Betty G. Amerson
Rating: 
Summary: Run, run, run away from her and her book!
Review: Can you imagine going up to a group of strangers at a party and saying "Do you mind if I join your group, you are the only ones here that seem at all interesting?" Well the author says she thought that line was a good idea - until she used it and found to her horror that the people reacted negatively. Even if she didn't realize how rude the statement was, she must be amazingly stupid to have overlooked the possibility that other people in the room were their friends. She also gives psychotic advice like saying that she is avoiding someone at the gathering (no don't look around), as in opening thus getting a guest to talk to her so that imaginary person won't bother her. I don't often give ratings, especially one stars, but I felt it was my duty to try to steer others away from this poor offering.
Rating:
Summary: Run, run, run away from her and her book!
Review: Can you imagine going up to a group of strangers at a party and saying "Do you mind if I join your group, you are the only ones here that seem at all interesting?" Well the author says she thought that line was a good idea - until she used it and found to her horror that the people reacted negatively. Even if she didn't realize how rude the statement was, she must be amazingly stupid to have overlooked the possibility that other people in the room were their friends. She also gives psychotic advice like saying that she is avoiding someone at the gathering (no don't look around), as in opening thus getting a guest to talk to her so that imaginary person won't bother her. I don't often give ratings, especially one stars, but I felt it was my duty to try to steer others away from this poor offering.
Rating:
Summary: Run, run, run away from her and her book!
Review: Can you imagine going up to a group of strangers at a party and saying "Do you mind if I join your group, you are the only ones here that seem at all interesting?" Well the author says she thought that line was a good idea - until she used it and found to her horror that the people reacted negatively. Even if she didn't realize how rude the statement was, she must be amazingly stupid to have overlooked the possibility that other people in the room were their friends. She also gives psychotic advice like saying that she is avoiding someone at the gathering (no don't look around), as in opening thus getting a guest to talk to her so that imaginary person won't bother her. I don't often give ratings, especially one stars, but I felt it was my duty to try to steer others away from this poor offering.
Rating: 
Summary: Good information if you can filter it from the book.
Review: I have just finished reading "The Art of Mingling" by Jeanne Martinet. The author takes a tongue and cheek approach to her informational style but also gives the impression that she carries this attitude at all the social gatherings she attends. I can't help thinking that she never really gets to know anyone when she attends parties because she is to busy playing a game. I thought that attending social functions and parties is to get to know and let people know who "you" are. Some of the advice that she offers, that I can not heed, is to pretend that you are someone else when entering a social gathering. If you go to the party as someone else, then "you" never really attended the party. She also suggests using a different accent when you go to a party. This is a disaster waiting to happen. What if you decide to have, say, an Austrailian accent and there happens to be an Austrailian in attendance at the party? If you haven't done your reserch, your busted, not to mention that you just slapped another culture in the face for your own amusement. She also says that you should first try out your mingling tatics on a group of "nerds"or "dweebs" (I'd hate to be the first group she visits)when you first enter a party. Need I say more on how shallow and self centered this tatic is? The "so called" nerds and dweebs are probably mingling together because they have common interests and are having a good time. They don't need anyone jumping in to try out their new material on them. Having shared my opinon on the bad points of this book, Ms. Martinet does offer some good advice and a different perspective for people who like to mingle and are looking for different ways to join in a conversation. Like most self help books, we need to take the information that fits our personality and formulate our own strategies to enhance our own "mingling prowess". If you are intersted in building your mingling skills and can filter out the useful information from what I would consider the chunks of social "don'ts" in this book, then I can give it my recomandation.
Rating:
Summary: Good information if you can filter it from the book.
Review: I have just finished reading "The Art of Mingling" by Jeanne Martinet. The author takes a tongue and cheek approach to her informational style but also gives the impression that she carries this attitude at all the social gatherings she attends. I can't help thinking that she never really gets to know anyone when she attends parties because she is to busy playing a game. I thought that attending social functions and parties is to get to know and let people know who "you" are. Some of the advice that she offers, that I can not heed, is to pretend that you are someone else when entering a social gathering. If you go to the party as someone else, then "you" never really attended the party. She also suggests using a different accent when you go to a party. This is a disaster waiting to happen. What if you decide to have, say, an Austrailian accent and there happens to be an Austrailian in attendance at the party? If you haven't done your reserch, your busted, not to mention that you just slapped another culture in the face for your own amusement. She also says that you should first try out your mingling tatics on a group of "nerds"or "dweebs" (I'd hate to be the first group she visits)when you first enter a party. Need I say more on how shallow and self centered this tatic is? The "so called" nerds and dweebs are probably mingling together because they have common interests and are having a good time. They don't need anyone jumping in to try out their new material on them. Having shared my opinon on the bad points of this book, Ms. Martinet does offer some good advice and a different perspective for people who like to mingle and are looking for different ways to join in a conversation. Like most self help books, we need to take the information that fits our personality and formulate our own strategies to enhance our own "mingling prowess". If you are intersted in building your mingling skills and can filter out the useful information from what I would consider the chunks of social "don'ts" in this book, then I can give it my recomandation.
