Features
- Cover Type: Paperback with 256 pages
- Published by: Alyson Books July 1, 2008
- Written in: English
- ISBN 10 Number: 159350067X
- ISBN 13 Number: 978-1593500672
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Book Dimensions:
8.4 x 5.5 x 0.7 inches
- Weighs: 8 ounces
Product Description
Forget everything you’ve ever been told about gay dating. In this revolutionary approach to finding and keeping love, psychotherapist Keith W. Swain shows you how to open the door to a new world of hidden gay men, one of whom is your Mr. Right. The key is the “Alpha” vs. “Beta” style, counter-balancing traits necessary for success. Test yourself to see which one you are and what your perfect partner will be.
Behind its amusing framework of superheroes, Dynamic Duos gives science-based answers that explain why you’ve been looking for love in all the wrong places. Based on new data from the National Survey of Male Relationships, Swain zeroes in on the strategies that will work for you, spells out the eight early indicators of a gay couple on their way to a successful lifelong marriage, and demonstrates how to write the perfect personal ad to attract your type.
Filled with illuminating case stories and practical tips, Dynamic Duos is your guide to finding lifelong love. Batman or Robin, your perfect mate is out there. What are you waiting for?
Keith W. Swain, PsyD, has a private practice in Denver, and he has also been a professor of psychology at the University of Colorado at Denver.
About The Author
Keith W. Swain, PsyD, has a masters in counseling psychology at Lesley University in Massachusetts, and a doctorate in clinical pyschology at California Coast University in Santa Ana. He has a private practice in Denver, Colorado, and he has also been a professor of psychology at the University of Colorado at Denver. His column appears regularly in Out Front Colorado.
Reader Reviews
I'll admit a predisposition against "self-help" books that minimize the diversity and varied experiences of a significant portion of the human race to a universal, generalized "one size fits all" solution to everyone's problems. "Dynamic Duos" is the worst example of that I have ever seen. In a nutshell, Mr. Swain breaks down the dynamics of gays dating and seeking a relationship to a kind of unintentional role playing game, with "superheros" looking for "sidekicks" and vice versa. The former are the "alpha" males looking for their respective "beta" partners, based on results of a test that irrevocably brands you as one or the other. I won't go into the specifics of the test, which consists of 100 true-false questions, ranging from sexual (mostly top/bottom), physical (including hair growth patterns and what thumb goes on top when you clasp your hands) and subjective self-analysis of your emotions and body image, to somewhat bizarre questions, such as your method of parallel parking. Add up the "true" responses, and classify yourself as Alpha or Beta (and lower case alpha and beta based on a smaller sample of the questions). Swain says this will enable you to find your ideal partner, and - just as importantly - know what people you won't be compatible with for a relationship ... regardless of how well you get along, so you may as well break up now, rather than waste each other's time! And the questionable advice doesn't end there: when you finally meet "Mr. Right," you must abandon your gay friends, singles or couples, and only associate with heterosexuals, if you don't want to ruin your relationship. Had enough? Actually, there are some snippets of insightful and worthwhile advice here and there, as Swain takes you through some common problems facing gay couples, such as aging, finances and diminished sexual interest. Unfortunately, these lose credibility when sandwiched around the gist of his theory about gay couples. I give the effort 3 stars out of 5.
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