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Kiss, Marry, Kill Alternatives: Fun, Engaging Icebreakers Beyond the Stereotypes
Introduction:
Tired of the tired old "Kiss, Marry, Kill" game? It's undeniably fun for a quick laugh, but its inherent biases and often problematic options can leave a bad taste. This post offers a refreshing array of alternatives – icebreakers and fun games that are just as engaging, far more inclusive, and much less likely to offend. We'll explore a variety of options suitable for different age groups and social settings, focusing on games that spark genuine connection and encourage creativity rather than relying on reductive judgments. Get ready to ditch the potentially awkward and embrace the truly innovative!
I. Why Kiss, Marry, Kill Needs a Reboot:
The classic game's popularity stems from its simplicity and ability to quickly generate conversation. However, its inherent flaws are undeniable. The "kill" option, in particular, is inherently violent and uncomfortable for many. Furthermore, the game often relies on stereotypical judgments based on superficial appearances or pre-conceived notions about people (e.g., celebrities). This can promote harmful biases and make participants feel excluded or judged. We need alternatives that foster positive interactions and genuine connections.
II. Age-Appropriate Alternatives for Different Groups:
Choosing the right game depends on your audience. What works for a group of teenagers won't necessarily be appropriate for a professional networking event. Here's a breakdown of alternatives tailored to specific age groups and settings:
For Younger Children (Ages 5-8): "Would You Rather...?" questions focused on simple choices and preferences. Avoid anything potentially upsetting or complex. Examples: "Would you rather have a pet dog or a pet cat?" "Would you rather eat pizza or ice cream?" This encourages imaginative thinking and simple decision-making without the negative connotations of "Kill".
For Tweens and Teens (Ages 9-17): "Two Truths and a Lie" is a classic that encourages creativity and observation. Participants share three statements about themselves – two true and one false – and the others guess the lie. This helps people learn about each other in a fun, non-judgmental way. Another great option is "Most Likely To..." where participants vote on who is most likely to do a particular action (e.g., "Most likely to become a millionaire"). This is lighthearted and encourages playful speculation.
For Adults and Professional Settings: "Desert Island Picks" is a fantastic icebreaker for more mature audiences. Participants are asked to choose three things they'd take to a desert island (excluding essentials like food and water). This sparks conversation about priorities, values, and interests, revealing personality in a unique way. Alternatively, "Human Bingo" provides a structured approach to getting to know colleagues. Participants create bingo cards with prompts like "Has traveled to another continent" or "Speaks more than two languages". They then mingle and find people who match the descriptions. This encourages networking in a fun and engaging manner.
III. Creative and Thematic Alternatives:
Move beyond the limitations of pre-defined categories. Consider alternatives that allow for more creative expression and personalized engagement:
"If You Were a..." This prompts participants to explore their inner selves by considering what animal, character, or object they'd be and why. It's a great way to uncover personality traits and spark meaningful conversations.
"Storytelling Prompts": Offer a starting sentence or image and have each person add to the story, building a collaborative narrative. This promotes creativity and teamwork while creating shared laughter.
"Superpowers": Ask participants to choose three superpowers they'd have and how they'd use them. This sparks imaginative discussion and reveals a lot about a person's values and priorities.
"Dream Vacation": This simple prompt can unearth passions and reveal travel interests. Participants can describe their ideal vacation, leading to fascinating conversations about travel, adventure, and relaxation.
IV. The Importance of Inclusive Language and Sensitivity:
Whatever alternative you choose, ensure the language and themes are inclusive and sensitive. Avoid any options that could be interpreted as offensive or discriminatory. Remember the goal is to foster positive interactions and build relationships, not to alienate or marginalize anyone. Always be mindful of your audience and choose accordingly.
V. Beyond the Game: Fostering Genuine Connections:
Remember, the best icebreakers aren't just about games; they're about creating an atmosphere of openness and trust. Follow up on interesting points raised during the game to build genuine connections. Active listening and genuine interest will go a long way in creating meaningful relationships.
Article Outline: Kiss, Marry, Kill Alternatives
I. Introduction: Hook the reader with the limitations of "Kiss, Marry, Kill" and introduce the concept of alternatives.
II. Why Kiss, Marry, Kill Needs a Reboot: Discuss the inherent problems and biases of the original game.
III. Age-Appropriate Alternatives: Suggest specific alternatives for different age groups (young children, tweens/teens, adults).
IV. Creative and Thematic Alternatives: Provide more imaginative and personalized alternatives.
V. The Importance of Inclusive Language: Emphasize the need for sensitivity and inclusivity in choosing and running the games.
VI. Beyond the Game: Stress the importance of genuine connection and active listening.
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs):
1. Are there any alternatives to "Kiss, Marry, Kill" suitable for a workplace environment? Yes! "Desert Island Picks," "Human Bingo," or even a carefully chosen "Would You Rather...?" are excellent options.
2. How can I make sure the chosen alternative is inclusive? Consider the potential impact of your choice on different groups. Avoid anything that could be interpreted as offensive or discriminatory based on gender, race, religion, etc.
3. What if someone feels uncomfortable with a chosen game? Always be prepared to switch to a different alternative. The goal is to create a fun and inclusive environment for everyone.
4. Can these alternatives be used for online interactions? Many of these games work perfectly in virtual settings. Online polls or interactive tools can facilitate participation.
