5 comments about Children are from Heaven: Positive Parenting Skills for Raising Cooperative, Confident, and Compassionate Children.

1. You can get the main ideas of this book by reading the back cover, the introduction, or even the table of contents. The rest of the book is very repetitive, with lots of fluff. It's unfortunate, because Gray's message about parenting is an excellent one, and very important in an age where too many parents are neglecting this important aspect.
   
   Instead of this book, I recommend How to Talk So Kids Will Listen and Listen So Kids Will Talk by Faber and Mazlish. It is full of practical tips and exercises to help you communicate with your children in a way that is respectful, instructive, and helpful. It will help you build relationships with your children that will bring you all closer together, at the same time as it helps your children develop reliability, compassion, and initiative. It has transformed our family and I recommend it to everyone I know.



2. This book is a nice stepping stone for understanding. His explanations are so broad! Mabey thats his intent though.
   I feel that Kolbe Concept or Keirsey Temperament sorter are better sources to understanding your children. Having actual personality assesments done would be more accurate.
   Confucius stated; "The strength of a nation derives from the integrity of the home" So ANY book about kinder/wiser parenting is good.
   Good book to get you started at better parenting.



3. I agree with some of the other reviews that the book was a little repetitve, but I did not mind. I have a 8, 4, & 2 yr old. They are all so different in what they need and what motivates them. This book really helped me to realize what each of them really needed to feel happy and loved. I never realized how much my oldest was NEEDING more affirmation and one on one time. He has always been the big helper and the one I could count on to help him self. In the book Dr. Gray talks about the age of when a child should still be, and feel like he is completely taken care of, and I was suprised. I may have been asking way too much of him. My son was exhibiting signs of ADHD and was eventually diagnosed. Implementing these positive messages I have been able to take him off of medication and I have such a wonderful relationship with him now that I feel will continue through out his teen years. This book reviews common, well intentioned lectures and plans that some of us parents come up with and what they may be doing- (the opposite of what you intented them for) I was most certainly guilty of it. The plans seem to really open up the kids and bring out an extra ounce of joy to their smile.
   Obviously, I recommend it. Especially if your children may seem frustrated, distracted, and you think you have done everything the right way- read this book and give it another try. I hope that it will bring you this much peace. God bless.



4. This author strikes to the core of positive parenting. Parents and grandparents, and anyone who works with children, should read it several times and use it as a reference.
   
   I gave a copy to each of my adult children , all of whom are parents, and I have read it twice.



5. This book is a must read for all parents, grandparents, and any child care providers. This book had many positive skills that I was able to implement easily and effectively. I was amazed by all of the "right" things I was already doing and now I have many new ideas and skills I can hone to help me be a better parent.

5 comments about Los hombres son de Marte, las mujeres son de Venus.

1. it's a great book, it makes sense as to why men and woman are so different, it is helping me a lot in my relationshp. I recommend this book to all my friends.



2. Me gusto mucho este libro porque habla sobre la diferencia de las parejas y de como se empiezan los problemas entre ambos. Este libro se tiene que analizar entre las parejas para que tengan menos problemas. Este libro explica que las mujeres son muy diferentes a los hombre en su caracter y cuerpo tambien. Tambien explica mucho de que las mujeres son muy exesivas en comprar muchas cosas que no se ocupan mas en su hogar que en su pareja. Espero y lean este libro porque parece muy importante para poder manejar los problemas.



3. Debo decir que, con muchísimo esfuerzo, logré terminarlo.
   En cuanto al contenido, aunque la idea general es acertada y el libro explica estas diferencias entre hombres y mujeres, las plantea como algo que no tiene solución. La premisa de aceptar al otro con sus rasgos de personalidad inherente es acertada, pero la presenta de modo tal que no queda alternativa más que la resignación, sin posibilidades de que hombres y mujeres puedan cambiar ciertas cosas. Esto sugiere un determinismo que no creo aplicable a los seres humanos.
   
   Más que esto, me molestó la forma en que refuerza los estereotipos imperantes: muy de lejos oí la voz y opiniones de mi madre, nacida en los años 40... ha pasado ya bastante tiempo. Cierto es que el señor Gray aclara de un principio que su planteamiento es una visión general, pero me pareció que se puso el parche antes de la herida: si vas a defender una postura, hazlo en su totalidad.
   
