Nov 30 2006
The Difference Between Men And Women: Ear Versus Beer
I’ve read John Gray’s “Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus” which describes the differences in communication between men and women.
I’ve also read Deborah Tannen’s “You Just Don’t Understand: Women and Men in Conversation” which discusses the same issue.
I would say I have a bit of knowledge about how to speak with men and I do try to rein in my female desire to share and have a guy share in return.
A very good friend of mine described what he’d like to hear (or not hear):
Not a good response: 
Guy: What a shitty day.
Woman: Oh, tell me ALL about it.
A much better response:
Guy: What a shitty day.
Woman: Yup, I hear ya. Wanna beer?
In keeping with guy-speak, I won’t expound in quite my usual (read: female) manner.
Expound: to explain by setting forth in careful and often elaborate detail.
I’ll just say that his example pretty much sums up both books.
In case you’re interested in either book, I’d like to give a plug for BookSmoothie developed by a friend of mine. It finds the best prices for your books by comparing multiple online bookstores.