5. Are there any alternatives that are good for large groups? "Two Truths and a Lie" or "Human Bingo" can work well with larger groups, while storytelling prompts can be adapted for a collaborative online experience.
6. How can I make these games even more engaging? Add a competitive element (e.g., points for creative answers), incorporate prizes, or adjust the complexity to match the group’s dynamism.
7. What if the conversation gets off-track? That's perfectly fine! Allow for natural diversions and embrace the unexpected directions the conversation may take.
8. How do I keep the atmosphere lighthearted and fun? Maintain a positive and encouraging tone. Avoid any judgments or critical remarks. Focus on celebrating diversity and creativity.
9. What are some resources for finding even more icebreaker games? Search online for "icebreaker games" or "team-building activities," and tailor your search based on your specific needs and the age group you're targeting.
Related Articles:
1. Team Building Activities for Remote Teams: Exploring virtual games and activities for collaborative engagement.
2. Icebreakers for Networking Events: Focuses on effective ways to initiate conversations and create meaningful connections at professional gatherings.
3. Fun Games for Teens: Collection of engaging and appropriate games for teenagers.
4. Creative Writing Prompts for Kids: Provides a source of engaging storytelling prompts for children.
5. The Psychology of Icebreakers: Analyzes the psychological impact of icebreakers and their role in facilitating social interaction.
6. How to Run Effective Team Meetings: Provides guidance on structuring meetings to maximize engagement and productivity.
7. Overcoming Awkward Silences: Offers strategies for handling conversational pauses gracefully.
8. Building Rapport and Trust: Explores techniques for creating a positive and supportive group dynamic.
9. Inclusive Language Guide for Event Planners: Provides practical tips for ensuring inclusivity and sensitivity in event planning.
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Midnight Library Matt Haig, 2021-01-27 Good morning America book club--Jacket. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Albion's Seed David Hackett Fischer, 1991-03-14 This fascinating book is the first volume in a projected cultural history of the United States, from the earliest English settlements to our own time. It is a history of American folkways as they have changed through time, and it argues a thesis about the importance for the United States of having been British in its cultural origins. While most people in the United States today have no British ancestors, they have assimilated regional cultures which were created by British colonists, even while preserving ethnic identities at the same time. In this sense, nearly all Americans are Albion's Seed, no matter what their ethnicity may be. The concluding section of this remarkable book explores the ways that regional cultures have continued to dominate national politics from 1789 to 1988, and still help to shape attitudes toward education, government, gender, and violence, on which differences between American regions are greater than between European nations. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Wrath & the Dawn Renée Ahdieh, 2015-05-12 #1 New York Times Bestseller A sumptuous and epically told love story inspired by A Thousand and One Nights Every dawn brings horror to a different family in a land ruled by a killer. Khalid, the eighteen-year-old Caliph of Khorasan, takes a new bride each night only to have her executed at sunrise. So it is a suspicious surprise when sixteen-year-old Shahrzad volunteers to marry Khalid. But she does so with a clever plan to stay alive and exact revenge on the Caliph for the murder of her best friend and countless other girls. Shazi’s wit and will, indeed, get her through to the dawn that no others have seen, but with a catch . . . she’s falling in love with the very boy who killed her dearest friend. She discovers that the murderous boy-king is not all that he seems and neither are the deaths of so many girls. Shazi is determined to uncover the reason for the murders and to break the cycle once and for all. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Other End of the Leash Patricia McConnell, Ph.D., 2009-02-19 Learn to communicate with your dog—using their language “Good reading for dog lovers and an immensely useful manual for dog owners.”—The Washington Post An Applied Animal Behaviorist and dog trainer with more than twenty years’ experience, Dr. Patricia McConnell reveals a revolutionary new perspective on our relationship with dogs—sharing insights on how “man’s best friend” might interpret our behavior, as well as essential advice on how to interact with our four-legged friends in ways that bring out the best in them. After all, humans and dogs are two entirely different species, each shaped by its individual evolutionary heritage. Quite simply, humans are primates and dogs are canids (as are wolves, coyotes, and foxes). Since we each speak a different native tongue, a lot gets lost in the translation. This marvelous guide demonstrates how even the slightest changes in our voices and in the ways we stand can help dogs understand what we want. Inside you will discover: • How you can get your dog to come when called by acting less like a primate and more like a dog • Why the advice to “get dominance” over your dog can cause problems • Why “rough and tumble primate play” can lead to trouble—and how to play with your dog in ways that are fun and keep him out of mischief • How dogs and humans share personality types—and why most dogs want to live with benevolent leaders rather than “alpha wanna-bes!” Fascinating, insightful, and compelling, The Other End of the Leash is a book that strives to help you connect with your dog in a completely new way—so as to enrich that most rewarding of relationships. