Rating: 
Summary: OK to browse through, but don't buy into the stereotypes
Review: This book is definitely written from the point of view of a man, and 75% of the "do"s and "don't"s are directed towards women - very disappointing. It has a few good points about general behaviour of men and women, some of which you may not have thought about. My biggest objection with the book is the over-generalization of the behavior of people based on their gender. I'm a dating woman and I don't associate with most of the supposed behaviors described in the book. My guess is that most readers won't either. We are all complex individuals based on genetic and environmental makeup. It is absurd to think that there are only two general categories of behavior models for our population!
Rating: 
Summary: Highly recomended!
Review: To all those people who found this book "unrealistic" and old-fashioned I would say the following:
This book is not about "head games" and old-fashioned rules...it is about male and female psychology. We think differently and therefore, we tend to misunderstand each other most of time. John Gray only tries to warn us about common relationship pitfalls that we have to watch out for. He doesn't command every couple to date according to his rules, he only wants us to consider differences in male and female psyche and then decide how to act in a particular situation.
Therefore, if you find this book unrealistic and boring, watch out, you might be setting yourself up for trouble.
Rating:
Summary: MAYBE JOHN GRAY NEEDS TO GO WITH MARS OR VENUS ON A DATE!!!
Review: As much as I hate to admit it, I've finally been forced to give Dr. John Gray credit for one good idea, the 5 Stages of Dating:Attraction, Uncertainty, Exclusivity, Intimacy, and Engagement.This concept is what attracted me to MARS AND VENUS ON A DATE, and my research supports him on this--somewhat. (Not all couples go through Stage 2--Uncertainty--some know from DAY ONE that they want each other, usually the better looking couples.) But most of MARS AND VENUS ON A DATE is based on the same old goody two shoes baloney that personality will get you anywhere in dating, and as they say in jazz, "It ain't necessarily so!"
(If personality was so important, we'd all wanting to be dating all those people out there with great personalities--but we don't!) If you want to read a realistic book about dating, see Leil Lowndes' HOW TO MAKE ANYONE FALL IN LOVE WITH YOU. MAYBE JOHN GRAY NEEDS TO GO WITH MARS AND VENUS ON A DATE TO SEE HOW DATING REALLY WORKS!!! Chari Krishnan RESEARCHKING
Rating: 
Summary: old-fashioned advice with psychological support
Review: Gray describes the five stages of dating (initial attraction, uncertainty, exclusivity, intimacy, and engagement), typical male and female behaviors during each stage, and the importance of progressing sequentially through the five stages in order to forge a workable relationshuip. He explains how acting as if one is in a stage other than the stage the partner is in can sabotage a potential relationship and prevent it from progressing to the next stage. For example, if one partner is uncertain and the other partner tries to act as if the relationship is exclusive, there's probably no chance that the relationship will ever become exclusive. Much of Gray's advice builds on traditional gender-role stereotypes, and for every comment or snippet of wisdom, he offers even-handed treatment for men and women. Men like to be needed; women like to be appreciated. Men need a job; women need an employee. Men need to be confident (that they can tackle a task single-handedly); women need to be self-assured (that things will get accomplished with the help and support of others). Men need to take charge and have a plan; women need to be receptive and responsive to the man's plan. Compliments for men should be directed toward the man's choices and achievements, not at him directly. ("That was a great movie" or "what a perfect restaurant" are ideal; he'll take them personally.) Women thrive on more direct compliments ("you look very nice"). Two things that struck me as odd -- the repeated comment that women love a man in uniform, which feeds into his position that women love men in charge; AND the tack-on list at the end of the book where Gray advises readers to meet their soul mate by deliberately going out & doing things they don't like to do. For example, "If you don't like to dance, then definitely get out there and dance. Take dance lessons and go to dance competitions." And on an airplane, "be sure to walk up and down the aisles to be seen and to see if your soulmate is there."
This book is not aimed at a male, female, young, or old audience. It targets anyone who wants to learn about dating. A die-hard feminist might find some of the guidance (such as the section on why women NEED a man) a bit offensive, though.
Rating:
Summary: Very informative!
Review: I tend to think that this book has given me the edge I need to not only save my relationship, but to feel extremely rewarded in it. I've noticed some reviews saying that the book describes people and situations that don't relate to them, and for them that may be accurate. For the rest of us, using common sense and applying the parts of the book that does relate, the information is right on! I've read the book through twice now and each time through find more and more application for the information in it. It also depends on the dynamics of the relationship and your ability to transfer the knowledge. It also requires an open mind and the fact that you WANT your relationship to flourish. To whomever says this book has nothing to offer and the information is false, I'll argue that they didn't really want to try, didn't have an open mind, or some how wanted their realtionship to be a failure. I never write reviews, but felt absolutely compelled to for this book. It's a one-stop relationship guide!
Rating:
Summary: The only dating guide you'll ever need!
