New Book: The Russian Bride Guide

[Manny]

So at last, our book The Russian Bride Guide is finished and available. Sounds easy doesn’t it? Take a few of my musings that people told me were particularly helpful over the years as a foundation, add a heap of my wife’s opinions and experience, fill in the gaps and try to create a complete picture for the neophyte. Hmm, well it was a bit harder than that to create what I considered a fully rounded book. I was shocked that it actually takes almost as much time to edit it as to write it. Book editing is a long slow road. The publishing legalities take more time still; ISBN numbers, copyright stuff, cover design and all the secondary stuff like waiting for test copies, and latterly waiting for printers can be a bit of a drag. We are several months later than the intended launch date, but we got there in the end. The press release is here.

We have had the benefit of a few people here from the forum to assist us in some aspects. We have used two guys from here as editors, one of our Russian ladies as “bullshit detector” in the chapter entitled “What Russian women want” and a few other people as sounding boards on different aspects. One of our US visa experts checked the US section of my visa chapter, and one of our resident lawyers revised the legality of my IMBRA comments. To all the people here who have helped me with this project, can I take this opportunity to thank you very much.

The objective of the book is to educate the neophyte. The guy who thinks, “Hey these Russian girls look hot. I can get me a piece of this quite easily.” Maybe the guys who have been stiffed by corrupt agency translators and/or Fat Yuri already and did not figure out what was wrong or the guys who enter this endeavour with unrealistic expectations. These guys shall now be a rung or two further up the ladder when they are finished reading.

Buyers of the book are directed here to complete their education. So we can expect quite a few new members because of it. I hope you guys will encourage them and guide them toward success. New members will be dripping in over many months as the book finds its way into the many distribution channels that exist.

There are one or two people from here who have read it already; some because they were instrumental in the creation process and one or two whose experience and opinion I particularly value. One or two members have purchased a copy already since the website became live a few days ago and one got a copy in the 50,000th post competition. The members who have had sight already (or will in the next few days) are quite numerous and cover both sexes, all corners of the world and all experience levels. I am hopeful that they will write their opinions on this topic.

I thought it a good idea that any new folks or any of our many reading guests (who number many fold more than active members) see opinions about what they may buy before they actually do so.

On this thread, I also welcome guys who are book buyers, who have found this site because of the book. If you are a Russian Bride Guide buyer, and have just landed here, why not say hello?

[shakespear]

There are one or two people from here who have read it already; some because they were instrumental in the creation process and one or two whose experience and opinion I particularly value.

I assume I fit in here  

I've read about 1/2 the book.  I think it is excellent so far.  It is factual without being offensive.  It's helpful without being overbearing.  It is instructive without being condescending.  I haven't read anything so far that I think is bad or unwise advice.  It basically says pretty much what I'd say if I had the time, patience or creative ability to write a book myself.  IMHO it is the BEST book on this topic that I have read, and I've read just about all of 'em. 

While detractors might suggest you can get much of the same information for free on the various lists and newsgroups dedicated to this topic, I think the price of the book is certainly worth getting the correct information condensed in one easy to read package without having to wade through all the interference, deflections, off-topic posts and flame wars such groups & lists tend to attract.

I don't know the price, but venture to opine that it would be a wise investment for any person considering this marriage option.  I'd highly recommend that such men invest in this book and read it from cover-to-cover before they even look at their first agency or free-dating website. 

In fact, I'd make the motion that it would be a worthwhile list requirement for any new member or neophyte who is just starting his search to read the book before being allowed to make a first post.  It would provide a well reasoned common ground and and save a ton of bandwidth in repetitive answers to the same basic questions.      

[Olga_Mouse]

As I finished reading the book yesterday  , Manny has invited me to write something in this thread.

So… what can I say?  Informative, funny, easy to read (even for someone who's not a native English speaker).

I’m not the right person to evaluate this book as an information source – as I’m “from the other planet” than the author and the target audience. But, as this book gives answers to the questions that I keep seeing on all the RW-related forums as long as read those forums, I guess it really IS informative and useful.

Definitely funny – not as much as some of Manny’s forum posts or trip reports, though! But that’s understandable, as on the forums people DO know each other to the certain degree, and for a guy who buys this book at the airport Stuart J. Smith and Olga Maslova are COMPLETE strangers.

Easy to read (which is actually incredibly rare when it goes about “user manuals”…). I’ve learned a dozen of new English words while reading 

P.S. Oh, and how do you like “Visas” being chapter Nr.13?  

[virgo1]

Ive just ordered it! (some wags will say "about time!")
Just a pity its too late to have an interview with Ronnie Wood by Julie on the old age issue

[Cisco]

I am one of the forum members who was fortunate enough to receive an early copy from Manny.  This book is excellent.  The writing is fluid; the presentation is logical and the content is exceptionally useful.  Manny should be very pleased with his handiwork.  And men at virtually any stage of their search would be well-advised to buy a copy and read it carefully, taking the advice to heart.  In one single source there is now a wealth of current and useful information that will allow any man to avoid virtually all the pitfalls and take all the right steps for a successful relationship with a FSUW.  I'm impressed!

