THE MANDATES: 25 Real Rules for Successful Gay Dating

"Across the world, eligible gay men are still 'social outlaws,' a ragtag gang of hormonally driven cowboys riding into romantic battle with guns, 'ammo,' and no clue," writes Singleton, who spent many hours listening to his friends' dating woes to formulate the rules he espouses here. A couple of his mandates could be applied to straight folks ("#22: Be True to Your Own Standards" or "#19: Ax the Word Ex "), but Singleton recognizes that most gay men don't adhere to the conventional "till death do us part" rigamarole. Accordingly, he provides would-be Romeos with handy gay-specific tips like "Hit on Someone Your Own Size (And Double Your Wardrobe)." The book contains some filler (such as Singleton's trite list of forgivable and unforgivable sins), but most readers will appreciate the author's breezy but knowledgeable take on gay dating. (Jan.)