Men Are Clams Women Are Crowbars: Understand Your Differences and Make Them Work

Rating:
Summary: A Must Read for All Couples
Review: David Clarke does an amazing job at humorously, yet informatively describing the differences between men and women in "Men are Clams, Women are Crowbars." Clarke uses an informal style that helps the reader to feel comfortable while learning about problems that he or she has in opposite sex relationships. Clarke uses rhetorical questions, metaphors, and allusions to make this self-help book fun and interesting to read. With comparisons of men and women using "I Love Lucy", male lions, and the Bible, the author produces a comical, yet practical approach to understanding men and women's differences and making them work. And in rhetorically speaking of the lion, Clarke says, "He is the leader to be admired and respected. Or is he"(59)? I thoroughly enjoyed this book and recommend it to all couples, even those not married or engaged. "Men are Clams, Women are Crowbars" really helped me to understand the men in my life better.

Rating:
Summary: Not that Impressed by this Book
Review: I was hoping for something new and different, but this is the same old recycled stuff we've been hearing for years. I found Dr. Clarke to, at times, be extremely patronizing to his reading audience. Not every woman is a crowbar. Sometimes, unfortunately, there are 2 clams in a relationships which really leads to relationship problems. If you really want a good book on relationships, read some of the books by Florence Littauer and her husband. When my husband and I read their book, we found unique ideas and improved communication tools we could really use. Sorry, but for the more mature couple (50+ years old) this book didn't offer anything we haven't heard before.

Rating:
Summary: Mandatory reading for couples
Review: This book is insightful, humorous, easy to read and understand. It is an essential book for libraries and a great gift idea for weddings. One critical part of the book talks about what happens to men if they don't express their feelings. This part is a little underemphasized because these repercussions (from not expressing emotions) are marriage threatening, addictive and destructive behaviors. There are other books that handle those topics I guess. However, I wish the author would have bolded or underlined this small section. It is easily missed. This is a book I will have on hand for gifts. It is a mandatory read!