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Hold My Place Cassondra Windwalker, 2022-01-25 From the Helen Kay Chapbook Award-Winning poet Cassondra Windwalker, an unsuspecting librarian falls head-over-heels for a married man, but when she finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance, she discovers her new husband's past wives have all met early deaths—and some aren't ready to let go yet. Obsession never dies. When librarian Sigrun falls head-over-heels for the sophisticated and very married Edgar Leyward, she never expects to find herself in his bed—or his heart. Nevertheless, when his enigmatic wife Octavia dies from a sudden illness, Sigrun finds herself caught up in a whirlwind romance worthy of the most lurid novels on her bookshelves. Sigrun soon discovers Octavia wasn't Edgar's first lost love, or even his second. Three women Edgar has loved met early deaths. As she delves into her beloved's past through a trove of discovered letters, the edges of Sigrun identity begin to disappear, fading into the women of the past. Sigrun tells herself it's impossible for any dark magic to be at play—that the dead can't possibly inhabit the bodies of the living—but something shadowy stalks the halls of the Leyward house and the lines between the love of the present and the obsessions of the past become increasingly blurred—and bloody. Mixing lyrical prose with simmering terror, Hold My Place is a modern gothic horror worthy of Shirley Jackson's nightmares and Daphne DuMaurier's dangerous lovers. Hold My Place is a dark, sensuous tale about obliterating love, and Windwalker's superb prose fairly drips with beauty. You simply must read this haunting book. —Mercedes M. Yardley, Bram Stoker Award-winning author of Little Dead Red Sinister undertones steadily build into a genuine sense of doom...as thought-provoking as it is harrowing. —Publishers Weekly With ethereal prose [Hold My Place]'s departure from genre tropes will make it a favorite with gothic-horror and dark-romance readers. —Booklist A satisfying blend of romance and ghost story.... Hold My Place is anything but ordinary or predictable, despite its firm roots in the horror world. —Midwest Book Review Brimming with muted eroticism, Hold My Place is a dark romance novel punctuated by longing, lingering spirits and love without end. —Foreword Reviews |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Ask a Manager Alison Green, 2018-05-01 From the creator of the popular website Ask a Manager and New York’s work-advice columnist comes a witty, practical guide to 200 difficult professional conversations—featuring all-new advice! There’s a reason Alison Green has been called “the Dear Abby of the work world.” Ten years as a workplace-advice columnist have taught her that people avoid awkward conversations in the office because they simply don’t know what to say. Thankfully, Green does—and in this incredibly helpful book, she tackles the tough discussions you may need to have during your career. You’ll learn what to say when • coworkers push their work on you—then take credit for it • you accidentally trash-talk someone in an email then hit “reply all” • you’re being micromanaged—or not being managed at all • you catch a colleague in a lie • your boss seems unhappy with your work • your cubemate’s loud speakerphone is making you homicidal • you got drunk at the holiday party Praise for Ask a Manager “A must-read for anyone who works . . . [Alison Green’s] advice boils down to the idea that you should be professional (even when others are not) and that communicating in a straightforward manner with candor and kindness will get you far, no matter where you work.”—Booklist (starred review) “The author’s friendly, warm, no-nonsense writing is a pleasure to read, and her advice can be widely applied to relationships in all areas of readers’ lives. Ideal for anyone new to the job market or new to management, or anyone hoping to improve their work experience.”—Library Journal (starred review) “I am a huge fan of Alison Green’s Ask a Manager column. This book is even better. It teaches us how to deal with many of the most vexing big and little problems in our workplaces—and to do so with grace, confidence, and a sense of humor.”—Robert Sutton, Stanford professor and author of The No Asshole Rule and The Asshole Survival Guide “Ask a Manager is the ultimate playbook for navigating the traditional workforce in a diplomatic but firm way.”—Erin Lowry, author of Broke Millennial: Stop Scraping By and Get Your Financial Life Together |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Cinder Marissa Meyer, 2012-01-03 The #1 New York Times Bestselling Series! Humans and androids crowd the raucous streets of New Beijing. A deadly plague ravages the population. From space, a ruthless lunar people watch, waiting to make their move. No one knows that Earth's fate hinges on one girl. . . . Cinder, a gifted mechanic, is a cyborg. She's a second-class citizen with a mysterious past, reviled by her stepmother and blamed for her stepsister's illness. But when her life becomes intertwined with the handsome Prince Kai's, she suddenly finds herself at the center of an intergalactic struggle, and a forbidden attraction. Caught between duty and freedom, loyalty and betrayal, she must uncover secrets about her past in order to protect her world's future. Marissa Meyer on Cinder, writing, and leading men Which of your characters is most like you? I wish I could say that I'm clever and mechanically-minded like Cinder, but no—I can't fix anything. I'm much more like Cress, who makes a brief cameo in Cinder and then takes a more starring role in the third book. She's a romantic and a daydreamer and maybe a little on the naïve side—things that could be said about me too—although she does find courage when it's needed most. I think we'd all like to believe we'd have that same inner strength if we ever needed it. Where do you write? I have a home office that I've decorated with vintage fairy tale treasures that I've collected (my favorite is a Cinderella cookie jar from the forties) and NaNoWriMo posters, but sometimes writing there starts to feel too much like work. On those days I'll write in bed or take my laptop out for coffee or lunch. If you were stranded on a desert island, which character from Cinder would you want with you? Cinder, definitely! She has an internet connection in her brain, complete with the ability to send and receive comms (which are similar to e-mails). We'd just have enough time to enjoy some fresh coconut before we were rescued. The next book in the Lunar Chronicles is called Scarlet, and is about Little Red Riding Hood. What is appealing to you most about this character as you work on the book? Scarlet is awesome—she's very independent, a bit temperamental, and has an outspokenness that tends to get her in trouble sometimes. She was raised by her grandmother, an ex-military pilot who now owns a small farm in southern France, who not only taught Scarlet how to fly a spaceship and shoot a gun, but also to have a healthy respect and appreciation for nature. I guess that's a lot of things that appeal to me about her, but she's been a really fun character to write! (The two leading men in Scarlet, Wolf and Captain Thorne, aren't half bad either.) |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Final Report of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, Volume One: