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Modern Romance

An Investigation

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Modern Romance

By: Aziz Ansari
Narrated by: Aziz Ansari
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About this listen

At some point every one of us embarks on a journey to find love. We meet people, date, get into and out of relationships, all with the hope of finding someone with whom we share a deep connection. This seems standard now, but it's wildly different from what people did even just decades ago. Single people today have more romantic options than at any point in human history. With technology, our abilities to connect with and sort through these options are staggering. So why are so many people frustrated?

Some of our problems are unique to our time."Why did this guy just text me an emoji of a pizza?" "Should I go out with this girl even though she listed Combos as one of her favorite snack foods? Combos?!" "My girlfriend just got a message from some dude named Nathan. Who's Nathan? Did he just send her a photo of his penis? Should I check just to be sure?"

But the transformation of our romantic lives can't be explained by technology alone. In a short period of time, the whole culture of finding love has changed dramatically. A few decades ago, people would find a decent person who lived in their neighbourhood. Their families would meet and, after deciding neither party seemed like a murderer, they would get married and soon have a kid, all by the time they were 24. Today people marry later than ever and spend years of their lives on a quest to find the perfect person, a soul mate.

For years Aziz Ansari has been aiming his comic insight at modern romance, but for Modern Romance the book, he decided he needed to take things to another level. He teamed up with NYU sociologist Eric Klinenberg and designed a massive research project, including hundreds of interviews and focus groups conducted everywhere from Tokyo to Buenos Aires to Wichita. They analysed behavioural data and surveys and created their own online research forum on Reddit, which drew thousands of messages. They enlisted the world's leading social scientists, including Eli Finkel, Helen Fisher, Sheena Iyengar, Barry Schwartz, Sherry Turkle, and Robb Willer. The result is unlike any social science or humour book we've seen before.

In Modern Romance, Ansari combines his irreverent humour with cutting-edge social science to give us an unforgettable tour of our new romantic world.

©2015 Aziz Ansari (P)2015 Penguin Audio
Love, Dating & Attraction Performing Arts Relationships Sociology Inspiring Comedy Funny Dating Technology
All stars
Most relevant  
Big fan of Aziz and his stand up, so having him read the book was a must buy. Thoroughly researched, interesting & laugh out loud funny.
Must read/ listen!

Quality

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Educational and hilarious! Aziz's performance was fantastic, his hilarity and gentle teasing of the audience made it something special. I highly recommend.

Loved it!

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This book was forwarded to me by a friend as a gift. I'd seen some of Aziz on Netflix as well as listening to some on Spotify. I, being a relatively successful middle class single male really get a lot out of this dude. My friend I think feels I need to move into the dating scene a bit more seriously. Not that I can't get dates, just that I don't really try, or am quite happily occupied with what already goes on around me. After listening to this though I believe I probably avoid dating which is sad. I'm awesome and have a lot to offer. Aziz's book Modern Romance is very well researched and takes a look at modern and historical dating from a variety of cultures. The biggest thing I got out of it is not to expect to have met the perfect chick on the first or second date, but that like with anything, perfection takes time and that is the same with people. Meet them 5 or 6 or 10 times before moving on. Or not moving on. I know this sounds simple, and it's something I've known. But it was good to hear it from someone as cool as Aziz.

Aziz as you'd expect

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So refreshing to read a celeb book about something other than themselves. This was interesting, relevant and hilarious. Highly recommend the audio book.

Aziz is hilarious

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I actually read this book, then upon discovering he narrates his own audiobook I decided to give this a whirl too. Funny it sounds outloud exactly like it does in your head when you read it.

The subject matter of this book is fresh and his perspective fresher, I feel like I learnt a lot about love and human interaction whilst it still being laugh out loudly funny.

A must!

A must listen for modern singles

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I bought this book because I wanted someone to tell me some funny stories. Modern Romance not only did this, but is also a good insight into dating in today's world.

Ansari clearly cares about the subject and delivers a good blend of studies and interviews. He also tells a wicked joke, so if you choose to buy this book be prepared to be that nut that laughs out loud on the bus.

Insightful and funny

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Aziz is so funny, what a fab performance and some great stats shared too! Would be interesting to see how neurodivergence, BIPOC and queer people do modern romance! Maybe next time!

So hilarious!

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A great insight into current hookups, dating and the pursuit for love. Seemingly well researched yet easy to take in thanks to the entertaining Aziz.

Entertaining and insightful

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I really enjoyed listening to this book, it resonated on different levels, and I actually caught myself laughing a few times.

it is an easy and light audio book to listen too. not to be taken seriously.

witty, charming and informative

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Aziz brings his own flair to his book as you would reflect. His energy brings points to life that could sometimes be overlooked if read by yourself.

Would definitely recommend this audiobook simply to listen to the storytelling aspect, but the subject material is also well thought out and a good take on modern romance.

Good Material, Better Man

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