Beyond Mars and Venus by John Gray

"Beyond Mars and Venus" by John Gray - It's all about balance!

This book was published by BenBella books in 2016 and has 384 pages. 

Author explains that his most successful book 'Men are from Mars, Women are from venus' was published 25 years ago. The times have changed since then. Now couples have new needs and expectations from their partners. The book tries to address this. Author also clarifies that this book is to improve yourself and warns not to try to get your partner to read it. 

Few years ago men and women were role mates. Each playing the natural role (Male the hunter, provide & female the gatherer, nurturer). A female may have Male traits and vice versa. While playing these roles they suppressed some of their natural tendencies.  This suppression leads to stress. 

In modern times, when a female is at work, she expresses her Male side, so testosterone levels increase. When she returns home she has to go back to her female side, so that estrogen levels increase and balance is achieved. This balance is essential, without which, stress levels increase. The same applies to men. When a man does not revert to male side, his partner tends to compensate by staying on male side, when she should revert to female side. This increases stress for both. 

Men require 10 times more testosterone than women to have a normal health and wellbeing. Women require 10 times more estrogen than men for the same. Increase in level of testosterone decreases stress in man.

Oxytocin lowers testosterone. This is good for females as lower testosterone leads to higher estrogen. But it's not good for men, if their testosterone levels are already low. Author emphasizes the importance of hormonal balance and suggests behavioral solutions to restore it for males and females. 

This book is based on testosterone, estrogen and oxytocin and achieving and/or restoring the balance of them to decrease the stress levels in today's life.

As compared to previous book, this book contains more scientific material, more emphasis on hormone balance and less revelations. Thus it does not give you a feeling of discovery again and again like the first book. Hence, it's less enjoyable, albeit, as important as first book. 

Why did I read this book? Author. Curious about updates. 

What did I like? Science

What I didn't like? Less interesting

Read, but have patience.