Summary Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada, 2015-07-22 This is the Final Report of Canada's Truth and Reconciliation Commission and its six-year investigation of the residential school system for Aboriginal youth and the legacy of these schools. This report, the summary volume, includes the history of residential schools, the legacy of that school system, and the full text of the Commission's 94 recommendations for action to address that legacy. This report lays bare a part of Canada's history that until recently was little-known to most non-Aboriginal Canadians. The Commission discusses the logic of the colonization of Canada's territories, and why and how policy and practice developed to end the existence of distinct societies of Aboriginal peoples. Using brief excerpts from the powerful testimony heard from Survivors, this report documents the residential school system which forced children into institutions where they were forbidden to speak their language, required to discard their clothing in favour of institutional wear, given inadequate food, housed in inferior and fire-prone buildings, required to work when they should have been studying, and subjected to emotional, psychological and often physical abuse. In this setting, cruel punishments were all too common, as was sexual abuse. More than 30,000 Survivors have been compensated financially by the Government of Canada for their experiences in residential schools, but the legacy of this experience is ongoing today. This report explains the links to high rates of Aboriginal children being taken from their families, abuse of drugs and alcohol, and high rates of suicide. The report documents the drastic decline in the presence of Aboriginal languages, even as Survivors and others work to maintain their distinctive cultures, traditions, and governance. The report offers 94 calls to action on the part of governments, churches, public institutions and non-Aboriginal Canadians as a path to meaningful reconciliation of Canada today with Aboriginal citizens. Even though the historical experience of residential schools constituted an act of cultural genocide by Canadian government authorities, the United Nation's declaration of the rights of aboriginal peoples and the specific recommendations of the Commission offer a path to move from apology for these events to true reconciliation that can be embraced by all Canadians. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Magic Forged K. M. Shea, 2020-02-28 I'm one scrappy wizard.As someone with barely a flicker of magic, I've spent my life being mocked and surviving fights with bullies. But when my parents die in an accident, and I find myself responsible for our whole wizard house and family, I know my usual tactics aren't going to cut it.The situation veers from bad to catastrophic when my backstabbing cousin stages a coup and takes my family hostage.I barely manage to flee, but the only supernatural willing to help me is Killian Drake--the most feared vampire in the region, and a far more deadly villain than the jerk threatening my family.Is Killian sexy and charismatic? Heck yeah.He's also so powerful that my flight or fight instincts kick in every time our eyes meet. And he's definitely using me as his personal magic detector in his feud against the local fae.But Killian is also the first person to believe I might have more than just a scrap of magic. And if I can convince him to train me, I might get strong enough to free my family and get my house back.I'm not sure what happens when a scrappy wizard is taught how to fight by a hall of deadly vampires, but I'm about to find out. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Secret of Our Success Joseph Henrich, 2017-10-17 How our collective intelligence has helped us to evolve and prosper Humans are a puzzling species. On the one hand, we struggle to survive on our own in the wild, often failing to overcome even basic challenges, like obtaining food, building shelters, or avoiding predators. On the other hand, human groups have produced ingenious technologies, sophisticated languages, and complex institutions that have permitted us to successfully expand into a vast range of diverse environments. What has enabled us to dominate the globe, more than any other species, while remaining virtually helpless as lone individuals? This book shows that the secret of our success lies not in our innate intelligence, but in our collective brains—on the ability of human groups to socially interconnect and learn from one another over generations. Drawing insights from lost European explorers, clever chimpanzees, mobile hunter-gatherers, neuroscientific findings, ancient bones, and the human genome, Joseph Henrich demonstrates how our collective brains have propelled our species' genetic evolution and shaped our biology. Our early capacities for learning from others produced many cultural innovations, such as fire, cooking, water containers, plant knowledge, and projectile weapons, which in turn drove the expansion of our brains and altered our physiology, anatomy, and psychology in crucial ways. Later on, some collective brains generated and recombined powerful concepts, such as the lever, wheel, screw, and writing, while also creating the institutions that continue to alter our motivations and perceptions. Henrich shows how our genetics and biology are inextricably interwoven with cultural evolution, and how culture-gene interactions launched our species on an extraordinary evolutionary trajectory. Tracking clues from our ancient past to the present, The Secret of Our Success explores how the evolution of both our cultural and social natures produce a collective intelligence that explains both our species' immense success and the origins of human uniqueness. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Knowledge Steven Pressfield, 2016-11-23 THE KNOWLEDGE is not just a writer’s coming-of-age story. It’s every writer’s coming-of-age story.If you’re a fan of THE WAR OF ART, Pressfield’s new memoir, THE KNOWLEDGE, is the story behind that story and the origin tale between its lines. In the high-crime 1970s in New York, Pressfield was driving a cab and tending bar, incapable of achieving anything literary beyond the completion of his third-in-a-row unpublishable novel. Until fate, in the form of a job tailing his boss’s straying wife, propels him into a Big Lebowski-esque underworld saga that ends with him coming to a life-altering crisis involving not just the criminals he has become deeply and emotionally involved with, but with his own inner demons of the blank page. