Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus: The Classic Guide to Understanding the Opposite Sex

Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (1992) is a self-help and personal development book by American author John Gray. The book is designed to help couples improve their relationships by accepting how different men and women are. Although the book was initially met with critical acclaim, it has lost popularity due to critiques about sexist content and the book’s worldview. Although this is Gray’s best-known work, Gray has published many similar books concerned with relationship advice. He is a qualified relationship therapist who is a member of both the American Counseling Association and the International Association of Marriage and Family Counselors.

This study guide is based on the 2012 Harper paperback edition.

Content Warning: Gray does not consider a spectrum of genders or sexualities and bases his conclusions on heterosexual relationships between people who are assigned male and female at birth.

Summary

The book’s main premise is that many relationship problems can be avoided by recognizing that there are fundamental differences between men and women. Failing to accept these differences causes friction, miscommunication, and separation. Essentially, individuals respond to conflict, stress, and setbacks very differently, and they express and receive love in ways which can be difficult to understand.