Review: Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think about Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment
Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man: What Men Really Think about Love, Relationships, Intimacy, and Commitment by Steve Harvey
My rating: 1 of 5 stars
I'm actually going to review this book as I read it. I actually find it very simplistic in dealing with relationships. Steve here deems men to be simple creatures who are all basically the same regardless of upbringing, culture or creed. He makes some really sweeping assumptions about both men and women. The fact that he assumes that all men are running some sort of game on us women tells me that he really does not have a broad view of people. To me the book sounds like the advice that a father gives to his girl child before he allows her to go on dates with guys, just to make sure that she is not duped into sleeping with them.
I must say the book is an extremely easy read as I was able to finish it within 24hours. But honestly towards the end I was really tired of the advice that Steve is dishing out. I’m honestly surprised that this book has made it to the best seller list and I guess it’s a testament as to how desperate we are as women to try and have successful relationships with these men. It is really sad to think that so many women are desperately seeking solutions in dealing with their relationships to no avail.
Now back to my review of the book, really the best thing about it is the fact that it is such an easy read and that you really don’t spend that much time getting through it. Which in itself is a blessing as honestly the advice does become a bit tedious towards the end. Really the whole book is a bit of a big joke and looking at it from that perspective makes reading it bearable.
Obviously not everything he says in the books is trash but in the same breath he really does not delve much deeper into the subject. The classic mistake he makes is in assuming that all men are the same and all women are looking for the same things in relationships. Mind you there is an audience for this book, narrow as it may be. But following everything he says in this book to the letter will really reduce your relationship to a game instead of something in which two grown intelligent people are building.
In terms of the advice it all sounds like the advice that a father will give to his daughter before she goes out on her first date. And this is evident when Steve retells the incident between his father in law and one his daughter's dates. It’s all the warning that a father will give his daughter to make sure that the men out there don't take advantage of her and use her for sex. Some of this advice might apply to a teenager getting to grips with the opposite sex. But once you reach a certain level of wisdom and maturing really the game playing is out of the question.
The fact that he assumes that as women we have no idea what some men are after really belittles our intelligence. Of course we know and sometimes it is exactly the same thing that we are after, sex. I just find the book a little condescending towards wise and experienced women because in all honesty if I have to run a game on you, in order to get you, then maybe we should not even be doing this thing.
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