Dating? Here's some advice for guys from the book "How to Survive Dating" (Hundreds of Heads Books, www.hundredsofheads.com, $13.95), straight from people who've done it:

“Don’t lie to impress a girl. I went on a date with a guy who was obviously a pathological liar — I mean he even did the “I’m a secret agent” lie. I’m sure he thought I was naïve and gullible, but I wasn’t impressed at all; I thought him ridiculous.”

—Jennifer W., Iowa

“I’m dating this guy and he text messages me during the day. He’ll say something like, ‘Thank you for being a positive part of my life.’ It’s like getting flowers. It brightens someone’s day. And you don’t have to buy anything. Some men think women want these grand acts of sacrifice, but it’s the little things like that. We’re not that hard to please.”

—Cindy Stevens, San Diego, Calif.

“Men, display good table manners. One date from this past fall sticks out in my head, because my date ordered soup at dinner; it was a thick bisque. He dropped his spoon in the soup and then fished it out, licking the spoon handle, and he resumed using it. I was pretty grossed out. And to make it worse, the waiter from across the room noticed his spoon fiasco, and presented him with a new spoon. My date shook his head at the spoon offering, saying, ‘Thanks, but that’s OK.’ I never thought basic table manners would make or break a date.”

—D.V., Marysville, Calif.

“Even if you don’t know if it’s a date, dress up nicely. I asked a girl to a movie once and she said yes. In my mind, I didn’t think it was a date, but she took it as a date. So I didn’t dress up; I wore old jeans. But she was dressed up nice—her nails polished, her hair sprayed, everything. We went on this date, but I pretty much killed it with my outfit. Sometimes I think about what would have happened if I had dressed up that night. You never know: We might have started dating, and then—who knows.”

—Big J., Taipei, Taiwan

“I work at the front desk in a dorm at the University of Iowa and my advice to guys is: You only need one squirt of cologne! People walk through the door doused in half a bottle.”

—Lacey I., Iowa City, Iowa

“Women aren’t necessarily looking for someone to wine and dine them, but if you ask a girl out, at least pay for her on the first few dates. It would be nice to be treated like a ‘princess’ in the beginning.”

Hundreds of Heads Books’ survival guides offer the wisdom of the masses by assembling the experiences and advice of hundreds of people who have gone through life’s biggest challenges and have insight to share. Visit www.hundredsofheads.com to share your advice or get more information.