Following "The Rules"?

March 23, 2001 8:12 AM

Following "The Rules"? One of the co-authors of "The Rules" is getting divorced, even as the third book in the series -- Rules III: Time-Tested Secrets for Making Your Marriage Work-- goes to press.
posted by darren (16 comments total)

description of the third book from the article:
"The third Rules volume stands to be as contentious as the first two. It advises a married women to be subservient to her mate and to wear her hair long, because men supposedly find it more attractive. And don’t go looking to your husbands for sympathy about life’s daily hassles, the authors caution, since men shouldn’t be expected to be good nurturers."

The co-authors, two women, actually wrote this.

Perhaps her husband grew tired of being married to someone that acted like a doormat.
posted by mathowie at 8:23 AM on March 23, 2001

Or perhaps he got tired of arbitrary rules used as a substitute for a fulfilling relationship. :)
posted by solistrato at 8:32 AM on March 23, 2001

Ugh. The downside of capitalism: cashing in on the uglier aspects of human nature--in this case, cynicism, pandering, and gender-baiting.

The upside: they are in their fourteenth minute.
posted by Skot at 8:35 AM on March 23, 2001

Well well well, a woman who lives by adages including: don't be too funny on a first date; use a timer if necessary to keep phone conversations short; and if a man calls you after Wednesday for a weekend date, say you're busy even if you aren't, then don't answer the phone, is getting a divorce. What a huge surprise.

Don't get me wrong; I read The Rules (in about 45 minutes, it's hardly intellectual) and some of the tricks do work - for a while. But they are just tricks. You want a real relationship and a marriage that's going to work? Be yourself, whoever that person is, and find someone who loves that person. "The Rules" was nothing but a way to give women the illusion of control over the whole process, thereby leading us to believe that such a thing was possible. It isn't. And now one of the authors is finding that out the hard way.
posted by jennaratrix at 8:46 AM on March 23, 2001

Me to my wife, Jenny: Hey, one of the Rules women is getting divorced.

My wife to me: *cackle*

This is a truly interesting marketing conundrum for the publisher. Kind of like a bald guy selling Rogaine.
posted by artlung at 8:55 AM on March 23, 2001

I don't want to wish anyone ill, so I will just hope that maybe this woman learns a lesson about encouraging women to subjugate their own needs just to be part of a "marriage for marriage's sake" type marriage.

I'm also trying hard not to gloat at this silly wench. Arg. Must... not... gloat...
posted by jennyb at 8:59 AM on March 23, 2001

Ms. Fein getting a divorce is as surprisingly delightful as when the Psychic Friends Network filed for bankruptcy.
posted by quirked at 9:03 AM on March 23, 2001

The modern Stepford wife gets a divorce? I'm shocked. Truly shocked.

{Confidential to artlung: *cackle*cackle*}
posted by amanda at 9:04 AM on March 23, 2001

Actually, it says in the article that they're schleping the divorced husband around at book signings, and they'll explain it at each appearance. Methinks this could just be a ploy to boost third sequel sales and get free advertising via news stories such as this one.
posted by mathowie at 10:03 AM on March 23, 2001

I didn't see anywhere in the article that the estranged husband was going to be making book appearances. It says the coauthors will address the issue at appearances, which sounds to me like a way of avoiding addressing it now.

Am I reading a different version of the article, or has the sleep deprivation finally gotten the better of me?
posted by anapestic at 10:13 AM on March 23, 2001

oops, my bad, I misread a sentence there, thinking they were refering to the husband, but it was just the authors.
posted by mathowie at 10:37 AM on March 23, 2001

"The Rules IV: Secrets to a Successful Divorce"?
posted by jennaratrix at 11:05 AM on March 23, 2001

Oh, poor thing. It's Friday, so she hasn't a chance for a date this weekend
posted by petra at 11:47 AM on March 23, 2001

I'd just like to say how very sorry I am for the poor woman's loss.
I'd like to say it. But I'd be lying.
posted by davidgentle at 2:54 PM on March 23, 2001

Bahahahahahaha!

I know it is wrong to laugh, but damn it, it really does serve her right. Hopefully women will stop buying their books now that they've realised they don't lead to successful marriages and start thinking for themselves.
posted by underpantsgnomette at 5:06 AM on March 24, 2001

Hip hip... HOORAY!!
Hip hip... HOORAY!!
Hip hip... HOORAY!!!!
posted by TheShovel at 2:11 PM on March 24, 2001