A&B #33

Hey friends,

I hope you're enjoying your Sunday.

Great news: Alex & Books passed 100,000 followers on

Instagram

 this week! 

What started out as a simple way to share the books I enjoyed reading has grown into a massive community of readers. Thank you so much for your support over the years everyone.

Speaking of sharing books, if you're looking for a book recommendation, here are 

Ravikant.

PS: This newsletter keeps growing (5,100+ subscribers) which is wonderful, but that also means the cost to send it keeps growing as well. So to help keep it free, I'll be partnering up with cool companies every now and then who will sponsor an issue of the A&B newsletter.

This week's partner is

The Daily Upside

–a free daily email that brings you the most important and engaging stories in business (more info below).

Alright, let's dive into this week's newsletter.

📚 Book Lessons:

Readers loved the lessons I shared last week (from How To Not Die Alone by Logan Ury), so here are 3 more valuable lessons from her book:1) How To Get More Matches on Dating AppsEverything is a science, even dating. And as the director of relationship science at the popular dating app Hinge, Logan has a ton of helpful tips for getting more matches. Here's her advice: 

• Pictures that use filters or have a possible significant other in the photo received 90% fewer likes.

• Women see a 70% boost in their chances of getting a like when they're standing alone or smiling with teeth.

• Candid shots are 15% more likely to receive a like than posed photos.

• Selfies (especially bathroom selfies) decrease your chances of getting a like by 90%.

2) How To Meet The Love of Your Life In Real LifeNot a fan of dating apps? Don't worry, you can still meet people in real life (might be more applicable in a post-corona world but you could always save these tips for later). Here's how: 

• Go to events that you actually enjoy (concerts, spin class, book clubs, etc.).

• Ask friends and family to set you up  (this is the third most common way to meet your partner after online dating and bars).

• Host a party and ask your friends to invite new people.

• Introduce yourself to people when you're out and about (talk to the people at your local coffee spot, while shopping at Trader Joes, etc.). 

3) How To Make Dates More Fun

Dates should not feel like a job interview. They should be fun, light, and playful. The good news is that there are several things you can do to make your dates a lot more enjoyable. Here are a few tips:

• Choose the time and place of your date wisely (7pm at a bar is much more romantic than 7am at Dunkin Donuts).

• Do a fun activity (spice things up by going roller-skating, taking a cooking class, or renting scooters and exploring the city).

• Be interested, not interesting (ask thoughtful questions and be an attentive listener).

• Limit phone use (studies show that having a phone in sight creates a barrier to connection).

✅ Actionable Advice:

1) Use science to get more dating matches.

• DON'T have any pictures with your ex in them.

• DON'T have any selfies (especially bathroom ones).

• DO use candid photos over posed ones.

2) Try meeting people in real life.

• Attend events and interact with other people.

• Ask friends or family if they could set you up with someone.

• Throw a party and tell your friends to invite new people.

• Introduce yourself to people when you're out and about.

3) Aim to make your dates fun instead of turning them into a job interview.

• Be thoughtful about where and when you go out.

• Choose more creative activities.

• Be a good listener and encourage your date to talk more. 

• Stay off your phone.

🎧  Podcast Update:

If you missed my podcast with Logan Ury, you can check it out here. I'm also making short clips of my favorite lessons from our conversation, watch those here:

• Why Modern Dating Is So Hard

• The Traits That Actually Matter In A Longterm Partner

• Attachment Styles Explained & How It Affects Your Dating Life

📖  Reading Lesson:5 Health tips that will help you read more books: Fix your vision. Improve your body posture. Recharge your mental batteries. Deal with hunger and thirst. Address your stress and anxiety.Read the detailed thread here.

⭐️  Weekly Quote:"Pick up new books without fear.Drop bad books without mercy."(source)

🙏  Support:This week's newsletter is made possible by The Daily Upside.The Daily Upside is a free business newsletter that covers the most important stories in business in a style that’s engaging, insightful, and fun. Written by a former investment banker, it delivers quality insights and surfaces unique stories you won’t read elsewhere.If you want to stay connected with the business world, this is the newsletter for you.Sign up for free here.

Thank you for your support everyone, I'll see you next Sunday!Read on,Alex W.