This is directed to Hurting Promise Keeper who triple dared me to read the book. Okay, I read the book. Here are the results:

While I can agree with many of Dr. Laura's positions, I have a difficult time with her style..."puhlease". She has a very Judge Judy, or in your face, type of quality. I prefer a kinder approach. I also had a tough time getting through it because she sort of just states a man is a man. Don't expect him to be anymore than a man. She goes so far as to suggest we should think of them as puppies....It seems disrespectful to a man in my opinion. She sort of comes off as saying men are so simple and un-needy that a woman is stupid if she can't please such a simple creature.....I give men more credit than that. Certainly men are raised overall to be tough, take it like a man, etc...However, I think everyone knows that we all have similar feelings and needs. She does admit that in various ways, but seems to present the mans feelings as less complex and easier to deal with. I have children, boys and a girl, and I don't see a big difference in their feelings and needing to be open and talking about things. I don't believe men are the simplistic creatures that she portrays them to be.

It was refreshing to read the "Boundaries in Marriage" book, written by two men. It seems to be a much deeper and richer book... Not just hitting on the surface issues. A lot of times I'll hear Dr. Laura on her show react instantly to a callers statement. She doesn't seem to care about the reasons or any background info...it's all black and white. Relationships are just not that simple. It probably fits the parameters of a tv talk show though.

A lot of the stuff she talks about is just some women being ridiculous and their spouses putting up with it and withdrawing... It's very much the same thing with women. We also put up with negative behaviors and withdraw. The key is to grow up and communicate. Know who you are and what your limits are. make those limits clear. It is not good for either male or female to put up and withdraw. Nobody benefits from this. There are proper ways to deal with these behaviors which lead to growth and greater connectedness. I think the Boundaries book does a much better job explaining the details of these important interactions.

So, again, I think her heart is in the right place but I think her showmanship (or some other issue) sometimes spoils it. I especially hated the story of the 12 year old who had to spit and then his wicked witch Grandmother (p. 144) made him cry and the mom and dad fought over it all. These kinds of stories sicken me. It's really sad that people are such idiots. That one makes me understand how she can get so irate with people...But for the most part, her message could be delivered with a little more sugar....But of course then her show might not be so fun for the Jerry Springer types.

I'm curious about one thing HPK, do you really feel as simple as she seems to think men are? She says in there that "the truth is that when it comes to home and relationships, women rule."??? What do you think about that? and what about this statement - "Probably the first thing women need to forgive their husbands for is..for being men". What did you think was so great about the book?