What Women Want Men to Know - Softcover

Barbara De Angelis, Ph.D., is an internationally recognized expert on human relations and the author of numerous bestsellers, includingReal Moments, Chicken Soup for the Couple's Soul, Are You The One for Me?,Secrets About Men Every Woman Should Know, and Secrets About Life Every Woman Should Know. She has hosted her own television show for CBS-TV, her own daily radio talk show in Los Angeles, and is one of America's most sought-after speakers on personal development and relationships. Barbara's award-winning television infomercial,Making Love Work, is the most successful relationship program of its kind, and her new special for PBS can be seen on hundreds of stations throughout the United States.

Like John Gray, relationship expert and motivational speaker DeAngelis (Are You the One for Me?, etc.) highlights recognizable distinctions between the needs and communicating styles of men and women. Based upon the experiences of "tens of thousands of people" and women's responses to a questionnaire, her latest work aspires to offer "simple, practical ways to communicate and make both (sexes) happier." Though arguably bordering on stereotype, her easily digestible truths (women put love first, are creators, have a sacred relationships with time) can help both sexes gain perspective. But treacly writing (e.g., "no beauty treatment... outfit... jewels... can make a woman look as radiant as when she is feeling loved") and heavy-handed admonitions (e.g., to read the book "from start to finish") detract from more helpful observations. However, restraint is not DeAngelis's trademark, nor what fans expect. Though the focus is on interpreting women's behavior (e.g., viewing being "too emotional" as "in touch with feelings"), men's behavior doesn't seem to merit the same consideration. For example, she lists the top-10 male habits that drive women crazy (vagueness, emotional withdrawal, lying to avoid unpleasantness, bossing women around) without further elucidation. Perhaps DeAngelis is saving the interpretations for the sequel, but it's a shame to turn off men who may benefit from her genuine insights in, for example, the small but provocative section on sex. (Aug.)Forecast: Women will flock to this, as they have to her other bestsellers, but the intended male audience may prove difficult to capture.

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