Men: Some Assembly Required

A Woman's Guide to Understanding a Man

By Chuck Snyder
Foreword by Kay Arthur
Focus on the Family, $10.99

ISBN 1561793442

A Humorous Look at a Serious Subject--Men

Review by Robert Liparulo

Relax, ladies: someone has been listening to your quiet prayers and loud rantings about your husband's . . . well, let's be nice and say idiosyncrasies. You know, like when he's watching a game and you can't get his attention long enough to tell him the house is on fire; or when he thinks every little first-base kiss and snuggle means you want a home run.

The person who must have heard is Chuck Snyder, because he has authored the answer. It's called Men: Some Assembly Required, and while it won't show you how to teach your man new tricks, it will explain the male mentality-and keep you in stitches while it does.

Like all good translators Snyder is apparently fluent in both languages: that of the average man and the woman who wants to understand and love him better. Snyder and his wife, Barb, conduct marriage seminars nationally and wrote the book Incompatibility: Grounds for a Great Marriage, so his credentials check out. As for insight, the guy's downright scary. He notes that men hate being told what to do (road signs ought to begin with "PLEASE...") and dumb requests (like bills that ask for the amount being paid even though it's printed on the stub); that men usually interpret a woman's opinion as a command ("You want to go here?" becomes "We are going here!"); and that physical exercise means flicking the button on the TV remote.

Despite all the tongue-in-cheek repartee, Snyder offers real solutions to personality and preference clashes (learning to become "one flesh") and extends hope to struggling marriages ("God is more concerned about your marriage than you are"). He recognizes that understanding is often all it takes to bridge huge gaps in a marriage, but he doesnÕt stop at trying to explain why husbands behave the way they do. He suggests exercises to help both of you build a better relationship, and frequently cracks the Bible to point out Godly answers to trying situations.

Clothing, money, time management, memory, sex, in-laws--Snyder knows what hot buttons to push. Most of them tickle the funny bone; all of them will help you get a grip on your mate's wacky ways. Even men would get a great new perspective on the men-women dynamic from this book, but don't be surprised if they use it instead to prop up the TV or shim a door frame.

Men: Some Assembly Required is so fun to read, you may not realize how much you're learning, until the next time Hubby does something completely baffling, and instead of blowing your top, you smile lovingly. . . knowingly. And that's no laughing matter.