I have to say that I have had a very hard time writing a review of this book. (I couldn't even decide what category to put it under so I just put "review" in the title!) I could easily condense this review to, "It's great! Read it!" Of course, that doesn't really give much information. Instead of rambling on, I've come up with four points that make this book amazing. But first I'll get the little details out of the way.
I Kissed Dating Goodbye was published back in 1997 after twenty-one year old Joshua Harris penned it. The book brought up new ideas about dating -- actually, the idea of giving up dating altogether -- and focused on the all-important relationship between young adult singles and Jesus Christ. The book took off in sales and was published in a new edition in 2003. (My review is of the 1997 version, by the way.)
This is my second time to read I Kissed Dating Goodbye, and it encouraged me more now than it did when I first read it. The thought of relinquishing dating's hold on most teenagers's lives is certainly shocking to some, especially in a time when dating is professed to be a natural and important part of the growing-up years. A few months ago I reviewed a newly-released book on dating and found it quite unsatisfactory; I Kissed Dating Goodbye, written when I was just a kid, is still a breath of fresh air today.
There are several reasons why I love this book, but I have tried to condense them into just four. First, I love I Kissed Dating Goodbye simply because it is an easy-to-read book with well-planned divisions. Sometimes it is difficult to read books that contain a lot of how-to advice because they just aren't organized well enough. But I Kissed Dating Goodbye is simple to read, and Joshua Harris's writing style adds greatly to that simplicity and organization.
Second, I Kissed Dating Goodbye is so great because it is truly a non-judgemental, caring piece of literature. If you are on the fence about dating, you won't find Joshua Harris damning you for your wrongful ways or speaking of the god-like quality of those who don't date. Not at all! Joshua Harris gently tells his own story of dating woes and regrets, leading readers to his decision to forgo dating completely. He humbly explains his story, leaving you to make your own decision on the subject.
Third, I love that I Kissed Dating Goodbye is so different from other so-called Christian dating books. Instead of throwing in a few relevant verses, Joshua takes readers through entire sections of Scripture, exploring God's definition of love and singles's relationships with Christ. He doesn't spout off pop culture's language about "healthy" relationships and following one's heart; actually, he focuses on what the Bible says about relationships with the opposite sex and the importance of guarding oneself from the heart's often misleading guidance.
We've made it to number four. I Kissed Dating Goodbye is filled with such great encouragement for any single young adult who desires to honor God with his or her whole life, including the area of relationships. It's definitely tough at times to live dating-free, especially when friends and family members think you've fallen out of a tree about the whole thing. Joshua Harris includes a chapter on explaining your beliefs about dating, with encouraging points about humbly discussing the subject with others. Sometimes the opinions of others make me want to throw judgemental balls of fire, but the reminder that I don't need to prove anything is encouraging. He also includes ideas for what to do when you think a relationship with someone of the opposite sex could lead to more than friendship. I loved his tips (they aren't rules) in this area because they don't fall under any specific category of courtship or dating, which many are inclined to debate endlessly. Instead, the advice is inspired by Scripture and encouraged by mature Christians.
I could ramble on about other reasons why I like I Kissed Dating Goodbye. In all honesty, though, this is the best book I've read on dating from a Christian perspective, and I encourage anyone who is considering not dating -- or someone who just wants to understand why someone would choose to not date -- to read it. Living wholly for Christ is a challenging road to take and, for many, letting go of dating moves us a few steps forward.
Extra links: I Kissed Dating Goodbye, publisher's page,
Publisher: Waterbrook Multnomah
Format: Varies depending on edition. 1997 edition: 228 pages (Paperback)
Source: My bookshelf