   La responsabilidad de la mujer está sobredimensionada: dedica un capítulo entero a cómo las mujeres deben aceptar y tolerar que los hombres se alejen, y otro dedicado a cómo las mujeres son cambiantes e inestables, pobrecitas, y cómo los hombres deben estar siempre ahí porque estamos siempre necesitadas de afecto y dependemos de la aceptación masculina. Repito: los 50 ya pasaron.
   
   La analogía de los marcianos y las venusinas se torna aburrida y repetitiva. Sería más grato si simplemente planteara: "los hombres hacen esto; las mujeres, esto otro".
   
   También sus planteamientos son repetitivos: lo que dijo en 300+ páginas pudo haberlo dicho fácilmente en 150. Tal vez fue intencional, para que el lector aprendiera los planteamientos a fuerza de repetición, pero aburre.
   
   Con respecto a la forma, la redacción de este libro es penosa. Varias veces me vi forzada a releer 3-4 veces una misma frase para comprender lo que intentaba decir. Asimismo, la traducción es malísima. Sin necesidad de leer el original, fácilmente se identifican frases calcadas del inglés, que en castellano no tienen ningún sentido.
   
   En resumen: leerlo fue un esfurzo, no sólo por su contenido -estereotipado y a veces ofensivo-, sino también por el modo en que está escrito.



4. Al menos en la cultura norteamericana, el libro fue un éxito, cuando fuera lanzado hace algunos años atras. Punto por el cual, en algunos detalles es posible que no sea apropiado para todo lector hispano. Especialmente aquellos que no viven en los EEUU. ¿por qué me preguntará? Pues el libro está dirigido a una cultura concreta, no es de margen global, ni multicultural... Cosas que pueden ser cierta en la maneras de relacionarse, en los sistemas matrimoniales y familiares de una cultura, es posible que sean todo lo contrario en otra...
   
   Lo anterior fue a modo de advertencia. No obstante, el libro es un excelente recurso -si se tiene en cuenta sus delineamientos generales sin ser estricto- para mejorar la relacion matrimonial. El autor es un sicologo, escritor, y hombre que ha pasado por el divorcio y la lucha de construir una mejor relación de pareja subsecuente. Sabe de lo que está hablando.
   
   Su tesis fundamental -discutida por otros especialistas, con buenas bases-es que esencialmente los problemas susitados entre el hombre y la mujer, es que son muy diferentes, y mientras no caigan en cuenta de sus diferencias, y sigan tratando al otro sexo como si pensara, entendiera y sintiera como los de su propio sexo, tendrán problemas. Asi que la propuesta del autor es que, los dos generos -masculino y femenino-pertenecientes a planetas diferentes -mates y venus- deben comunicarse en base como el otro entiende las cosas, siendo sensible a sus diferencias y gozando los puntos comunes.
   
   Contiene secciones practicas y ejemplos bastante claros de las ideas que prensenta.
   
   Para personas cristianas (o no necesariamente cristianas) recomiendo los siguientes dos libros. Como Relacionarse Mejor: Manual de Tecnicas Para Desarrollar Relaciones Mas Satisfactorias, Dinamicas y Duraderas (Serie Recursos Ministeriales) excelente trabajo -escrito por un autor de cultura hispana- para comprender mejor el fenomeno de la comunicacion y como mejorar las relaciones. Tambien otro trabajo, ya clasico: Los Cinco Lenguajes Del Amor: Como expresar devocion sincera a su conyuge (Five Love Languages, Spanish edition)



5. Este Libro de los hombres son de Marte, las mujeres de Venus es un libro recomendable tanto para hombres como para mujeres. En el encontraras una guia para conocer el comportamiento de tu pareja y ayudarse ambos a llevar una relacion mejor. Es bueno leerlo en pareja.

No comments about Mars and Venus on Love Audio Collection.

5 comments about What Your Mother Couldn't Tell You and Your Father Didn't Know: Advanced Relationship Skills for Better Communication and Lasting Intimacy.