Rating:
Summary: Nasty, Hurtful, and Unsocial
Review: I listened to this tape and tried to keep an open mind, hoping it would get better, even though I felt like turning it off a few times. Ms Martinet seems to have a lot of deep, nasty, resentful feelings towards people. Has she been treated badly by a crowd of strangers at one too many cocktail parties? Her advice in dealing with others is to make your self feel superior by putting down everyone else. I work at a school, and we dedicate time to teaching our kids how NOT to act like Ms. Martinet suggests. The snide tone of her voice on this tape emphasises her unkind, unsocial advice. Please, don't follow it.
Rating:
Summary: Art of Mingling not just Self-Help
Review: I thoroughly enjoyed "The Art of Mingling," partly because it is not simply a self-help book that offers useful advice, but also a gentle parody of itself. When you see through it's tongue-in-cheek approach, it provides both useful ideas about mingling and a good deal of humor. Some people have criticized Martinet's advice, bemoaning, for example, to her "fake it till you make it" or "pretend to be someone else" rules. Marinet, however, does not advocate being fake as a continued practice; she merely suggests that to become comfortable mingling, you must go out and mingle. If you must use "role playing" to overcome your initial fears, that's okay. I am a teacher and often use "role playing" to get shy students to express themselves in class. Martinet's tone has also been criticized, and it is, in fact, sarcastic. But her jabs and her "attitude" are extremely tongue-in-cheek. When she says that the skill one most needs for mingling is the ability to lie, she is not being serious, but making the reader aware of how one might or might not tell the truth in a given situation. She makes fun of social conventions and of herself, and she instructs in this way. If you are looking for a cut-and-dried, "this is how you get ahead in the world" guide, "The Art of Mingling" may not be for you. But if you want a somewhat irreverent look at the dos and don'ts of social interaction that can provide insight underneath the humor, I fully recommend this guide. I owned the audio version of this book, and the tape broke from wear. I'm online to buy another copy.
Rating:
Summary: The book was written in poor taste
Review: Jeanne Martinet,at her best, was trying to get someone's attention when she wrote The Art of Mingling. the book opens with a very catchy phrase, "How to fake it till you make it". Isn't that what's wrong with some of society today? Too many people trying to fake it. What's wrong with just being yourself? There's no reason to hide behind an invisible wall when you enter a room full of strangers; they are probably just as uneasy as you are. Then to suggest if you do have that problem try fantasizing about the people in the room or to become someone you're not. This just emphasizes another problem with today's society. It also suggests it's proper to characterize individuals or groups of people as "nerds or dweebs" which is something else that is proven destructive in today's society. Why anyone would characterize anyony else a "nerd or dweeb" or anything else for that matter is not the Art of Mingling, but the Art of poor taste. "Being able to handle yourself well in unexpected or unusual mingling situations takes concentration, imagination, flexibility, and by far the most important ingredent: the unhesitating, unwavering ability to lie through your teeth." This quote isn't as bad as it sounds if you understand what Martinet's try to convey. It is more important to tell a fib than to hurt someone's feelings as long as it's meant in an honorable way. Martinet gives the impression that going to social gatherings is only a game to be played. But there are other reasons as well, such as to just relax and enjoy the event, to be who you are and not have to worry about try to figure out who you should be. The book does have a few good points but over all it is in poor taste and suggest deception as a way to begin your "social life".
Rating:
Summary: Vile Advice
Review: The smarmy voice of this author (on tape) perfectly matches the unsocial advice she gives. I wouldn't want to talk to someone at a party who came at me with Ms. Martinet's intentions. Gee, be yourself. Be friendly. Ask questions. Pay attention to the other person. Please don't lie and fake it. Smile. I'll talk to you.
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