Rating:  Summary: A helpful book Review: I am a man who's been married for 20 years. Earlier this year my marriage broke down when my wife poured out a long list of resentments she had been harboring against me. I was shocked. Some of them I knew about in general but I had no idea of the depth and extent of her problems with me. Devastated I began to look for material to educate myself on relationships and how to repair them. I found many books on the subject and picked about seven or eight I felt like were good quality, as well as availing myself of what I could find on the Internet. After all this reading I am amazed that I let myself be so ignorant about such an important thing as my marriage. Some of those who've written reviews here need to lighten up. I have just finished reading Gray's book and have also gotten two of his more recent ones. I haven't agreed with every single viewpoint I've found in any of them. But I have gotten insights from them that I have found very, very helpful in my quest to be a better husband. Some people spend so much time worrying about stereotypes that they can't see the straightjacket they are in. Relationships are dying wholesale in this country. Mine was almost added to those statistics. But because of the knowledge I was able to gain and utilize from books like Mr. Gray's I have been able to turn things around. I embraced the advice in these books that I found helpful and rejected or passed over what I did not agree with. While defects can be found with Gray's arguments (the same can be said about almost any view) he has done a great service by helping shed some positive light on a subject that is causing untold pain in many lives. I know what it means to be over critical because it is one of the habits I had that contributed to my wife's resentments against me. Some of you "reviewers" in here need to learn to be critical without trying to put a torpedo in someone elses boat. We know how to steer our own vessels.
Rating:  Summary: Intersting, Helpuful but Repetitive Review: This book has helped me in realising the differences between men and women. The examples given are very much true and happen frequently... for ex. when women offer unsolocited advice to men. I am thankful for the author for revealing basic differences that I kept asking myself about. However, I think that the writer is a little bit repetitive , which made me skip some paragraphs to avoid it. One other thing I didn't agree with the writer about is applying all what he says without any exceptions. Some people can't be treated according to what he says. For ex. in the part of Men in their Caves, I disagree that the standard should be to leave him totally and go out with my friends! You see... it depends on the type of person this man is. He may get very offended from this gesture and take it as a sign of uncare, while the message is meant to be "it's O.K if you can't be there for me now; I understand and trust you" . So, I think that such differnce in characters should have been hinted to. I think that this book needs time,effort, one's point of view as well as patience to be able to practice all what is mentioned in it and enjoy a healthy balanced relationship.
Rating:  Summary: Susan Hamson makes a better argument Review: I read both Gray's MMWV and Susan Hamson's "Rebuttal from Uranus" in "Taking Sides" (by Francoeur and Taverner). Susan Hamson makes a much more valid argument and is both fair and accurate in her deconstruction of Gray.
Rating:  Summary: Venutian view of Gray's advice: chauvinistic and shallow Review: While Gray makes some interesting points and provides good insight into some relationship issues, our Venutian book group's consensus was that this book did not provide any substantive help. The TITLE makes the point that men and women communicate differently about emotional issues and Gray does not move much beyond that. The writing is over-clarified, too repetitive, and drawn out. All one has to do is read the highlighted sentences to get the message. A shorter version would have been preferred. Many in the group were of the opinion that the book was written for a woman's improvement. Gray's tone is condescending, often slick, and arrogant. Some of his solutions verge on the chauvinistic: go shopping, call a friend, eat something delicious. Hogwash!
Rating:  Summary: Very Disappointing Review: John Gray starts with an initial premise which I find hard to swallow. Then he repeats the premise over and over again, making for a very tedious read indeed.Gray has no more than 5 chapters of material, and yet has turned it into a 10 chapter book. He is repetitive, and propogates a variety of stereotypes about men and women. Worse though, is that he seems to want us to believe these differences are fundamental. Almost anyone could have written this book. It mostly involves writing down all the gender stereotypes you can come up with. I find it alarming that his ideas have been so overwhelmingly welcomed by North Americans.
Rating:  Summary: Incomplete Review: After reading MMWV, I read Susan Hamson's counterpoint, "The Rebuttal from Uranus" in "Taking Sides: Human Sexuality, 6th ed." by Francoeur and Taverner. I must say that Gray is incomplete without having a copy of Hamson nearby to refute (or at least temper) Gray's "wisdom". Plus, Francoeur and Taverner provide a lot of insight on other important sexuality issues. I recommend that everyone read Gray, but read him in Taking Sides.
Rating:  Summary: Excellent Book for anyone who deals with the opposite sex. Review: I wish I could Thank John Gray for helping me make a difference in my life. He has given me the tools to better understand myself as well as my husband. My only question reading the other views is " why does it seem to me that the majority of you sound so ANGRY?" Use what you can, forget what you cannot, and move on life is way to short to be so angry.
Rating:  Summary: A Man Told Me to Read It, So I did. I now think "cave time" Review: As a woman who failed more at love than anyone you know, this book was a life raft. I had no boundaries and couldn't begin to honor a man's need for space or cave time. This book taught me not to take it personally. The best compliment I could get from my husband last night was this: I love you as my wife because you give me the freedom to be me. Two ex-husbands told me the opposite... You never let me have any time to myself. Thank you John Gray. And its wonderful you're on Oprah on Wednesdays now! Linda Schiller-Hanna
Rating:  Summary: Anyone who ever deals with the other sex must read this book Review: I lost my well worn, marked up, broken down copy of this book in a recent move. I MUST have a new one. John Gray writes with such respect, insight and wonderful good humor of the differences between men and women, and how to deal with them intelligently! This book is one of the vital products every human being should have as part of his or her collection of indespensible items, like a toothbrush, clean underwear, a watch and a stash of M&M's. Every married couple everywhere, of any age, should have a copy of this book, as well as a copy of "Divorce Busting" by Michelle Weiner-Davis. These two books should be issued with the marriage license and read on every wedding anniversary. There would be fewer divorces and many more genuinely happy marriages. I've been married 29 years. I know about these things! Even if you aren't married and never will be married you should read this book. If you have taken a vow of celibacy you should read this book. Anyone, anywhere who has or ever will have any reason to deal with the opposite sex should read this book!
Rating:  Summary: Pure Genius Review: It was a delightful, honest book. I've read it several times; each time I read it, I cry. There's so much to learn; every page, there's a new insight. Even my once-skeptical boyfriend is reading it and is amazed at the difference it has been making in our relationship. I wish I could thank John Gray myself! His book has opened our minds and our hearts, and it has fostered an even stronger love between us. All the things that we couldn't understand that caused us so much frustration are no longer tearing us apart. Even if you're single, you'll be amazed at the insight of this book. Reading the negative reviews, I don't agree with their conclusions. If they took the time to read the book back to front with an open mind, weren't so blatently resentful towards men, and stopped to realize that it isn't sexist, but rather an honest appreciation for the differences between men and women, then maybe they'd be able to benefit from this wonderful book as most of us have.
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