1. If you are having any conflict in your relationship (and if you are breathing, you do) then this book can help you through some of the struggles. The beauty of it is that it helps you understand the other sex's perspective, wants, needs, and emotions...something that I wouldn't have been able to do in a thousand years without the help of John Gray. It is also amazing in that it helps you know and understand that, just because your spouse or significant other acts in a certain way that is undesirable or seemingly unloving, it is not because they don't love you, it is because that is simply the way they have been programmed to think and act since the beginning of time. John Gray also gives concrete steps and actions to take to help us work around some of the natural instincts that may be creating friction in our relationships. This book is truly worth its weight in gold....I have already sent 4 copies to the most important people in my life.
   HOWEVER, there are certain caveats to my recommendation (that do not diminish the book's worth or importance). John Gray writes for the lowest common denominator. I agree with the reader who said that she couldn't stand his writing style. It is certainly not for everyone, as it can be a bit repetitious, and his use of analogies is mind-numbing. Men especially won't be able to look past the "cheezy" writing style. There is no way I am getting my husband to read this. However, it is most definitely worth slogging through, I just wish that John Gray would take his own advice and realize that Men are From Mar, Women are From Venus, and the same communication and writing style won't necessarily work for both.



2. I am responding to the very negative review on this website - written by a man.- He seemed to think it would be only useful for women!! My husband is reading this book (from our local libary) and is so impressed with it that he asked me to get into your web site and purchase a copy! I am amazed at how it is helping him to understand himself and, after nearly 40 years of marriage he is now able to understand how to communicate more effectively with me.



3. I found this in a Colfax gutter, roaming around at 1 AM... God is it awful... It may be useful if your the sort who enjoys "Everybody Loves Raymond", and models your behavior after that buisness, but if your a resonable person, this little text is absurd. It makes Tennseee Williams' charecters seem like well adjusted adults... Go buy a Leonard Cohen album instead... Useful only if your striving to live a midling existence, or land your self on that Dr. Phil degenerate's show.



4. This popular psychology book is aimed at a specific (though large) audience. Per the Jungian Myers-Briggs, there are different psychological types. One difference is Sensate (detail/here & now-oriented) vs. Intuitive (big picture & future-oriented). About ¾ of Americans are Sensate & will probably enjoy Gray's writing--with numerous specific phrases/do's & don'ts to help couples (esp. in 2-income families) relate better & translating psychological terminology into everyday language (e.g. a man's "feminine side" vs. anima). Unfortunately, there's no index for finding a specific situation. He states that couples are unprepared for recent changes in marital "job descriptions"--old assumptions don't work anymore. Much of his "advanced relationship skills" are insightful & useful: rather than blaming a man for not doing a task, "ask repeatedly as if it were the 1st time, "When a woman is emotional, any attempt on a man's part to explain the correctness of his point of view is taken as invalidation," role reversal, & re-parenting yourself. The author primarily depicts interactions with his wife (thus, no bibliography). Intuitives may find this book very repetitious (which the author explicitly admits) & might prefer Deborah Tannen's books on inter-gender communications (i.e. "That's Not What I Meant" & "You Just Don't Understand").
   
   The Myers-Briggs also differentiates Thinkers/Feelers--Americans are 50:50, but ~2/3 of men are Thinkers & 2/3 of women are Feelers. People often confound this with gender differences. The author seems to assume the Normal case: male Thinker/female Feeler--explicitly stating that his observations don't apply to everyone. I suggest you consider Myers-Briggs types: for a Feeler man & Thinker woman, the book might still work--in reverse; if both man & woman are the same type, it will need adjustment to work. I suggest that you are neither your thoughts nor your feelings--you just have them. Gray's approach is rational, aimed at conscious efforts rather than unconscious psychological processes (e.g. complexes & archetypes--see Jean Bolen's "Goddesses in Every Woman" & "God's in Every Man"--some women identify with Mother vs. Wife archetype. Also, Moir & Jessel's "Brain Sex" discusses physiological gender differences in the brain. Gray employs traditional (anti-feminist) stereotypes but is quite idealistic: p. 424 "No one in their heart of hearts really wants to withhold & punish"--vs. M. Scott Peck's "People of the Lie." Some may find Gray a bit contrived: ~a co-worker of mine set clocks 5 minutes ahead to improve punctuality which just wouldn't work for me. Since this book could help most readers, I'm compromising on its score.



