‘Modern Romance’ by Aziz Ansari Review: Ansari Is Expectedly Funny In New First Novel

Aziz Ansari recently realeased his first book entitled Modern Romance. Close friends and I are constantly talking about relationships, online dating, and the poor quality of suitors out there and so when I learned that one of the top comedians today was finally going to explain it all to me, I rejoiced.

Ansari is known for playing the selfishly funny Tom Haverford on the critically acclaimed NBC show Parks and Recreation about a mid-level bureaucrat, played by Amy Poehler, in the parks department of a small town in Indiana. The show stars Nick Offerman (The Lego Movie), Chris Pratt (Guardians of the Galaxy), Rashida Jones (I Love You, Man), Rob Lowe (The West Wing), and Adam Scott (Hot Tub Time Machine 2). While Parks and Recreation aired it’s final episode back in February members of it’s recurring cast have proceeded Ansari in releasing their own successful books.YES PLEASE by Amy Poehler was released late last year along with Nick Offerman’s Paddle Your Own Canoe: One Man’s Fundamentals for Delicious Living and Offerman’s Gumption: Relighting the Torch of Freedom with America’s Gutsiest Troublemakers  was released last month.

After watching Aziz Ansari: Live at Madison Square Garden’I was extremely curious at what approach Ansari would take with his new book. Would this be a funny anecdote for singles and minglers alike? Or would it be an overly done approach to love and relationships? I was surprised to learn that it would be more research study then standup special. It only took the first few pages before I was laughing out loud. How could I have doubted Ansari’s ability to make anything laugh worthy.

Modern Romance, while written by Ansari is pushed along with a ton of research done by Eric Klinenberg, a renowned sociologist and best-selling author. Ansari and Klinenberg took a journey to different parts of the world and asked thousands of people on the internet and face to face extensive questions about their love lives.

Modern Romance shows us  how singles in America, France, Japan, and Argentina deal with texting, commitment, and marriage differently. Adding such a wide scope of singles really allows the reader to take into consideration the multitude of reasons for why dating in the modern world is completely different then generations ago. Ansari shows us that while many of us may envy older forms of dating, maybe couples who have been married for decades find themselves envying us.  Ansari tells us about his parents arranged marriage as well as his own dating ups and downs.

The tone of Modern Romance is refreshing. There is extensive research on relationships, marriage, and dating but Ansari’s voice creates a necessary balance. Along with in depth research and Aziz’s witty banter, Modern Romance is a must read, not just for young people looking for their next love interest, but for anyone looking for a feel good summer read.