Review: There definitely seems to be a market saturation with dating and relationship books these days. But before you do a "Bridget Jones" and buy every single one of them, stop right there--buy "Mars and Venus on a Date" and you won't have to buy another dating guide ever again. This is a good book for ANYONE in the dating market--no matter what age you are, whether you are divorced or widowed, or what religion or set of values you follow. Most people today have no clue how to date properly in order to build lasting and loving relationships, and I was one of them before I read this book. I started reading it after having a disastrous dating situation in college and realized that I needed a little guidance in the romance depatment. This book was like a sudden revelation--suddenly all of my questions about male behavior and the dating process were answered! The book describes the five stages of dating and fills you in on how things are supposed to progress. It also gives you valuable advice about the male and female roles in dating. Though Dr. Gray emphasizes traditional dating roles (the man is the pursuer, the woman shouldn't call, etc.), he explains the logic behind them so that even a feminist such as myself would agree with them. What makes this book stand out from the rest is that is focuses on building loving relationships and not just sex. Never once does John Gray say that sex should be a part of every relationship. In fact, he even says that too often people have sex way too soon, which often sabotages the relationship. As someone who wants to wait until marriage to have sex, I found this very refreshing. In fact, Gray gives some positive examples of couples who waited until marriage to have sex. He makes a clear point that you don't have to go all the way to experience intimacy. But most importantly, this book works. I have now been dating someone for about 5 weeks now, and things are going great. Without John Gray's wisdom and guidance, this relationship may have ended up like the last one. So what are you waiting for...go buy this book!
Rating:
Summary: I wish I read this book 15 years ago!!
Review: I have always fought the idea that men and women are inherently different and for the longest time refused to read any of John Grey's books. However, dating someone I thought "was perfect for me" for only a couple of months, I found myself going through yet another hurtful breakup. Wondering what I could have done differently, I found this book in a bookstore and began browsing through it. To my suprise, I found this speaking to exactly what I should have known all along! Now, about to turn 40 and still single, I find myself giving alot of this advice to my college-age neices. Im on-line ordering it for them now -- so they don't have to go through the same experiences of looking for Prince Charming the same way I did.
Rating:
Summary: This book is not Realistic
Review: Ok, there are some gold nuggets in this book. Gray's revelation about the 5 stages of dating: attraction, uncertainity, exclusivity, intimacy and engagement were eye opening. However, the author, as in his first book- Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus, stereotypes men and women into two different and extreme categories. I was both annoyed and appalled by his discussion that men should only seek to please women, and not be concerned if the women pleases them, while women should encourage men to continue to do nice things for them, but give nothing back. In fact, he spends two pages explaining why a women should not lean over and unlock the car door after a man has unlocked, opened the door, let her in and closed it. What?! I'd like to inform the author that while women do want men to be gentlemen, that dating and relationships are a 50-50 thing where both partners give and receive. Not just one side giving and the other receiving. Fifty pages into the book I began to wonder where Gray got his information. Has he dated in the last 30 years? Did he do any surveys on how women really feel? His information seemed to be based on his own theories of dating which, I think, are derived from thin air. He spends a chapter on how a man should apologize to a woman, but says nothing about the reverse. He spends another chapter on how a man should empathize with a woman, but mentions nothing about honesty - what if I don't agree with her? By page two hundred I began to wonder what planet John Gray was from - Pluto? Because he is way out there. If you want to read some realistic books about men and women I would recommend: 'What Do Women Want From Men' by Dan True and 'What Women Want' by Stains and Bechtel. These books are based upon discussion and opinions of real women, not from thin air as Gray's book.
Rating:
Summary: If you want to improve your relationship, read the book
Review: It amazes me whenever I read the negative reviews of John Grays books. People can argue all day about whether he's "qualified" or biased...or whether or not he generalizes too much. The fact is half of all marriages end in divorce and that rate doesn't seem to be improving but if only one person takes the time to try to learn the relationship skills necessary to improve his or her relationship, then maybe thats one less statistic. I've read Mars and Venus on a Date 6 times and I've read each of his other books no less than 3 times apiece. The insight that I've gained from his writings are invaluable and to be honest with you, I wonder where I would be without them. While no book can change your life, Mars and Venus on a date can at least point you in the right direction. Its still up to the individual to do the work. I am currently in the most wonderful relationship that I've ever been in..not perfect, but wonderful. Because finally I'm able to understand so much more than I've ever understood before, I'm now able to apply certain techniques to make my relationships better. No matter how much we want to deny it, men and women are very different creatures. If you want to question Dr. Gray's credentials, fine. But when your relationships keep failing and you have no clue why. Keep in mind that at least someone cares enough to try to explain it to you.
Rating:
Summary: A must for any single person!
Review: Dr. Gray really knows this subject. After reading this book I had a new outlook on dating. I was not aware of some of the mistakes men make when they are on a date. I recommend this to all my single friends. A few months after reading this book I found my true love and we are getting married.
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