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Husband Material Alexis Hall, 2022-08-02 An Instant USA Today Bestseller! Our favourite chaos demon & stern brunch daddy return in this delicious, ridiculous, and often poignant romcom about all the ways love can grow. —Talia Hibbert, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author WANTED: One (very real) husband, nowhere near perfect but desperately trying his best In BOYFRIEND MATERIAL, Luc and Oliver met, pretended to fall in love, fell in love for real, dealt with heartbreak and disappointment and family and friends...and somehow figured out a way to make it work. Now it seems like everyone around them is getting married, and Luc's feeling the social pressure to propose. But it'll take more than four weddings, a funeral, and a hotly contested rainbow balloon arch to get these two from I don't know what I'm doing to I do. Good thing Oliver is such perfect HUSBAND MATERIAL. Brilliance on every single page.—Christina Lauren, New York Times and USA Today bestselling author, for Boyfriend Material The apotheosis of the rom-com.—Entertainment Weekly, A+ Review, for Boyfriend Material Every once in a while you read a book that you want to SCREAM FROM ROOFTOPS about. I'm screaming, people!—Sonali Dev, award-winning author, for Boyfriend Material FAKE DATING, REAL FEELINGS, BEST JOKES.—Olivia Waite, award-winning author, for Boyfriend Material Fresh and vibrant.—Annie Carl, The Neverending Bookshop (Edmonds, WA), for Boyfriend Material |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Wealthing Like Rabbits Robert R. Brown, 2014-08-25 With Canadian personal savings lower than ever before and household debt going through the roof, many people are in dire need of financial advice. But can a book that includes sex, zombies, pancakes, and Star Trek really help? You might be surprised. Wealthing Like Rabbits is a fun, entertaining guide to personal finance that proves sound money management doesn’t have to be painful and neither does learning about it. Combining a unique blend of humour and perspective with everyday common sense, Robert R. Brown takes you through the basics of financial planning by using anecdotes and pop culture to shed light on some of the most important, yet often mismanaged aspects of personal finance. Covering subjects ranging from retirement savings and mortgages to credit cards and debt, this book will arm you with simple strategies to help you balance your life goals with your financial responsibilities. Wealthing Like Rabbits is a smart, accessible, never-boring romp through personal finance that you will certainly count as one of your best investments ever. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Wife Meg Wolitzer, 2004-04-13 Meg Wolitzer'sprevious books includeSleepwalking, This Is Your Life,andSurrender, Dorothy.She lives in New York City with her husband and two sons. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Patriotic Lady Marjorie Bowen, 2022-08-10 Patriotic Lady is a historical novel by Marjorie Bowen depicting the life of Emma, Lady Hamilton, best remembered as Lord Nelson's mistress. Their love story was so charming that it secured an eternal place in the collection of true-life historical romances. Yet, Marjorie Bowen portrays Emma unusually realistically. The author equally reflects her flaws and merits, as well as incredible adventures, plots, and intrigues that always follow the lives of prominent political figures. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Why Does He Do That? Lundy Bancroft, 2003-09-02 In this groundbreaking bestseller, Lundy Bancroft—a counselor who specializes in working with abusive men—uses his knowledge about how abusers think to help women recognize when they are being controlled or devalued, and to find ways to get free of an abusive relationship. He says he loves you. So...why does he do that? You’ve asked yourself this question again and again. Now you have the chance to see inside the minds of angry and controlling men—and change your life. In Why Does He Do That? you will learn about: • The early warning signs of abuse • The nature of abusive thinking • Myths about abusers • Ten abusive personality types • The role of drugs and alcohol • What you can fix, and what you can’t • And how to get out of an abusive relationship safely “This is without a doubt the most informative and useful book yet written on the subject of abusive men. Women who are armed with the insights found in these pages will be on the road to recovering control of their lives.”—Jay G. Silverman, Ph.D., Director, Violence Prevention Programs, Harvard School of Public Health |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Rereading Women: Thirty Years of Exploring Our Literary Traditions Sandra M. Gilbert, 2011-05-02 A collection of essays that reexamine literature through a feminist gaze from one of our most versatile and gifted writers (Joyce Carol Oates). We think back through our mothers if we are women, wrote Virginia Woolf. In this groundbreaking series of essays, Sandra M. Gilbert explores how our literary mothers have influenced us in our writing and in life. She considers the effects of these literary mothers by examining her own history and the work of such luminaries as Charlotte Brontë, Emily Dickinson, and Sylvia Plath. In the course of the book, she charts her own development as a feminist, demonstrates ways of understanding the dynamics of gender and genre, and traces the redefinitions of maternity reflected in texts by authors such as Elizabeth Barrett Browning and George Eliot. Throughout, Gilbert asks major questions about feminism in the twentieth century: Why and how did its ideas become so necessary to women in the sixties and seventies? What have those feminist concepts come to mean in the new century? And above all, how have our intellectual mothers shaped our thoughts today? |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Betting on You Laurie Ruettimann, 2021-01-12 Indispensable reading for anyone seeking to improve their professional selves. —Daniel H. Pink, #1 New York Times bestselling author of When An essential guide for how to snap out of autopilot and become your own best advocate, with candid anecdotes and easy-to-adopt steps, from veteran HR specialist and popular podcast host Laurie Ruettimann Chances are you've spent the past few months cooped up inside, buried under a relentless news cycle and work that never seems to switch off. Millions of us worldwide are overworked, exhausted, and trying our hardest—yet not getting the recognition we deserve. It’s time for a fix. Top career coach and HR consultant Laurie Ruettimann knows firsthand that work can get a hell of a lot better. A decade ago, Ruettimann