Modern Romance Aziz Ansari Summary

Modern Romance: An Investigation by Aziz Ansari is a nonfiction book that was published in 2015. This book brings the comedian’s observations about dating online to readers. The book focuses on the pitfalls and benefits of using online tools like apps and websites to pursue romantic relationships. The book connects to readers of all walks of life by addressing why we date: to find another person who can share a deep connection with us. But how we get there can be as much defined by technology as it is by generational preferences and traits. For millennials, those two factors combine into one experience.

Because of technological advances, Ansari points out how single people are flooded with options now compared to people dating decades ago. Not only can people find one another more easily, but there are multiple modes for communication, not to mention algorithms designed to help online users find the people who are most likely to make a mutually beneficial match. But Ansari identifies a problem despite these technological advances in the world of romantic advances: Single people are frustrated. And it’s not just a handful of them—this frustration is widespread throughout an entire generation. In the course of Modern Romance, Ansari

For one thing, while we have more modes of communication, the languages are expanding into uncharted territory. For example, one person might send someone else an emoji of a pizza. For readers who are unfamiliar with emoji, they’re little images that are used to replace words. On many phones, if a user types “pizza,” a tiny image of a slice of pizza can be selected instead. But what does it mean to receive a slice of pizza emoji from someone? How should one respond? Is the sender suggesting that the recipient go out for pizza with him or her? Is the sender simply hungry? Or maybe the sender is eating pizza and wants the recipient to know about