Rating:  Summary: The more serious you take it - the more you learn from it. Review: Despite its long-windedness, this book is a great help for those who appreciate it. Those who don't, don't waste your money, because you're not seriously interested in improving your relationship.
Rating:  Summary: Good backbone Review: I think this book has many great stategies in coping and understanding the opposite sex as well with dealing with difficult emotions. However I think it is somewhat manipulative and deceptive. I also feel that this book is more of a guide to helping a women get the love she needs rather than a man getting the love he needs.
Rating:  Summary: Graying "Wisdom" Review: John Gray's MARS...VENUS is one of the more recent examples of how analogies that wouldn't stand up for five minutes in a Comp. & Rhetoric class, to say nothing of writing that's equally wretched, can be sold as quick wisdom. It's a truly wretched book, repetitious and sententious, loaded with quick-fix "insights" that don't fix anything and vest-pocket analyses that pass for the learning of the ages. It reads like a sledgehammer-on-a-marshmallow primer for kids on adult behavior, and is every bit as shallow. Instead of finding ways to circumvent, short-circuit, or transcend existing behavior, Gray creates excuses for maintaining a prettier version of the same barriers that he pretends to help people overcome. Gray's book is also all the more offensive and insincere for its apparent guilelessness. Get Deborah Tannen's infinitely superior books on communication breakdowns, which are written in a far more intelligent and adult fashion, and don't resort to the cutesy-pie theorizing that makes Gray's book so indigestible.
Rating:  Summary: Do Yourself a Favor--Don't Bother Buying This Book! Review: My son-in-law thought this book was the "cat's meow"--the answer to all his marital problems so he strongly recommended that I read this book. I tried, but I couldn't get more than a 1/3 of the way through. Usually I can read anything but this was an unhappy exception. I looked at the cover and saw Ph.D. after the author's name and thought, you got to be kidding. This book wouldn't pass Freshman English with a C-grade, much less Introductory Psychology! Then I found out that the author is not licensed to practice what he preaches and he got his Ph. D. degree through a mail-order diploma mill. I'm surprised he got this thing published with such shaky credentials. It's really scary to see that he's been on the Best Seller list and is writing more of this trash. By the way, the book did not save my son-in-law's marriage. My step-daughter wisely gave him, and this book, the heave-ho. I recommend that you do the same.
Rating:  Summary: This book should be required reading for everyone! Review: Perhaps, it should be required reading nationwide before anyone is allowed to graduate from high school. My bet is you would see a drop in divorce rates if it were.
Rating:  Summary: Excellent Read! Review: This publication is a wonderful guide to understanding your significant other. It helped us tremendously. I feel we both respect and value each other much more than we did before reading Dr. Gray's book. If one learns the rules, and practices them, there is no telling what can be accomplished! Mark Schniers
Rating:  Summary: Stereotypical Nonsense Review: I flipped through this book while at my parents house. According to its definition of man being like a rubber band and woman being like a wave, I should have a penis and my boyfriend is from Venus. Also, his recommendations to women are the most painfully offensive condescending statements I have read in a long time. "What to do with when you hubby retreats and doesn't want to talk? How about a nice bubble bath!" John Gray is a sick man.
Rating:  Summary: A must for all couples! Review: I feel that all couples would benefit from reading this book, especially in the "ME" oriented society of today. It is important to understand that men and women have different communication styles. Knowing that makes the relationship go more smoothly. Let's face it......there is enough other pressure on couples, they don't need lack of knowing how to effectively communicate with each other to be another pressure on their relationship. I must say I learned a lot about myself and my husband and I am not afraid to continue learning! Would be a great resource for premarital counseling.
Rating:  Summary: Don't waste your time or money on this book! Review: I read voraciously on the topic of language, and had never in my life returned a book until I bought this one. For anyone interested in a vastly superior treatment of the topic which isn't written for 3rd graders, try "You just don't understand" by Deborah Tannen.
Rating:  Summary: A couple of good points but don't take it at face value. Review: I found this book useful as a general guide to communication between people in general, not only between the 2 sexes. Gray makes some good points and highlights aspects which many people are only aware of on a subconscious level. To completely dismiss the book as simplistic and obvious is harsh and narrow minded, yet to follow his suggestions to the T is equally narrow minded and unrealistic. Use it as a general guide to open your mind to the vast differences in the way actions and statements are intended to come across and the way they are actually perceived by others.
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