5. Every thing I read from John Grey was just great. This is no exception.
   
   It is really a must for every one to read it! It teaches you how to interpret a man's behavior vs. a woman's. It is a quick read but gives you a lot of information.
   When I began reading the book I was discouraged, my first thought was, does he want to discourage women from working outside home? but I kept on reading and no he doesn't do that... just read it!

5 comments about Mars and Venus Starting Over.

1. These books are getting old. Same story as the last... same story as the next. Easiest way to get over someone is to get under someone ELSE!



2. This book is insightfully written and is valuable in making relationships (of all kinds, not just romantic ones)work when dealing with someone who has experience the trauma of relationship loss. John Gray's entire series help take the sting out of interpersonal relationships by shining light on reactions that are not actually personal in intent but common across most people. This makes it easier to get along with other people and to avoid some basic male-female relating mistakes.



3. I think that this book would be a big help for anyone who's suffered a loss in their life. If you never mourn and recover from your losses in a healthy way, you will remain stuck and repeat the same unhealthy patterns over and over again.
   
   What's great about this book is that you are pretty much free to skip around and read the parts that pertain to your personal situation. But I recommend going back and reading all of it because most of us have a lot of learn about ourselves...and the opposite sex. A+ for John Gray, PhD. I will definitely buy more of his books.



4. His brother had the right idea! I'm getting so sick of being stabbed in the back all the time! And by people I thought I could depend upon! And the funny part is...if the same thing happened to them, they'd be screaming bloody murder! DOESN'T ANYBODY AT LEAST "TRY" TO PRACTICE THE GOLDEN RULE ANYMORE?!? WHAT'S SO DAMN HARD ABOUT THAT?!?



5. John Gray's brilliance introduces the grieving process in a manner that feels right during heartbreak. His caring nature comes through in this book and is a great structure to grab onto when a relationship has ended in your life.
   
   His brilliance and compassion is evident in this book and I hope you use it during a tough time for yourself. I have learned so much about myself after a death of a loved one. In addition, I learned how to support others at their time of need.
   
   Strong and supportive read!
   
   Merna Throne
   Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!

5 comments about Men, Women and Relationships.

1. Rarely does a book do such a good job informing the reader in a way that can change lives. John Gray helps the reader understand there are inevitable differences between men and women and the key to success in relationships is to understand and navigate those differences rather than to try and change or ignore them. I also highly recommend Men in Marriage: Straight Talk For Men About Marriage: What Men Need to Know About Marriage (And What Women Need to Know About Men)by Marty Friedman.



2. Anyone even thinking about love and marriage must read this book! It will prepare them for what is ahead in their lives; not just blue sky, lovey dovey stuff!



3. First time reading any of Dr. Grey's Venus and Mars books. This was excellent. Both my husband and I gained a tremendous amount of insight as to mind of the opposite sex and how we relate to different situations. I highly recommend it, especially if you are having trouble understanding how your partner does what she/he does.



4. I would recommend this book to anyone who needs help communicating with, or is filled with resentment toward, their spouse. I would also get a highlighter out and start using it at the begining! I laughed over and over again while reading this book because it was truly as if the author was speaking directly to my husband and I! I never thought it would be THAT good, but it was! Things are so much better now, but it takes practice so this book remains on our shelf for later reference!



5. I've read several of the M/V books and this one isn't all new info, but it did help me to understand some basic differences in men and women. I wouldn't put it at the top of the list of must-reads, but I think overall, it's worth your time.

4 comments about The Stephen King Value Collection: Lawnmower Man, Gray Matter, and Graveyard Shift (Value Collections).

1. This was just as good, or maybe even better than reading the book! The things that made it a lot better were the reader, John Glover, he was so great, and the sound effects. I was listening to Lawnmower Man, and I didn't remember it was that scary! This audio book should be heard after you read Night Shift, or if you aren't planning to. All the short stories are guaranteed to give you sleepless nights, and it is a high recommendation!



