Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (Paperback, 2012)

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus – John Gray

Imagine that men came from Mars and women from Venus, and that they met and fell in love, but then forgot where they came from. According to relationship counselor Dr. John Gray, this playful metaphor helps explain why couples who love each other so often clash, misunderstand each other and feel unappreciated.

In Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex, Gray describes what he sees as common differences in how men and women communicate, handle stress and express their needs. He suggests, for example, that under stress many men withdraw into their caves to solve problems on their own, while many women want to talk about their feelings and be heard. Misreading these responses, he argues, can lead to frustration and conflict.

The book offers practical advice for improving communication and intimacy, including how to listen without trying to fix problems, how to ask for support, how to express difficult feelings, how to argue without hurting each other, and how to give and receive love in ways that are meaningful to your partner. Gray also discusses the different kinds of love each partner may need and how to keep romance alive.

The book became one of the bestselling relationship guides ever published. Readers should note that its generalizations about men and women have been widely debated, and that individuals and couples vary greatly.

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus remains a popular, accessible read for couples interested in improving communication, best approached with an open and critical mind.