Despite the flaws, if the text were accurate and enlightening, the book would be worth its weight in gold. Unfortunately, it has all the content of your basic Esquire article, plus a bunch of padding and rambling in Unabomber style. The man has the flabbiest prose I have read in any self help book. He routinely fails to construct complete sentences, and drives all over the map in search of a cohesive paragraph. He cannot write a simple list without backtracking and repeating himself.

As he demonstrates his ignorance, he also frequently self-aggrandizes. He assumes the posture of "The Man," and requires blind faith from his followers. If you like that brand of leadership, you can find him in other low-budget venues: Internet radio and discussion boards. First, though, ask how supplicating yourself to a questionable guru is going to raise your self-confidence. Why do you think Mr. Steele engages in all this shameless promotion of himself? It is because no one else will.

Gray presents ideas on how to find your soul mate, as well
as thoughts on how to create a loving and mutually fulfilling
relationship . . . he has the ability to make sense out
of ordinary situations that appear easy to handle, yet in
reality are anything but that.

I know I liked the material, in that I had to get a copy of
the book (after listening) so that I could share just a
few of the many memorable passages . . . among them:

* When you [a man] make a mistake, use a negative
adjective--a "nadjective"--to describe yourself or what
you did. These are a few examples:

I'm sorry that I was late. . . . I was really inconsiderate.

I'm sorry about the things I said yesterday . . . I thought
about it and realized that I was overreactive.

I'm sorry I didn't call you back sooner. You're right; I was
really insensitive.

I'm sorry that I forgot to get the tickets. It was really
selfish of me.

I'm sorry you felt excluded at the party. . . I was
inconsiderate, it was really mean.

I am really sorry about the things I said. I was really
being defensive.

* Women will appreciate any sincere compliment, but when
a man puts a little more thought into his words, she
will like it more. . . . The more special the adjective, the
more special she feels. These are some examples:

PLAIN COMPLIMENT (PC) vs. JUICY COMPLIMENT (JC)
PC, That is a nice picture. JC, You are incredibly artistic.
PC, You look good tonight. JC, You look magnificent tonight.
PC, You have a nice smile. JC, You have a radiant smile.
PC, You look good. JC, You are so gorgeous.
PC, You look nice. JC, You are so lovely.
PC, You look nice. JC, You look beautiful.
PC, That is a nice dress. JC, You look so exquisite in that dress.
PC, You have nice eyes. JC, You have such a special sparkle in your eyes.

Even a plain compliment can be juiced up with any of these
five simple words: so, really, very, always, and such.

[For example, to juice up the most basic compliment, "You look nice."]
1. You look so nice. (attraction)
2. You look really nice. (interest)
3. You look very nice. (enthusiasm)
4. You always look nice. (familiarity)
5. You have such a nice look. (pride)

To express more feeling in a compliment, he can just repeat
any of these words or combine them like this:
1. You look so, so nice
2. You really look so nice.
3. You look very, very nice.
4. You always look so nice.
5. You really have such a nice look.

Women can also use these five words to express more
feeling in their indirect compliments to a man. Let's apply
these five words to one of the most basic compliments that
any man loves to hear, "I am happy we did this."

1. I am so happy we did this.
2. I am really happy we did this.
3. I am very happy we did this.
4. I am always happy to do this.
5. I am so happy; I had such a good time.

One neat thing about this book is that it lays open flat so you don't have to juggle with it to keep your place in the book while examining and comparing with your actual quilt or fabric. It has a great, and I mean GREAT, resource list with web site addresses including quilt societies, appraisers and museums, a full glossary of what all those "trade insider" words mean, and a very comprehensive bibliography.

I must admit that I found this book somewhat disturbing. My eleven-year-old daughter and I have been reading some American Girls books together, and the thought that this loving flower will soon turn into a teenager has my blood running cold!