: A Practical Guide for Improving Communication and Getting What You Want in Your Relationships
(4/6/2011)
As a single 21 year-old male, the last thing I wanted to do was read books about relationships and marriage. But, when a close friend recommended that I buy and read this book, I reluctantly did so. Right from the start I found this book enjoyable and easy to read. Dr. Gray has a good sense of humor and fun analogies that not only make the book enjoyable to read, but also makes the subject much easier to understand.
As suggested by the title, this book talks about how men and women sometimes seem like they’re from different planets. They speak different languages and have completely different cultures, but for one reason or another they just can’t seem to stay away from each other. John Gray doesn’t focus on how we can change ourselves. In fact, he doesn’t even suggest it. What he does in this book is he teaches how men and women act differently and helps us to better understand each other.
While I read this book, perhaps the thing that surprised me most is that I seldom found myself thinking, “Maybe I can use this later when I’m married, but not right now.” In this book, John Gray not only addresses men and women who are in relationships, but men and women in general. This book was constantly reminding me of people that I already knew and loved such as my mother, and my sisters. It opened my eyes and I finally started to understand why they would do or say certain things and it helped to know how to respond appropriately. Dr. Gray’s book is best summarized when he said, “When men and women are able to respect and accept their differences then love has a chance to blossom.”
Now, while this book is a great tool for being able to understand the opposite sex, it definitely isn’t a cure-all. Everybody is different and we each possess our own individual traits and qualities that make us who we are, and it’s important to understand that the things discussed in this book might not apply to everybody. Even if that’s the case, the most important thing that anybody can learn from this book is that we all need to learn to accept our differences and learn to understand and respect each other. These skills are invaluable in any relationship and will improve the life of anybody who implements them.