Key Points
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The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine is a thorough, research-based book about how a woman's mind works.
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For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn provides insight into how women operate on macro and micro levels.
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Girl Logic by Iliza Shlesinger highlights the pros and cons of the female psyche and persona from the standpoint of a renowned, celebrated comedian, infusing humor with personal stories.
On a scale of one to 10, with one being, "I loathe it," and 10 being, "I breathe it," how important is reading to you? Most people find themselves somewhere between four and six. When it comes to guys, that number dwindles to two to five. For whatever reason, when it comes to reading, most guys struggle, inevitably procrastinating or avoiding the task altogether.
There's nothing wrong with having a disdain for picking up books. However, it's problematic if you let it stay that way. In other words, broaden your horizons. Books, whether you're reading a hardcopy, paperback, or digital version, are one of life's easiest and most substantial ways to acquire knowledge.
If traditional reads bore you, start with articles or comics. Redbook Magazine, a women's lifestyle publication, released an article at the beginning of June 2023 highlighting nine celebrity memoirs slated for release this year. That's another easy-to-digest form of reading.
Reading comes with a host of pros and virtually no cons (can you think of one besides the time commitment required to get through a chapter or two?). According to author and journalist Diana Raab, Ph.D., "Reading has many mental health benefits, such as coping with depression, anxiety, and grief."
Few things motivate a man more than women. That's why developing (or maintaining) an interest in reading books about women is so vital. By reading, you learn to grasp the tremendous power that comes from applying written communication to everyday life.
Start with the following books. This list is short and the quality of the reads worthwhile.
by Louann Brizendine, M.D.
The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine, M.D.
If you've ever looked at the lady in your life — or a female coworker, friend, neighbor, or relative — and wondered what goes on in their head, then this book is for you. The Female Brain by Louann Brizendine, M.D. is a concise yet comprehensive read covering what makes women function the way they do. It even inspired a movie starring prolific comedian Whitney Cummings.
Dr. Brizendine's main argument in the book (without giving anything away) is that women's behavior differs from that of men due in large part to hormonal differences.
Several hormones, like estrogen, progesterone, and testosterone, combined with differences in "brain architecture," as she refers to it, result in the starkly different attributes and personalities you see between men and women. The book contains seven informative yet digestible chapters (excluding the introduction and epilogue).
Paul Marsh for Cupid's Light
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The Birth of the Female Brain talks about what a female's brain is like during early developmental years.
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Teen Girl Brain highlights the changes that occur during teen years, justifying plenty of actions commonly perceived as crazy or byproducts of emotional instability.
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Love and Trust goes into detail about the internal and external mechanisms that contribute to partner selection, what a "mated female mind" looks and acts like, the grieving process in the aftermath of a failed relationship, and so on.
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Sex: The Brain Below the Belt covers all things related to women and sex — like sexuality, factors contributing to infidelity, and the golden ticket (what women want most in men in order to consider sleeping with them).
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The Mommy Brain walks readers through the small and big changes to a woman's brain and body from the moment she becomes pregnant onward.
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Emotion: The Feeling Brain provides a comprehensive look at female emotions, going over anxiety and depression, gut feelings, and getting through to guys.
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The Mature Female Brain explores perimenopause, menopause, and major changes in a woman's personality as a result.
by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn
For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn
For Men Only by Shaunti and Jeff Feldhahn is a concise, easy, enjoyable read about the inner workings of women. The book resonates most with men interested in learning more about their significant other, but any and all men who want to learn why women operate the way they do should pick up a copy.
The authors, a married couple, come from a religious background, but that doesn't impact the book. It has a general audience (males) with very specific content. The book and its ensuing popularity resulted in millions of copies sold, appearances in The New York Times and on the Today Show, and speaking engagements across the country and globe.
For Men Only is a versatile read that any and all guys will find worthwhile. The authors divided the book into nine short chapters (no longer than 25 pages) covering a variety of topics. Readers walk away with a blueprint for the female persona, not just their brain.
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Rethinking Random: The first chapter provides readers with a CTA (call to action) of sorts, urging you to reframe your perspective when it comes to all things female. In other words, drop the assumptions, biases, and preconceived notions before reading.
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The Deal Is Never Closed: A very unique take, the authors dive into what it means to a woman when she says, "I do" to you, her life partner, paying extra special attention to why that "I do" needs continuous validation.
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Windows…Open: The authors discuss the intricate details of the female brain, providing a perspective and insights not found in The Female Brain.
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The Reason Hiding in Her "Unreasonable" Reaction: This standout chapter is a blueprint (basically a cheat code) for identifying, understanding, and appropriately responding to any behavior you find baffling (including an explanation for said behavior).
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Your Real Job Is Closer to Home: If you've never stopped to think about the potential downsides to your provider and protector instincts — and the ways it leaves your wife feeling unsafe and undervalued — this chapter is for you.
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Listening Is the Solution: Most guys think they're great listeners when it comes to relationships. This chapter effectively refutes that. While I won't give anything away, I will say there's a huge difference between listening to listen and listening to fix a problem.
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With Sex, Her No Doesn't Mean You: Not everything is about you, including those moments when she says no to your sexual advances or doesn't seem in the mood. Sometimes, those moments are solely about her unique wiring. Don't let your ego get in the way of understanding the difference.
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The Girl in the Mirror: Believe it or not, inside every grown woman lies remnants of the little girl she once was. You'll learn why this is important and how to respond to instances when that little girl rears her beautiful, delicate head.
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The Man She Had Hoped to Marry: This chapter unearths a universal message women hope to secretly convey to the man they ultimately decide to spend their life with.
by Iliza Shlesinger
Girl Logic by Iliza Shlesinger
Girl Logic is standout stand-up comedian, podcaster, and actress Iliza Shlesinger's first book. The title, a phrase coined by the multi-hyphenate artist, refers to how contradictory and confusing the way women think seems. In reality, it's an incredibly detailed, highly intricate process.
Shlesinger talks about areas of life in which women have to make critical decisions, like dating, sex, work, or what to wear in the morning. When confronted with choices in any of these areas (or the countless other examples not mentioned), she argues that women, by nature, take into consideration every potential repercussion for every prospective option before coming to a conclusion.
For example, when you last asked your significant other what she wants to eat on a night out, what does she usually say? Something along the lines of "I'm not sure," "Give me a sec," or the ever-so-popular "I don't know."
The book contains ten chapters, excluding the foreword (written by The Big Bang Theory star Mayim Bialik), introduction, and afterword. Unlike the other works of literature listed here, these chapters lack a traditional layout. They're a collection of chapters, essays, and other observations from Iliza's unique, comical vantage point, covering girl logic, guy logic, sex, the fantasy of perfect love, and much more.
A Little Goes a Long Way
If you're interested in reading any or all of these books but can't get past the mental hurdle that requires you to sit down and focus for prolonged periods of time, you're not alone.
Consider starting with 10 pages at a time, then work your way up to a chapter. From there, apply the law of five (five-page increments) until you get to a point where you can read 50, 75, then 100 pages in one sitting. It isn't impossible; it just takes effort. As the saying tells us, a little goes a long way.
It's worth reiterating that not all guys interested in learning more about women do so because of intimate or romantic relationships. Some are simply seeking quality, meaningful, platonic relationships.
Regardless of where you lie on the spectrum, picking up one (or all three) of these brief, in-depth reads will equip you with knowledge usually reserved for dating experts or relationship coaches, positively transforming the way the women in your life see you.
Curious about other relationship-based reads? Interested in learning about useful dating tips? Then don't forget to subscribe to Cupid's Light, the best place on the web for all things love, marriage, and relationships!
