My Flirtations

What is flirtation, and how does it differ from seduction? In historical terms, the particular question of flirtation has tended to be obscured by that of seduction, which has understandably been a major preoccupation for twentieth-century thought and critical theory. Both the discourse and the critique of seduction are unified by their shared obsession with a very determinate end: power. In contrast, flirtation is the game in which no one seems to gain the upper hand and no one seems to surrender. The counter-concept of flirtation has thus stood quietly to the side, never quite achieving the same prominence as that of seduction. It is this elusive (and largely ignored) territory of playing for play’s sake that is the subject of this anthology. The essays in this volume address the under-theorized terrain of flirtation not as a subgenre of seduction but rather as a phenomenon in its own right. Drawing on the interdisciplinary history of scholarship on flirtation even as it re-approaches the question from a distinctly aesthetic and literary-theoretical point of view, the contributors to Flirtations thus give an account of the practice of flirtation and of the figure of the flirt, taking up the act’s relationship to issues of mimesis, poetic ambiguity, and aesthetic pleasure. The art of this poetic playfulness—often read or misread as flirtation’s “empty gesture”—becomes suddenly legible as the wielding of a particular and subtle form of nonteleological power.

Bestselling author of Geography of Bliss returns with this funny, illuminating chronicle of a globe-spanning spiritual quest to find a faith that fits. When a health scare puts him in the hospital, Eric Weiner-an agnostic by default-finds himself tangling with an unexpected question, posed to him by a well-meaning nurse. "Have you found your God yet?" The thought of it nags him, and prods him-and ultimately launches him on a far-flung journey to do just that. Weiner, a longtime "spiritual voyeur" and inveterate traveler, realizes that while he has been privy to a wide range of religious practices, he's never seriously considered these concepts in his own life. Face to face with his own mortality, and spurred on by the question of what spiritual principles to impart to his young daughter, he decides to correct this omission, undertaking a worldwide exploration of religions and hoping to come, if he can, to a personal understanding of the divine. The journey that results is rich in insight, humor, and heart. Willing to do anything to better understand faith, and to find the god or gods that speak to him, he travels to Nepal, where he meditates with Tibetan lamas and a guy named Wayne. He sojourns to Turkey, where he whirls (not so well, as it turns out) with Sufi dervishes. He heads to China, where he attempts to unblock his chi; to Israel, where he studies Kabbalah, sans Madonna; and to Las Vegas, where he has a close encounter with Raelians (followers of the world's largest UFO-based religion). At each stop along the way, Weiner tackles our most pressing spiritual questions: Where do we come from? What happens when we die? How should we live our lives? Where do all the missing socks go? With his trademark wit and warmth, he leaves no stone unturned. At a time when more Americans than ever are choosing a new faith, and when spiritual questions loom large in the modern age, Man Seeks God presents a perspective on religion that is sure to delight, inspire, and entertain.

. How can I tell when someone is flirting with me? . How can I be a more confident flirt? . How do I avoid rejection? . Where are all the good men and women hiding? Flirtology is THE dating guide for the 21st century. In an age of swiping left and right, and hiding behind online profiles, this book shows you how to replace connectivity with connection. Flirtology debunks the myths that surround flirting in order to help you find love. It helps you to analyse what you are looking for in a potential partner, shows you how to practise your interaction skills and how to unlock your inner flirt. It will give you the confidence to speak to anyone, anywhere and get results - without every compromising who you are. It's not about games, rules and tricks - it's about presenting your real self so that you will attract the right people for you. Jean Smith is a social and cultural anthropologist who specialises in the science of flirting. For over a decade she has been helping countless clients build their confidence and find love. Her Fearless Flirting tours and Guardian Masterclasses are hugely popular and regularly sell out. In Flirtology she brings you a fun, efficient and scientifically researched guide to finding your own perfect match.