was uninspired, blaming others and herself for the unhappiness she felt. Until she had an epiphany: if she wanted a fulfilling existence, she couldn’t sit around and wait for change. She had to be her own leader. She had to truly take ahold of life—the good, the bad, and the downright ugly—in order to transform her future. Today, as businesses prioritize their bottom line over employee satisfaction and workers become increasingly isolated, the need to safeguard your well-being is crucial. And though this sounds intimidating, it’s easier to do than you think. Through tactical advice on how to approach work in a smart and healthy manner, which includes knowing when to sign off for the day, doubling down on our capacity to learn, fixing those finances, and beating impostor syndrome once and for all, Ruettimann lays out the framework necessary to champion your interests and create a life you actually enjoy. Packed with advice and stories of others who regained control of their lives, Betting on You is a game-changing must-read for how to radically improve your day-to-day, working more effectively and enthusiastically starting now. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Crazy Like Us Ethan Watters, 2010-01-12 “A blistering and truly original work of reporting and analysis, uncovering America’s role in homogenizing how the world defines wellness and healing” (Po Bronson). In Crazy Like Us, Ethan Watters reveals that the most devastating consequence of the spread of American culture has not been our golden arches or our bomb craters but our bulldozing of the human psyche itself: We are in the process of homogenizing the way the world goes mad. It is well known that American culture is a dominant force at home and abroad; our exportation of everything from movies to junk food is a well-documented phenomenon. But is it possible America's most troubling impact on the globalizing world has yet to be accounted for? American-style depression, post-traumatic stress disorder, and anorexia have begun to spread around the world like contagions, and the virus is us. Traveling from Hong Kong to Sri Lanka to Zanzibar to Japan, acclaimed journalist Ethan Watters witnesses firsthand how Western healers often steamroll indigenous expressions of mental health and madness and replace them with our own. In teaching the rest of the world to think like us, we have been homogenizing the way the world goes mad. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings Maya Angelou, 2010-07-21 Here is a book as joyous and painful, as mysterious and memorable, as childhood itself. I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings captures the longing of lonely children, the brute insult of bigotry, and the wonder of words that can make the world right. Maya Angelou’s debut memoir is a modern American classic beloved worldwide. Sent by their mother to live with their devout, self-sufficient grandmother in a small Southern town, Maya and her brother, Bailey, endure the ache of abandonment and the prejudice of the local “powhitetrash.” At eight years old and back at her mother’s side in St. Louis, Maya is attacked by a man many times her age—and has to live with the consequences for a lifetime. Years later, in San Francisco, Maya learns that love for herself, the kindness of others, her own strong spirit, and the ideas of great authors (“I met and fell in love with William Shakespeare”) will allow her to be free instead of imprisoned. Poetic and powerful, I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings will touch hearts and change minds for as long as people read. “I Know Why the Caged Bird Sings liberates the reader into life simply because Maya Angelou confronts her own life with such a moving wonder, such a luminous dignity.”—James Baldwin From the Paperback edition. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Once Upon a Broken Heart Stephanie Garber, 2021-09-28 #1 NEW YORK TIMES BESTSELLER! ONCE UPON A BROKEN HEART marks the launch of a new series from Stephanie Garber about love, curses, and the lengths that people will go to for happily ever after For as long as she can remember, Evangeline Fox has believed in true love and happy endings . . . until she learns that the love of her life will marry another. Desperate to stop the wedding and to heal her wounded heart, Evangeline strikes a deal with the charismatic, but wicked, Prince of Hearts. In exchange for his help, he asks for three kisses, to be given at the time and place of his choosing. But after Evangeline’s first promised kiss, she learns that bargaining with an immortal is a dangerous game — and that the Prince of Hearts wants far more from her than she’d pledged. He has plans for Evangeline, plans that will either end in the greatest happily ever after, or the most exquisite tragedy. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Suicide Paul G. Quinnett, 1992 This is a frank, compassionate book written to those who contemplate suicide as a way out of their situations. The author issues an invitation to life, helping people accept the imperfections of their lives, and opening eyes to the possibilities of love. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Tchaikovsky David Brown, 2010-12-22 This volume uniquely combines a lively biography of one of the best-loved composers of the nineteenth century with a detailed chronological guide to much of his oeuvre, from the most popular - Swan Lake or the 1812 Overture - to the lesser known pieces. David Brown enthusiastically and sensitively guides the reader through Tchaikovsky's music in the context of his life. His writing on the music is accessible and informative, both for the professional musician and the keen amateur listener. The biographical writing includes fascinating quotations from the composer's letters, and those of his friends; the Tchaikovsky that emerges is, despite his periodic struggle with depression, a man with a positive attitude to life, and a kind and supportive friend to many around him. This is essential reading for anyone with an interest in Tchaikovsky, his music, or the culture of the time. 