[Ward_Cleaver]

The objective of the book is to educate the neophyte.  Buyers of the book are directed here to complete their education.

So are you saying that I shouldn't have bought this book because I am already here?   

[mendeleyev]

From The Mendeleyev Journal:

There is simply no question that the author of "Russian Bride Guide" has come into his own as a writer.  Along with his talented wife as coauthor, the book offers the pleasant experience of reading something which flows so smoothly and is so easy to absorb, that it is matched only by the breadth and wealth of information for the reader.

As the book points out, "There are opinions by the ill-informed....truth in the reports of scam victims....and fairytale endings posted on various internet sites..."  The strength of the book lies in the personal knowledge of the authors and their own international marriage.  "Russian Bride Guide" lives up to it's title and successfully guides sincere men in just about every step of such an endeavor, from where to start, choosing an agency and contact methods, communication tips and strategies, travel in Russia, and finally how to bring a lady home through the maze of various international immigration challenges.

My favourite section was the advice on culture, mindset and worldview which the authors made fun and interesting to read.  Even the advice on where to look in the FSU is very helpful and the author's experience over many trips by air and car give the reader a primer on how to handle flights, hotels, taxi's, restaurants, apartments and so many other travel essentials.

This reviewer also appreciated the depth in which the authors delved into the topic of how to help a new wife adjust to her new home in the West. This is a topic almost always ignored in similar books and the advice given is borne from both experience and wisdom.  The chapter on VISA's and immigration was broad but very brief and that is understandable given the ever-changing policies of various Western nations in regards to immigration.  That overview however is helpful to the man who is new to the process because it dispels several of the common myths and helps the reader form a correct understanding of how to proceed.

Readers should pay close attention to the book's finely tuned chapter on communication.  Communication is often a causality of language and cultural differences and even the method (technology) of communication employed is important.  In this regard the author's experience allows practical wisdom to be gleaned by the reader and again sets this book far apart from most other attempts.  And just because a woman "speaks" English doesn't at all mean that she understands English and the author's offer solutions for helping a lady become fluent in her new language.

By the same token the chapter entitled "Overcoming Language Barriers" fails to match the overall usefulness of the book and could have used a guide for common conversational expressions instead of trying to explain the differences between the English and Cyrillic alphabets.  As the subject pertains to Russian women, perhaps a guide on how to correctly pronounce things like common female names and/or major cities of the region would have been helpful to readers.

Without a doubt "Russian Bride Guide" is easy to read and worth recommending to others.  The authors have created something which genuinely offers the "inside scoop" that is crucial to a successful search and will show you how a girl from the former Soviet Union can make your life complete.  It is an absolute must-read for any man looking to Russia for a wife.

Mendeleyev 

[Olga_Mouse]

Just a pity its too late to have an interview with Ronnie Wood by Julie on the old age issue

Virgo1, are you referring to this:  http://news.mail.ru/society/1877206     

[virgo1]

Virgo1, are you referring to this:  http://news.mail.ru/society/1877206    

da Olga, just the small matter of a 41 (roughly) year age difference

Does any one know if this book is being printed in Russian or not??? I have a little friend in Ukraine who would like to read it???

[Olga_Mouse]

Why should it be printed in Russian - if it's a book for English-speaking foreigners ABOUT Russians?

[virgo1]

I was telling a lady I know from Ukraine about the fact that I was buying the book, I was telling her about my strategy to win her over!!  and she asked if she could read it too!, she can speak good English, but struggles just a bit with reading and writing English! I suppose she is just curious! But I also know how the wheels came off for her in a previous relationship, and maybe this has something to do with her curiosity!

[southernman]

one got a copy in the 50,000th post competition

Manny, you old fool.

You've broken rule number one, by giving a gift to an internet aquaintance you've never actually met.

Soon you'll come crying back to this forum to tell us that there is no 'Olga' behind OlgaMouse. You will tell us that Yuri has developed an substantial amount of intellect, and has not only infiltrated this forum, he's making positive, intelligent contributions to it.

Your naivity astonishes me. 

[Ward_Cleaver]

Well, my copy just arrived in the mail today.  It's not at big as I had expected it to be.  (That's a comment you don't want to hear from a FSUW ).  I'll start reading it tonight and I'm sure I'll have comments and questions about the things I read.

[Manny]

Soon you'll come crying back to this forum to tell us that there is no 'Olga' behind OlgaMouse.

Oh there is certainly an "Olga" behind Olga_Mouse. 

It's not at big as I had expected it to be.

Lets hope the Russian ladies dont say that to you Ward. 

At almost 59,000 words, it is exactly twice the size of the last one I read on the subject. Dimensions, margins and typeface size can easily be maniupulated to create a larger looking item. More important the content old boy. 

[tonton]

Ok Manny,
Being off work this week with a slipped disc in the back has meant no mail has arrived to me via the office. My good wife stopped by and brought your book home 

So, plenty of reading time in the next couple of days.....will give you, and all others, my thoughts soon. So far, so good!