2. I listened to the 5 stories today and found it very entertaining. I have seen the movie The Lawnmower Man and it was quite different. But this version was real good. I liked Sometimes they come back the best. Quitters Inc, The ledge and The mangler were all very good as well. This is my 1st King exposure to his horror stories and it was all I expected it to be. I recommend it highly. Narrator John Glover is very good too.



3. This Cryptic Collection of Stories is as Scary As Hell. I would recomend it to any Scary Story fan. It makes it better than reading the book caus you can enjoy it in the Dark. Warning: THIS IS VERY SCARY. Stories like Sometimes They Come Back, The BoogyMan, and especialy Jerusalems Lot will freak you out.



4. The title about says it all. The author definitely keeps your full attention while you are listening to these assorted strange tales. He brings the limits of human imagination to you in an easily understood presentation that will have you thinking twice about your future interactions with others, especially strangers. It can become quite scary at times as you find yourself imagining that you are one of the various victims in these short tales. A recommended addition to anyones audio library.

5 comments about Pale Gray for Guilt: A Travis McGee Novel (Travis Mcgee Series).

1. I'm sorry, but I completely disagree with the other reviewers. I found this book to be shockingly bad. While other McGee books sparkle with Travis' commentaries on social trends and peripheral characters, and possess intricate plots, this book was a straightforward revenge story, with McGee and his sidekick Meyer confidently and flawlessly triumphing over the evildoers. There is no suspense, and the book is written in a rather haughty style, glorifying the abilities and righteousness of McGee. I was nauseated by the final third, just trying to finish it up, shaking my head at the lack of suspense and the wooden tone. I think one has to have a simplistic devotion to the series and/or character to see this installment as among the best of the series, because it comes off as sort of a love letter from MacDonald to McGee. Try "Long Lavender Look" for a McGee with all this series has to offer, and don't read this one until you're thoroughly immersed in the series.



2. John D. MacDonald's Travis McGee series was one of the first truly successful "hard boiled detective" genre series to make it big at the mass market level of sales. Written mostly in the 1960's and early 1970's the books could come across as somewhat dated time period pieces except that MacDonald was a suspense writer of the highest order whose gritty, hard edged characters come to life on the page just as readily today as they did back when written.

   In point of fact, these really aren't "detective" books at all; they are generally better classified as suspense novels. However, the formula utilized in the books, as well as the realistic, hard hitting writing style they displayed, set the stage for many a fictional detective series to follow.

   McGee advertises himself as a "salvage" specialist. He's more a high-end repo man. If you've lost something of extraordinary value that you do not want the police involved in recovering, he'll do it for you-for 50% of the fair market value of the lost valuables. Once he's made a big score he reverts to being a beach Bum in ft. Lauderdale Florida where he lives on the beach in a houseboat won in a card game.

   The Travis McGee novels break down basically into two types of story either (A) a "recovery" tale and (B) a revenge tale. The former is the far more common format.

   Pale Gray for Guilt is one of the latter. Tush Bannon, one of Travis' old high school buddies, is killed by developers who want his land for a project, Travis swears revenge. Along with his sidekick, Dr. Meyer, a nationally known economist and fellow beach bum, McGee sets in motion a complicated and dangerous scam to entrap and bankrupt the killers.

   On the whole I like the recovery novels better than the revenge novels, but this is one of the better of the latter sort. The plan is ingenious, the characters, as usual, well developed and the con victim so loathsome one is fully engaged in the effort to get the SOB.

   This is probably not the best book to start out with McGee but, once hooked, this will make a very pleasant read.

   A final note: MavDonald wrote many novels other than the McGee series-however, all McGee novels have a color in the title. If you're browsing for McGee, just select any novel with a color in the title, and there Travis will be.




3. Tush Bannon, friend of Travis, a good and gentle man is killed horrifically by an anvil crushing his face and chest. First declared suicide-admittedly a peculiar way to do the deed--- later changed to murder. Tush owned a small marina whose acreage was a valuable parcel to the big bad business interests, and he was being squeezed out. He left a shocked and bereft wife and three young sons. Gallant Knight Travis rides to the rescue.