'One of the finest one-volume biographies to have appeared in recent years, written with such insight that it feels as though one is on a hot-line to the composer himself . . . by the end I felt I knew Tchaikovsky so much better. A classic.' Classic FM Magazine 'I can't imagine a more intelligently sympathetic treatment of the man and his music.' BBC Music Magazine |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Sum David Eagleman, 2009-02-10 At once funny, wistful and unsettling, Sum is a dazzling exploration of unexpected afterlives—each presented as a vignette that offers a stunning lens through which to see ourselves in the here and now. In one afterlife, you may find that God is the size of a microbe and unaware of your existence. In another version, you work as a background character in other people’s dreams. Or you may find that God is a married couple, or that the universe is running backward, or that you are forced to live out your afterlife with annoying versions of who you could have been. With a probing imagination and deep understanding of the human condition, acclaimed neuroscientist David Eagleman offers wonderfully imagined tales that shine a brilliant light on the here and now. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Rational Male Rollo Tomassi, 2013-10-01 The Bible of the Red Pill, The Rational Male® is a rational and pragmatic approach to intersexual dynamics, and the social and psychological underpinnings of intergender relations. The book is the compiled, ten-year core writing of author/blogger Rollo Tomassi from therationalmale.com. Rollo Tomassi is one of the leading voices in the globally growing, male-focused online consortium known as the Manosphere. Outlined are the concepts of positive masculinity, the feminine imperative, plate theory, operative social conventions and the core psychological theory behind Game awareness and red pill ideology. Tomassi explains and outlines the principles of intergender social dynamics and foundational reasoning behind them. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Steps to an Ecology of Mind Gregory Bateson, 2000 Gregory Bateson was a philosopher, anthropologist, photographer, naturalist, and poet, as well as the husband and collaborator of Margaret Mead. This classic anthology of his major work includes a new Foreword by his daughter, Mary Katherine Bateson. 5 line drawings. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Science And Human Behavior B.F Skinner, 2012-12-18 The psychology classic—a detailed study of scientific theories of human nature and the possible ways in which human behavior can be predicted and controlled—from one of the most influential behaviorists of the twentieth century and the author of Walden Two. “This is an important book, exceptionally well written, and logically consistent with the basic premise of the unitary nature of science. Many students of society and culture would take violent issue with most of the things that Skinner has to say, but even those who disagree most will find this a stimulating book.” —Samuel M. Strong, The American Journal of Sociology “This is a remarkable book—remarkable in that it presents a strong, consistent, and all but exhaustive case for a natural science of human behavior…It ought to be…valuable for those whose preferences lie with, as well as those whose preferences stand against, a behavioristic approach to human activity.” —Harry Prosch, Ethics |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Precarious Enterprise on the Margins Jessica Gerrard, 2017-07-21 This book explores the contemporary conditions of marginal work within the context of persistent unemployment, poverty, and homelessness in wealthy nations. Drawing from research concerning three cities—Melbourne, San Francisco, and London—Jessica Gerrard offers a rich account of one of the most precarious informal forms of work: selling homeless street press (The Big Issue and Street Sheet). Combining analyses of sellers’ everyday work experiences with theorizations of marginality, working, and learning, Gerrard provides much-needed insight into contemporary forms of entrepreneurial and precarious work. This book demonstrates that those who are unemployed and seemingly unproductive are, in fact, highly productive. They value, desire, and seek practical work experience whilst also struggling to fulfill the basic needs that many of us take for granted. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Brothers, We are Not Professionals John Piper, 2013 John Piper pleads with fellow pastors to abandon the professionalization of the pastorate and pursue the prophetic call of the Bible for radical ministry. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Empire of Illusion Chris Hedges, 2009-07-28 Pulitzer prize–winner Chris Hedges charts the dramatic and disturbing rise of a post-literate society that craves fantasy, ecstasy and illusion. Chris Hedges argues that we now live in two societies: One, the minority, functions in a print-based, literate world, that can cope with complexity and can separate illusion from truth. The other, a growing majority, is retreating from a reality-based world into one of false certainty and magic. In this “other society,” serious film and theatre, as well as newspapers and books, are being pushed to the margins. In the tradition of Christopher Lasch’s The Culture of Narcissism and Neil Postman’s Amusing Ourselves to Death, Hedges navigates this culture — attending WWF contests as well as Ivy League graduation ceremonies — exposing an age of terrifying decline and heightened self-delusion. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Critical Theory Today Lois Tyson, 2012-09-10 Critical Theory Today is the essential introduction to contemporary criticial theory. It provides clear, simple explanations and concrete examples of complex concepts, making a wide variety of commonly used critical theories accessible to novices without sacrificing any theoretical rigor or thoroughness. This new edition provides in-depth coverage of the most common approaches to literary analysis today: feminism, psychoanalysis, Marxism, reader-response theory, new criticism, structuralism and semiotics, deconstruction, new historicism, cultural criticism, lesbian/gay/queer theory, African American criticism, and postcolonial criticism. The chapters provide an extended explanation of each theory, using examples from everyday life, popular culture, and literary texts; a list of specific questions critics who use that theory ask about literary texts; an interpretation of F. Scott Fitzgerald's The Great Gatsby through the lens of each theory; a list of questions for further practice to guide readers in applying each theory to different literary works; and a bibliography of primary and secondary works for further reading. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Joseph's Donkey Anthony DeStefano, 2021-10-26 |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Boyfriend Material Alexis Hall, 2020-07-07 It's a fun, frothy quintessentially British romcom about a certified chaos demon and a stern brunch daddy with a heart of gold faking a relationship.