Mars and Venus on a Date: A Guide for Navigating the 5 Stages of Dating to Create a Loving & Lasting Relationship Author: John GrayThe latest tentacle of John Gray's formidable Mars and Venus octopus deals with a topic near to the heart of almost everybody--dating. With a lot of insight and common sense, Gray tackles the hard and often messy business of finding "a soul mate." Without fear or favor, Mars and Venus on a Date dissects the dynamics between men and women and the five stages each relationship must pass through: attraction, uncertainty, exclusivity, intimacy, and, finally, engagement (for marriage, of course). Even though Mars and Venus on a Date isn't The Rules by a long shot, the courtship it describes is surprisingly old-fashioned. It's chock-full of things your mother might say: "Most people find or are found by their soul mates when they are not really looking." "The man should never talk more than the woman." But how to know if the person you're with is your "soul mate?" Gray writes, "When our soul wants to marry our partner, it feels like a promise that we came into this world to keep." Which translates into, "When you know, you know."A time honored classicI am a Mars Venus Counselor in the Boston area. I teach it, I know it, I love it, but the real story is that people who have read this and other Mars Venus books find amazing relevancy in John Gray's ability to share his wisdom. In Mars & Venus on a Date, you have established guidelines that WILL help you to be successful. Enjoy!Another "I wish I would have read this earlier in life!" bookWhether you are new to dating, widowed or divorced and starting to date again, or in your 50th year of marriage - you will be able to gleam something from this book that will impact your life in a positive way.

Ideally - you could read this book before you embark upon the "dating chapter" of your life. But, even if you're not new to dating, this book can make an amazing and positive impact in many ways - it can increase your chances of finding the right person, reduce your chances of being hurt by or hurting someone (emotionally) during the dating process, and help you avoid scaring away someone with whom, otherwise, you could end up having a wonderful relationship.

I especially recommend this to women who are in a relationship (or, who are thinking that they "thought they were") with a man who seems to have changed all of a sudden. If you are questioning things like, where did he go? why didn't he call? why does he seem so distant now? what did I do wrong? - you are possibly at a point in the relationship where your choice of actions can make or break a relationship that might just be on the edge of going somewhere. And, likewise, I recommend this to men who feel that they've come to a point in their relationship where they all of a sudden "aren't sure" anymore, are feeling anxious or maybe even "trapped", and at the same time there is a strong need to just get away and think and/or if the woman you are dating seems to have become more insecure, worries more, questions you more, starts pressuring you more about commitment, etc. All of these situations, emotions, etc. are explained in this book. You're not the only one - it's a normal part of dating - but, unfortunately, most of us won't possibly be able to understand this without someone else pointing it out to us - like Gray has done in this book.

Even if you are married - this book opens your eyes to many things and can really improve your level of understanding with your wife/husband.

If you are the perfect mate in a perfect relationship - you may not realize some of the problems other people experience and therefore, could probably benefit from this book by being able to better identify with friends, family, children when they come to you for advice.Surprisingly goodI ignored John Gray and his Mars-Venus venture for over a decade because I just could not relate to it. In fact, I thought it was stupid. But one day, he won me over. His approach toward love, relationships, and in this book, dating, is so strangely refreshing. Among a sea of dating books advocating game-playing and settling, Gray emphasizes love and finding one's soul mate. In this book, he explains the 5 stages of dating and how going through these stages provides the setting for recognizing when you've found your soul mate. He also explains the different kinds of attraction (physical, emotional, mental, and spiritual) and how they happen in a different order for men and women.

And Gray is able to address several dating mysteries with much more depth than most, including:

- Why men can be highly interested and then disappear
- Why some women give too much
- How to deal with a commitmentphobe
- Why men stop calling
- When men should pay and when women should start paying
- Why some people get dumped more than others

This is one of the best dating books I have ever read. I recommend it for anyone interested in finding their soul mate.

P.S. For those of you who squirm at the male-female stuff, I understand. But when you see how Gray's point of view can work in your favor, you may change your mind like I did! more...


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