How many "Understanding the Man/Woman in Your Life" books have you read? How many times have you been perplexed by the reactions of a spouse or even just a friend of the opposite sex? To be sure, the Lord created male and female just as He wanted to, but it is often VERY obvious that we tend to think and process information very differently.

Last summer, I came across four small books that gave me much food for thought: "For Women Only,, "For Men Only," "For Young Women Only," and "For Parents Only." Written in a simple, straightforward style, these books contain a wealth of information based on Biblical principles and personal interviews of over 1,000 men, women, children and teens from all walks of life.

For Women

Of the four books, my favorite (surprise!) was " For Women Only." I have certainly read many other books about how to understand the male mind, but as the author, Shaunti Feldhahn, says, " I discovered that there were many thingS I thought I understood about men-but really didn't. In several areas, my understanding was pure surface level. Once I got below the surface and into specifics, everything changed. I felt like a cartoon character who suddenly had a lightbulb over my head."

I felt the same way. I grew up with all brothers and was the sole caretaker of my Dad and mentally handicapped great uncle for five years. I really thought I had a good idea about how men thought, how they reacted. This book let me know that there is a lot more to it. This short read is filled with direct quotes from men, about men. Just look at the chapter headings!

Lightbulb on! Or, “How I Woke Up to What I Didn't Know ABout Men!”

• Your love is NOT Enough: Why Your Respect Means More to Him Than Even Your Affection
• The Performance of a Lifetime: Why Your Mr. Smooth Looks so Impressive but Feels Like a Failure
• The Loneliest Burden: How His Need to Provide Weighs Your Man Down, and Why He Likes it That Way
• Sex changes Everything: Why Sex Unlocks a Man's Emotions (Guess Who Holds the Key?)
• Keeper of the Visual Rolodex: Why It' so Natural for Him to Look and so Hard For Him to Forget What He Sees
• Chocolate, Flowers, Bait Fishing: Why the Reluctant Clod You Know Really Does Want Romance
• The Truth About the Way You Look: Why What's on the Outside Matters to Him on the Inside
• Words for Your Heart: What Your Man Most Wished You Knew About Him

It is real stuff, straight from the mouths of over 1,000 men, and it certainly rings true with me. While reading this book, I had many "AHA!" moments when things became so much clearer. Suddenly I could see more clearly why men often react the way they do, say what they do and often act in ways I do not expect. This book helped me so much that each of our daughters will soon have a copy in their hope chests!

For Men

Lest I seem biased, our son will have a copy of "For Men Only" in his dad-made chest. This book really said things to men that I wish I could have said. The author, Jeff Feldhahn (Shaunti's husband), took how I felt about things and transposed it all into guy-speak. Finally, here is a way to show a man how we women think, what we mean, how we see things, in a way they can relate to.

Read these books!