   "Pale Gray for Guilt" was the 8th novel in the Travis McGee series, and I judge it as medium-good McGee. Published in 1968, it has an excellent contemporary flavor about it that captures the late `60s very well. The major flaw in the novel is the extraordinarily complicated sting set up by Meyer and Travis as revenge for Tush's demise. The big businessmen are set up to take a financial bath, and there are pages and pages devoted to capital gains, covering margins, selling short, etc. This has the effect of confining John Wayne to Wall St., not a happy or even very interesting state of affairs. However, Travis does get to expound, and wow his usual lusty women. (this one named Puss Killian-would such a name even be allowed today?) MacDonald allows Travis his special brand of sentimentality, "-went into the master bedroom and slipped out of the robe and into the giant bed and wished I wasn't too old to cry myself to sleep." No other tough private eye would ever be permited to think that way in print.

   By the time this book was written, MacDonald had found his groove, though it was too bad he had to foist his interest in the stock market on Travis who, as we all well know, cares nothing about such things. It never happened again.




4. ...and whatever you do, read this one before reading "The Lonely Silver Rain". "Pale Gray" is vintage McGee, and a very fascinating exploration of the Big Con. There must be something more entertaining than these books, but I can't imagine what it would be.



5. While I still find "Flash of Green" to be my favorite MacDonald book, there's something so appealing about the Travis McGee series that keeps me coming back to them. And "Pale Gray for Guilt" has such an engaging opening sequence of events, and such an array of fascinating characters, that you cannot put this mystery down. I just hope that MacDonald continues to gain in popularity, as I feel he is horribly overlooked.

1 comments about The Mars and Venus Audio Collection (Boxed Set).

1. This is what is needed by every male and female. Just when you where sure that we could not get a long this book set arrives. Dr. Gray gives very common sense approaches as to why we do what we do and then tells us how to fix it. A must read for everyone!

5 comments about Mars and Venus on a Date.

1. i never learned to date. it's good to have some insight. it's opened my eyes to improving myself as a dater--and i'm seeing the fruits of those improvements.



2. I hated the book, Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus........... However, this book really seemed right on. Great insight for women on how men think, how men date, when and when not to call and the especially important, "Stage Two: Uncertainty period". Explains why men wait to get involved, etc. If you are baffled about men like I was, this book is worth it's weight in gold.



3. Do you have this book on your shelf? If you don't, order it NOW. It will help you put the understanding and FUN back in dating. Gray makes it so clear on how to understand men and women; you don't even know you are learning.
   
   Dating skills seem so obvious once he points them out, but I wish I would have read this book yearsss ago. ~
   
   Order today, you won't regret it!
   
   Merna Throne
   
   Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!



4. John Gray's book emphasizes open communication in his book between men and women This is clearly important.
   
   But, the open communication isn't so open at times. Gray doesn't encourage being candid at times. This is a slippery slope. For example, Gray says that if a man is late because of an accident on a bridge, he should apologize without explaining the reason for being late, and the woman should be nonjudgmental. Is this communication relationship enhancing?
   
   Also, he frequently over emphasizes the differerences in men and women without acknowledging their similarities enough. For example, Gray's simplistic view of men as the wrongdoers in relationships and women as the saviors weakens the material. He explains in detail how men should learn to apologize and women should learn to forgive, but not vice versa. We all make mistakes in relationships and both parties need to learn the importance of sincere apology and forgiveness.
   
   Good communication is clearly important in any relationship and I applaud John Gray's attempt to get couples to communicate, but emphasizing non candid behaviors dilutes the main message of the book.
   
   Also, stereotyping the sexes can lead to polarization and a breakdown in communication. Understanding gender differences is important, but equally important is the acceptance and celebration of our similarities.
   
   The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking



5. This book changed the way I relate to men. The techniques really work and I wish I would've read this book 20 years ago. I realized I can be feminine and receive love. I can allow a man to help me and not do everything myself. Since reading the book I've really enjoyed my new dating life and love being more feminine and having the ability to attract men. It's a lot more fun. I look forward to reading and learning more from this author.