From popular Christian voices Lisa Jacobson and Phylicia Masonheimer, The Flirtation Experiment inspires you to strengthen your marriage with a fun, unexpected approach that leads to the depth, richness, and closeness you desire. Romance novels, Hallmark movies . . . the immense demand for romantic stories reveals a deep, unsatisfied longing that can be found in many marriages, but does it have to be that way? Is it possible that the best marriage has to offer can grow, rather than fade after you say “I do”? Lisa and Phylicia say, “Absolutely yes!” So what is the secret to a happy, thriving, loving marriage, where the fire of romance and close friendship do not fade? While The Flirtation Experiment includes the frisky side of marriage, it’s far more than a good romp. By degrees, each chapter takes you to a deeper place, covering themes every beautiful marriage has in common, such as covenant, healing, and hope. After reading The Flirtation Experiment, wives will be filled with hope and encouragement for how they can make a powerful, positive change in their marriages, become empowered to pursue their husbands romantically, understand the Bible invites women to be proactive in their marriages, be motivated to consistently love in creative ways, and forge closeness and intimacy in their marriages. “Intentional flirting keeps a positive lightness in the atmosphere and improves our overall communication,” says Jacobson. “My light flirtations bring us closer in meaningful ways and lead to connection on a deeper level. It helps us discover true romance waiting for us in everyday situations.” Perfect for the wife who wants romance, passion, and the closeness that only comes from a deep heart connection but isn’t sure where to start, The Flirtation Experiment is a candid, real-life record of two Christian women from different seasons of life who discovered they could make a significant impact on their marriage relationships, one small flirtatious experiment at a time. Readers can go deeper by using The Flirtation Experiment Workbook.

During the Georgian period there was a remarkable proliferation of seductive visual imagery and written accounts of female performers. Focusing on the close relationship between the dramatic and visual arts at this time, this beautiful and stimulating book explores popular ideas of the actress as coquette, whore, celebrity, muse, and creative agent, charting her important symbolic role in contemporary attempts to professionalize both the theatre and the practice of fine art. Gill Perry shows how artists such as Gainsborough, Reynolds, Hoppner or Lawrence produced complex images of female performers as fashion icons, coquettes, dignified queens or creative artists. The result is a rich interdisciplinary study of the Georgian actress. Published for the Paul Mellon Centre for Studies in British Art

Adam Phillips uses the idea of flirtation to explore the virtues of being uncommitted - to people, to ideas, to methods - and the pleasures of uncertainty. These buoyant essays promote a psychoanalysis with a light touch, a psychoanalysis for pleasure and curiosity.'In On Flirtation, he has again deployed all his erudition and perception to beguiling effect . . . Adam Phillips may well be one of our greatest contemporary psychoanalytic thinkers.' Independent on Sunday

When the player you reject at the club turns out to be the boss at your new job. Ariana After making me over, my cousin takes me dancing to celebrate me landing my dream job. At the club, a hottie tries to pick me up, but I turn down the cocky player. I’m too focused on my career to date. But he makes my pulse race, and I find myself watching him from across the room. Fast forward to day one at Keith Enterprises where I’m hired to design software that will save billions. The player from the club, Kaison Keith, billionaire son of the CEO, is standing right in front of me, and we’re assigned to work together. Only he doesn’t recognize me in my boxy suit with my hair in a bun and my oversized glasses on. I don’t like him, but I can’t help but check him out when he’s not looking. Kaison I feel like a fool when I realize the new hire is the same girl I was hitting on at the club. She’s not as dressed up as she was, but she’s still just as gorgeous and driven and smart and I’m drawn to her more than before. When my mom gets injured in a car accident, we take the project to my parents’ historic estate in Blue Mountain, Georgia so I can be there for her. The longer I’m with Ariana, the deeper I find myself falling. Will Ariana be able to thaw her heart, or will she remain icy to me forever? If you like troublemaking kittens, a matchmaking mama, and a billionaire family of bachelors, then you’ll want to dive into this hilarious sweet romantic comedy today.

What my hot new boss doesn’t know won’t hurt him, right? When I escape to the charming town of Blue Mountain to hide, I’m immediately hired as a personal assistant by the oldest son of the billionaire family in town. My new boss, Weston Keith, is irresistible and completely off-limits. I can keep things professional between us, I swear. When his housekeeper twists her ankle after tripping over the dog, I take over her responsibilities. Only, I have no idea how to cook and clean. Let’s just say the situation gets real interesting, real fast. On top of that, I have a teensy-weensy secret he knows nothing about. I’m pregnant and hiding from my ex husband. That wouldn’t matter so much if sparks weren’t flying between us. When Weston finds out the truth, will it destroy everything? Flirting with my Billionaire Boss is a hilarious closed-door romcom with a naughty dog, a dash of mystery, office romance, burnt fish sticks, helicopter rides, a yacht, and one big billionaire family.