Rating: 
Summary: They're "The Rules," not "The Law"
Review: I read this book about a year ago and made a vow to practice "The Rules" religiously for three months (the amount of time reccommended in the book). In that time, I dated more creeps than I think I've encountered in all my 20-something years. Why? Because I waited for men who were interested in me and stopped pursuing men I was interested in. Since then, I've decided to take what I can use from the book (I still think it's wrong to date a married man, give up all your interests for a man or keep calling a man who has stopped calling you), but there are parts of "The Rules" that I now believe need revisions. Ladies: are you seriously going to stop seeing a man if he doesn't give you candy, flowers or jewelry for your birthday? Doesn't a rule like this ignore a woman's individuality? (what if she doesn't like candy, flowers or jewelry?) The most disastrous rule suggests that a woman catch a man by not looking at him or talking to him before he looks at or talks to her. The result of this: Only the gutsiest men will ask you out, and you'll have no say in the selection process (trust me, I've been there). To get the best results from this book, read it, mark the passages you think will work, and try your hardest to forget the rest. Contrary to what the authors say, the rules don't need to be a religion.
Rating: 
Summary: Men-Skim It!, Women-Ignore It!
Review: This book teaches women to play games. Men should skim the book to be understand why a woman may act strangely in a dating situation. It reminds me of the scene from the movie Patton with George C. Scott where Patton defeats Rommel in North Africa. As the victory becomes clear, Patton notes, "Rommel you magnificent b*st*rd, I read your book." Once a man recognizes that a woman is playing the games outlined in this book, he has two options. The first option is to play the game of "hide and seek". She'll never call back since she is following the rules. The second option is to give her a copy of "The Real Rules" by Barbara De Angelis which is also available from amazon.com.
Rating:
Summary: The Rules ignores the variety of people's desires and needs
Review: Yes, I did actually read the full text of this book, and yes I did see that there were little bits in between that had some merit, but in general this book is an idiotic piece of garbage. It assumes that marriage is the number one goal in any woman's life while at the same time saying it shouldn't be and by making it not be one will achieve the goal that one no longer has. Say again? (I think you'll need to read that summary twice to understand it, but it is the bast way I think I can formulate what they are trying to say)
The authors' assertion that The Rules have nothing to do with game-playing is pure self-serving nonsense. Just to pick one one point (there are many) I can't "be myself" by "playfully and occasionally" initiating sex when being myself includes indulging my wish to meet my lover at the door wearing nothing but an open-nipple faux-leather playsuit. Pretending to demure when this is what I really am would certainly amount to playing a game. It would also lead to an unhappy future to the relationship when I finally get out my faux-leather open-nipple playsuit only to find out that he doesn't LIKE it.
Further, their assumptions about gender difference are clearly uninformed; gender comes in such a variety of manefestations that no one set of rules could dictate the correct form interation between every pair of romantic partners. Ok, the rules may work for some people and in some situations. If you've tried everything else, go for it. If you want a Rules Husband, go for it. But I am angered that the authors try to proscribe the rules for already married and engaged people and in fact ALL female people. I know for a fact that if I had followed these rules I would never have gotten engaged to the most wonderful person I have ever met. As a matter of fact I didn't WANT to be engaged until I met em. And since our relationship is exactly the way I want it to be now, starting to follow The Rules could only mess it up.
If you want to learn more I have a webpage on the subject at
http://web.mit.edu/ansbergc/www/rules.html
with more thoughts and lots of links.
Rating: 
Summary: You have to give 'em a little credit
Review: I believe the intent of the book is better then just looking at the rules themselves. It's about loving yourself more and in turn having someone love you like you deserve. Some of the rules are a bit outlandish and unfair, but if you pick through the parts you can't live with I'm sure you'll find a little gold hidden in these pages.
If nothing at all The Rules does give you confidence in yourself, and in my book that's at the top.
Rating: 
Summary: Don't Knock it till you've actually read it
Review: You'll notice that many of the negative reviews of this book never mention reading the book. Sure, if you only hear one or two of the rules, they sound strange and counter intuitive, but you need to actually read the text to get the whole story. These rules _encourage_ you to have a full, fulfilling life outside of men. They encourage you to be able to live with or without them. Just think back, girls, to how many times the men you've been polite to but uninterested in have hounded you. Think of their persistance. And think of how much it drives you crazy when the object of your desire doesn't immediately fall on your lap. These rules are very hard to follow, but they do work, and they do strain out the men who don't deserve you. Go to the bookstore and read through it first if you're not sure, but trust me, this one is a keeper.
Rating:
Summary: The Rules: An insult to women and men alike
Review: The Rules is an abomination. It sets up a power structure in relationships which positions men as the aggressors and women as passive with only the right of refusal. The sad thing about this book is that the authors acknowledge repeatedly that the premises of The Rules are sexist and anti-feminist. To this they do not argue, the simply dismiss such concerns with a flippant, "but it works." This kind of reasoning is not only morally bankrupt (the morality of action does not depend on its outcome, but rather the nature of the act itself) but it begs the question ..if I have to degrade myself in this way do I really want to get married, and if so do I want to marry a man stupid enough to fall for this deceit? The Rules are dangerous for women and men alike because they only allow for one stereotyped version of gender. I thought we were getting over all this sexist rubbish..obviously not according to Ellen and Sherri
Rating:
Summary: Old-fashioned common sense combined with modern feminism
Review: This book is an interesting combination of gentle cynicism about men, a very modern kind of "respect yourself" feminism, and a straight-ahead approach to minimizing wasted time in relationships. The book argues that we are better off not challenging the biological imperatives of men, who are programmed to hunt and will not stick by a woman who makes the chase too easy. It insists that women not give up their power in the relationship, as they have been in recent decades. I don't think it's game playing -- just the opposite -- because girls who do the Rules aren't fooling around: they have a goal in mind. I like bringing back the idea of being a "good girl" and making a man respect you and work to get you. This is anything but desperate. A much more cynical book is Dr. Joyce Brothers' famous book of the '80s, "What Every Woman Should Know About Love and Marriage," which unfortunately made men sound like knuckle-dragging slobs
Rating:
Summary: Stop dating - read this book
Review: I was dating a woman who read this book. The end result of this reading was that we stopped dating.
The clear message to any human in any kind of human to human relationship, in our modern age, is "when several phone calls are not returned the person I'm calling is not interested in communicating." When someone isn't interested in talking a relationship with that someone cannot be sustained.
Rating:
Summary: This book is for pure entertainment.
Review: Although this book has recieved all different reviews, it sure does perk the interest. This book should and must be taken as a joke. Women have worked for centuries building our status in society, and now we are lowering ourselves! It should be the book on how "not" to act
Rating:
Summary: BREAK THE RULES!
Review: If a woman is confident in herself enough to be herself without playing games, that is the person Mr. Right will fall in love with. Why be something you're not to 'land a man'? The fact this book became a bestseller is very disheartening. Women should be strong, independent and confident enough to find a great guy on their own without having to read how. Be original. Be yourself. Hold true to your own rules and burn this book
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