The Art of Mingling: Proven Techniques for Mastering Any Room

I expected more seasoned approaches to engaging socially. Many of the techniques given are cliche-ish, tired or "cute". If I had browsed the book, I wouldn't have purchased it.

I don't know why some people wrote such negative reviews on this book. I thought the "icebreaker" lines were some of the best I've ever read (for friendly icebreakers, not picking women/men up).

It can be a little corny and a little dated in places but overall, this is a good book and I highly recommend it over the other "how to talk to people" books on amazon.

This book reads like Ms. Martinet's attempt to stretch a few sentences of advice into a 190-page book. A lot of it is useless fluff and can really be boiled down into the following: "Start talking to anyone you don't know but keep it light and non-threatening. If the conversation bores you, excuse yourself politely." Everything else is just cutely worded examples of how to do those two things.

If you are really paralyzed by the thought of meeting new people then perhaps this book can help. If you are like me, someone who doesn't fear socializing but looking to polish your skills, you likely will gain nothing.

While I don't doubt the author's mingling success, many of the methods she promotes dishearten me. Someone following the bulk of her advice could never be trusted to express a truthful opinion, and could easily be classified as a "drama queen."

While such people are often very popular, there seems to be a high price to pay.

This said, those wanting not to lie to friends and strangers can still get some valuable advice from this book. Especially if they aren't very good at it.

As another reviewer alluded to, this book is not an exhaustive guide to the issue. The author appears to have a relatively narrow understanding of what people can get out of social circulating. If you want to mingle for reasons other than to have words go into your ears, and sometimes come out of your mouth, then you will probably be left wanting additional instruction.

I do not look down on self-help books. Many people dismiss them as irrelevant because the advice they give is straightforward; but oftentimes we need straightforward advice, explained in sufficient detail for us to own up to it. Personally, I have often introduced useful changes in my life after reading self-help books that are by no means rocket science.

Having said this, and lathough I am open to new ideas, I really regretted spending money and time on this book. I found absolutely no valuable insight in this book; as for the advice it gives, it is either completely obvious, or potentially risky. Some recommendations are really disputable. Furthermore, many of these tips are only suitable for women.

Overall, the impression I get from this book is that it's an amateurish exercise from a rather superficial woman who likes cocktail parties. Several readers enjoyed its humor; I didn't. I definitely would not recommend this book.