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Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus : The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex (0060574216)
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| Relationship counselor John Gray focuses on the differences between men and women--men are from Mars, and women are from Venus, after all--and offers a simple solution: couples must acknowledge and accept these differences before they can develop happier relationships. In this unabridged version, Gray gives a spirited delivery of his message, especially when role-playing typical male/female interactions. Although it takes some time to adjust to his slightly nasal tone, the information is sound and gives both men and women helpful hints on improving themselves and their union. (Running time: 9.5 hours, 6 cassettes) --Sharon Griggins Editorial Descriptions are usually submitted by the manufacturers, publishers and authors. Contact us if you are one of them, and wish to change the above description. |
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Author: Guest
This is one of the books that every adult should read. I found several stories in the book which seemed like they were right out of my own life situations -- and you probably will too. It is very universal and will help you.
I also really enjoyed and would recommend to anyone interested in self-help, the cd "Voice Lessons to Go" by Vaccarino
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Author: Guest
This is a classic book about the differences between MOST men and women.
I read this book in the mid 1990's and I must say it has vastly helped me in my interactions with people at work and in my personal life.
This is a secular, non-religious book of plain old common sense that rings true when you read it, and especially when you apply what it says. It is not the Bible, which tells us how to live, but it is very interesting and practical in how to get along with other people with less friction and misunderstandings.
Basically, the author explains that men are responsive and sensitive towards accomplishments, and women towards relationships. The two sexes have the most friction, no matter how well-intentioned they may be, when they do not understand what each of the sexes is most interested in. The most common mistake being that the two sexes end up thinking the opposite sex is interested in what they themselves are interested in.
These concepts are really irritating to people who reject the natural inclinations of people of their own gender. The author explains that such people suffer from role reversal, which leads to confusing unhappiness. It has been my personal observation that the author has been correct, when I apply this towards quite a few people I have met and known in the past decade since reading this book.
Some people really freak out over someone even daring to suggest that these generalities can be easily applied towards most people. I have personally found the information in this book to be very enlightening and helpful for me to get along with many difficult people, by using and applying what I learned from this book.
This book was such a hit that it kicked off a bestseller series of books. The best spinoff that I have read is MARS AND VENUS ON A DATE, which only suffers from being too casual about sex outside of marriage, but is right on in most everything else it says about dating.
This author was on quite a roll of successful bestselling books until he wrote one about Success, which had a lot of strange, New Age type religious overtones. That marked the start of his decline in popularity, from my viewpoint. But I don't treat the Mars & Venus information as a religion substitute, and I reject anything he says that might go against Biblical Christianity, (which is 99% no conflict between Mars & Venus and what the Bible teaches).
Overall, this is great information that will help you understand and get along with people better--especially the opposite sex! Highly Recommended!
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Author: Guest
When I first began reading this book, it seemed alright, and to offer some helpful advice. (I was reading it for my college freshmen writing class) Now that I've finished it, I just wanted to say that I really don't like this book, I found it ridiculously sexist, and the author tends to be repetitive in what he says. I would not recommend this book to anyone.
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Author: Guest
Wow, this edition of "Dr." Gray's work was released even after his PhD has been debunked. And yet he still appears as "John Gray, PhD" on the cover of his book! He bought his PhD from a diploma mill. He's a fraud, a charlatan, a huckster.
I'd like to think that after a man who rose to fame peddling himself as a relationship guru -- while using false credentials to bolster his claims -- would find himself humbled after his PhD was revealed to be a fraud. Apparently, John Gray lacks humility and basic human decency, as well as a PhD.
What John Gray has is the ability to tell people what they want to hear. Maybe he should sell a diet & exercise book too, and tell us we can eat all the chocolate we want, and sit on our fat behinds while watching 7 hours of TV, followed by 5 hours in online chat rooms, and we'll get slim & trim by doing so!
Sincerely,
Madame Beige, PhD, B.S.A., XyZ, PdQ
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Author: Guest
Before writing this review, I spent some time looking over many of the other reviews on here. The spread is interesting, and I think it comes from a misunderstanding of the very limited scope of this book.
First off, if you're looking for a book to explain the innate differences (if there are any?) between men and women, this is definitely not it. Further, if you're looking for a book that dives deep into communication theory and has profound statements regarding the nature of good communication, this is equally lacking. The title betrays the purpose. This book is a badly written collection of common sense ideas and tactics to use when communicating in a relationship.
Why 4 stars? Because common sense is not as common as people think. I am amazed at the 1-star ratings by "intellectuals" who charge that this book stands on very shaky philosophic ground, and that it does not live up to the high caliber of true scientific studies into communication fundamentals and/or gender differences. Get a grip! That's not the purpose of the book!
This book is equivalent to an "Idiot's Guide to Listening, Respect, and Communication, with Easy-to-Remember Examples." Intellectuals charging that the common person should read XYZ's scientific study about the fundamentals is missing the basic point -- I don't want to know the fundamentals of communication (at the moment), I just want to know why my last girlfriend got offended when I offered solutions when she was complaining about work. Sounds simple? Not for all of us.
I have a degree in rocket engineering and I am very confident that I could tear a book about "Physics for the common person" to ribbons for making vast over-generalizations and ignoring (what I consider to be) key details in the trade. I could easily humble half the readers of this review if we were talking about rocket dynamics. But would I criticize a beginner's physics book if it generates interest in my favorite subject? Of course not! You can't mock a beginner's book for not addressing the advanced issues.
Further, it is hard to argue with the couples who say their marriage has been saved by this book. All idealism and charges of misogynistic text aside - if it works, it works. Period.
I find it kind of humorous that those most offended by the generalizations made in this book are the ones most quickly to generalize. You must remember: Not all stereotypes are false, or even bad. When I go to China and sit down at a restaurant, I'm going to ask for chopsticks, and not forks. Why? Because I stereotype all people in China as eating with chopsticks. Is this bad, or just efficient?
Many men and women fall into the stereotypes as described in this book. Whether or not you agree with those stereotypes as being "right" or "acceptable" is really irrelevant to the point. Further, the stereotypes are just a method of conveying the information. Gray is just trying to document the two different most common reactions to stress, and labels them "male" and "female" according to stereotype. He might as well have labeled them "North" and "South" for all I care -- the point is not the male/female generalizations, the point is understanding BOTH ways of dealing with stress (talking about it or receding into thought) and how to correctly handle it when you or your partner starts doing either.
Last, but certainly not least, let's get off the charges of women-hating. The book is almost literally a mirror within itself, as every paragraph generalizing women has its counterpart generalizing men. While you can charge that he mislabels both equally, those who look at this evenly stacked book and somehow derive a women-bashing lean are simply playing up their own insecurities, opinions, and political stances regarding the genders. The book is an almost word-for-word split between the two (if you don't believe me, go back and look!). If you can only see the women-bashing side of things, while nonchalantly accepting all the male generalizations, then you are reading through your own mental filter, and should take a moment to consider that.
I recommend this book to those of you who may not have the common sense that the elitist intellectuals profess, nor the ludicrous sensitivity to one side of an equally balanced portrayal of (admittedly overgeneralized) gender roles.
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