Bonnie Neely, United States, October 2, 2005


Funky and Fun Ways to Learn How to be Happy

"This book on relationships in today's dating world is totally "off the wall" but great fun to read, although often gramatically and politically incorrect and full of foul-mouthed expletives. It is definitely not for the judgmental reader. However, the authors, both men who still refuse to reveal their identity (for reasons obvious when you read the book) hit the nail on the head with what are the problems in today's failing marriage and love relationships and other relationships as well. With total candor and often hilarious situations and comments, they offer solutions for the real world which might work in solving relationship problems: first and foremost, to become a whole person by yourself before you enter a relationship. Relationships do not fix your shortcomings. The combined wisdom and difficult situations adn experiences of the two authors, one who lives in Canada and the other in Europe, are shared and bared in ways not many have the boldness to write. Often in letter or stream-of-consciousness style, the book rambles some, but overall it is a fun read, and has some sage advice administered in a novel and quirky way!"

Thomas Duff, Portland, OR United States, April 13, 2005

*THE* most unusual relationship book you'll ever read....

"I received an email from the authors of this book ('Seed' & 'German Seed') asking if I would be interested in reviewing it: Seed's Sketchy Relationship Theories - A Guide To The Perils Of Dating (How Not To Become A Bar Regular). This is definitely one of the most unusual, funny, raw, thought-provoking books I've read in a long time.

Seed (aka Lindsay Wincherauk) expounds on his views of the male/female relationship dynamic, and he pulls absolutely no punches in letting you know how he feels and what you should be doing in order to give yourself the best chance of finding true love and happiness when it comes to discovering that special someone. That's the broad brush to what the book is about. *How* he says it all is what makes this unique...

If you wanted to give this a serious review critique, you'd have a field day. It's a self-published effort, so forget about proper grammar, editing, and sometimes even spell-checking. And if you're offended by the use of the word 'f**k', you'll only have to get over it 290 times. Seriously. It's stream-of-consciousness writing with plenty of rabbit trails, asides, stand-up comedy, and politically incorrect observations.

And I really liked it.

The same traits that would drive your high school English teacher to drink make this book very 'real'. Seed has gone through more in a couple of years than most of us encounter in a lifetime. But rather than wallow in his own misery, he learned from the experiences and came out pretty much the better for it. He's not perfect, and he doesn't always successfully practice what he preaches. But there's no problem admitting that. He minces no words when it comes to labelling people, and I will guarantee there will be a number of people offended by those labels. But in reality, those people do exist, and things would probably run a lot smoother if we stopped telling ourselves otherwise. If you're trying to understand how relationships work in today's world, this will give you a view and input I promise you won't hear from Dr. Phil or anyone else.

Because there is so much 'writing as conversation' going on here, some parts work much better than others. You may find Seed going from first to third person and back again in the same paragraph. You'll get a number of totally unveiled pleadings to check out their website and buy stuff. Some might find it all a bit much. I personally found myself turning each page just to see where he'd head to next. I don't need the relationship advice, as I've been married for over 20 years. But from a sheer reading perspective, I loved it...

This is a book that you'll either love or hate... I really liked it, but your mileage may vary."


Grady Harp, Los Angeles, CA United States, March 11, 2005

Wise, Wicked, Hilarious and Genuinely Sensitive Guide!

"'The Seed & German Seed' may be just preposterous pseudonyms for now, but with the publication of this unique, immensely readable book the true authors hopefully will step forward for a much-deserved bow!

SEED'S SKETCHY RELATIONSHIP THEORIES: A GUIDE TO THE PERILS OF DATING [HOW NOT TO BECOME A BAR REGULAR] is a long title that even in its length doesn't even begin to suggest what is in store for the curious, open minded reader. This is not a 'self-help' or a 'how to' manual: Seed and German Seed have taken a long look at our present world condition, with a special emphasis on individual evaluation and interaction with the universe, and have come up with some very thoughtful ideas and precepts by which the reader can jump in and start over at this bizarre process we call living.

Starting out with ways in which we can alter our priorities to focus more on the preparation of our inner (and outer) self, Seed offers constructive advice without preaching. One aspect that may alter the way some readers approach the wisdom contained in this book is Seed's excessive use of a particular expletive. But as he explains so soundly, language is what it is and to fancify words can at times alter the wholeness of the concept - and certainly the comedy to be found in living life honestly.

Other reviewers have singled out portions of this book as favorites - an enviable task I find difficult at best! - but there is one recurring area that deserves special attention: Seed's manifesto about gay folk is sensitive and wise and well written even for the most committed phobic folk. He does this with high comedy (lists for women to use to determine if their men have proclivities versus full time commitment) all the while reassuring everyone that we all need is to live and let live and take care of our own variations of normal before raising the hatchet toward those of others.

After about two thirds of the way through this entertaining and at times illuminating book the authors lose focus and the last third feels a bit like a standup comic filling time. But in these pages are also suggestions that there will be more works from this duo coming down the pike and the pathways they are choosing sound most intriguing.

Get ready for a good time, put away your censorship for toilet mouthed humor, and open your mind (and yes, heart) to the shenanigans herein. It is a fine piece of work!"


M. Montoya, Salinas, CA, March 10, 2005

Delightful and Witty! A great addition to any nightstand

"This book was offered in the 'Buy this book with this other book' section. I decided to go ahead and take that advice. Honest, straight forward, non-condescending relationship books are difficult to find. This one has been a real gem. I laughed so loud at times that my wife began reading over my shoulder. Better than the dribble you get from the big publishers and much more valuable. Keep writing and I'll keep buying! Oh, the book I bought with this was very good too, 'Drivetime; finding a way home.'"


Colleen Zachary, Vancouver, BC, March 6, 2005

Seeds of Greatness

I bought this book on a whim, and couldn't have been more pleased.

It's absolutely genre-defying, ranging from self-help to scathing social commentary to a stream-of-consciousness exploration of seemingly random topics that combine to deliver a thought-provoking how-to on living--and loving--your life.

At times, author Seed lays himself bare. I loved the messenger transcripts with an ex-lover, juxtaposing his present, positive worldview with his previous emotional neediness to great effect. The man has clearly taken his own advice.

But it's Seed's wit--razor sharp, self-deprecating and utterly un-PC---that really sets this book apart. More than once, I found myself thinking, "Did he actually just say that?" while realizing that once again, I was laughing out loud.

Highly recommended.


Marc G., restaurant manager, January 7, 2005

Could easily be in Self-Help, Relationships or the Comedy Section.

"This is a wonderful book. Unlike most other relationship books I have read the authors were not afraid to give their point of view. I loved the way they make fun of the game of dating. They refer to the divorce rate as a means to show us that maybe we are not getting this whole relationship thing right. They also poke fun at themselves on a regular basis. You don’t have to look further than the title “Sketchy” to understand that. I found each chapter fun to read and at times controversial. For example: “Theory: How to Get Dates Or Pickup Lines Don’t Work”, “Theory: To Have a Chance You Must Learn How to Be Alone”, “Theory: Never, Never, Never, Never, Never, Never Absolutely for No Reason Did I say Never Settle No Matter What”. Even the Acknowledgements were fun to read. What can I say I loved this book. It is refreshing, controversial, hilarious and original. It even has pictures in it. I think we will be hearing more about Seed & German Seed in the not too distant future."