—New York Times bestselling author Talia Hibbert AMAZON BEST BOOK OF THE MONTH Named a best book of the year by Oprah Magazine, Entertainment Weekly, Goodreads, The Washington Post, and more! WANTED: One (fake) boyfriend Practically perfect in every way Luc O'Donnell is tangentially—and reluctantly—famous. His rock star parents split when he was young, and the father he's never met spent the next twenty years cruising in and out of rehab. Now that his dad's making a comeback, Luc's back in the public eye, and one compromising photo is enough to ruin everything. To clean up his image, Luc has to find a nice, normal relationship...and Oliver Blackwood is as nice and normal as they come. He's a barrister, an ethical vegetarian, and he's never inspired a moment of scandal in his life. In other words: perfect boyfriend material. Unfortunately, apart from being gay, single, and really, really in need of a date for a big event, Luc and Oliver have nothing in common. So they strike a deal to be publicity-friendly (fake) boyfriends until the dust has settled. Then they can go their separate ways and pretend it never happened. But the thing about fake-dating is that it can feel a lot like real-dating. And that's when you get used to someone. Start falling for them. Don't ever want to let them go. Discover the LGBT romance about exact opposites falling in perfectly imperfect love that New York Times and USA Today bestselling author CHRISTINA LAUREN calls hilarious, witty, tender, and stunning. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Fire and Ice Catherine Hart, 2002-03 Spirited Kathleen Haley sets sail from England for the family estate in Savannah. On board ship, she meets the man who will forever haunt her heart, Captain Reed Taylor. On the long, perilous voyage, she resists his bold advances--until she wakes from unconsciousness after a tragic storm and hears Reed's shocking confession. She then knows she must marry the rogue. But their fiery conflict is far from over. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: Games for Actors and Non-Actors Augusto Boal, 2005-06-29 Games for Actors and Non-Actors is the classic and best selling book by the founder of Theatre of the Oppressed, Augusto Boal. It sets out the principles and practice of Boal's revolutionary Method, showing how theatre can be used to transform and liberate everyone – actors and non-actors alike! This thoroughly updated and substantially revised second edition includes: two new essays by Boal on major recent projects in Brazil Boal's description of his work with the Royal Shakespeare Company a revised introduction and translator's preface a collection of photographs taken during Boal's workshops, commissioned for this edition new reflections on Forum Theatre. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Fantasticks Harvey Schmidt, Tom Jones, 2000-02-01 A libretto of the beloved musical. “Richly illustrated, it is ideal for fans of the show, as well as admirers of musical theatre.” – Variety; “Anybody who has seen the show (who hasn't?) should read the book.” – Entertainment Today; “The perfect present for any Fantasticks fans.” – Cleveland Plain Dealer; “A valuable resource. Recommended for all collections.” – Choice |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Myth of the Holy Cow D. N. Jha, 2020-05-05 Hugely controversial upon its publication in India, this book has already been banned by the Hyderabad Civil Court and the author's life has been threatened. Jha argues against the historical sanctity of the cow in India, in an illuminating response to the prevailing attitudes about beef that have been fiercely supported by the current Hindu right-wing government and the fundamentalist groups backing it. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Strength in Our Scars Bianca Sparacino, 2018-09-06 You are not broken, you're becoming.--Back cover. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: 7 Steps to Finding, and Keeping, 'the One'! Elaine Sihera, 2019-01-06 RELATIONSHIPS ARE THE MOST IMPORTANT ASPECTS OF OUR LIVES!You may not have found a date yet to start the year. Or your current relationship might be a little bit stale, predictable or rocky. So how can you make 2019 a great year for you?By securing your copy of 7 Steps to Finding, and Keeping, 'The One'! Elaine Sihera is in cracking form in an irreverent, often humorous, and very interesting book! Written from a female perspective, mainly for females over 30, but with lots in it for single males and younger people, too, this little book will answer key relationship questions, and much more. For example, it explains* the mysteries of attraction and how our usual pattern of reaction affects it* how men get hurt repeatedly by going on looks alone* the secret of the chemistry between two people* the true power of self-knowledge and being yourself in finding the right partner* the tell-tale signs of falling in love* the difference between love, passion and lust* fun things to do on a date* dealing with unexpected issues after the date* four key questions to ask yourself, if you're starting a new relationship* how to talk to someone you like for the first time* 6 ways to overcome shyness* how to tell if a guy is only interested in you for sex and what to do about it!* ....and much, much more.7 Steps to Finding, and Keeping, 'The One'! could be the answer for your next step, to show you another way of changing your situation and finding the right date/partner you seek. If what you have been doing has not landed you the right person as yet, perhaps your answer lies within these pages! You have nothing to lose but your fears, and could gain a whole lot more! There are also self assessment quizzes to help you discover your own readiness to find that special person. |
| kiss marry kill alternatives: The Sumerians Samuel Noah Kramer, 2010-09-17 “A readable and up-to-date introduction to a most fascinating culture” from a world-renowned Sumerian scholar (American Journal of Archaeology). The Sumerians, the pragmatic and gifted people who preceded the Semites in the land first known as Sumer and later as Babylonia, created what was probably the first high civilization in the history of man, spanning the fifth to the second millenniums B.C. This book is an unparalleled compendium of what is known about them. Professor Kramer communicates his enthusiasm for his subject as he outlines the history of the Sumerian civilization and describes their cities, religion, literature, education, scientific achievements, social structure, and psychology. Finally, he considers the legacy of Sumer to the ancient and modern world. “An uncontested authority on the civilization of Sumer, Professor Kramer writes with grace and urbanity.” —Library Journal |
