I don't recommend this book overall as a marriage book. It is presented as a book based on scientific research and the husband's extensive experience in studying male and female brains, but it diverts from science pretty quickly to make stereotypical claims of God's Divine design for male and female.
Recommendations call this book a "Practical Manual" and "miracle medication for marriages" and that it will help couples "learn God's plan for marriage and how to identity God's blueprint for each of you."
The authors' stated purpose is to use this data in order to better understand how God designed our spouse and their mental makeup so we can better love, serve, and honor our differences instead of seeing those differences as problems to fix.
Those are great intentions, and I have to say the first half of the book that goes into the scientific research of male and female brains was actually very interesting and insightful and beneficial. I would consider that data a good resource and food for discussion.
However, the second half or so had many sections that parrot the stereotypical Christian marriage jargon that has been mass-produced for the past several decades, that go outside of biblical concepts or science to make large assumptions and prescriptions for men and women and claim that they are God's design. The authors dis occasionally use caveats such as "this won't apply to all men or women so use your own discretion in understanding and applying the data we present," but then they go on to say how God designed these distinct attributes into men and women for a Divine purpose. So the overall impact is that the caveats are pretty useless.
This might not have been such a problem if their book was solely anecdotal and explicitly stated that their statements were based on their own personal experiences and opinions. But they tried to back up their claims first with science and then went to the classic Bible scriptures and biased interpretations to support their stereotypical suggestions, and totally lost the credibility that the first half of the book might have possibly provided.
Here is an example of what undermines their credibility to speak authoritatively on male and female brains:
Chapter 7 Sex in the Brain
These are just a few of the problematic statements in this chapter:
"Men can initiate sex anytime anywhere.
Women initiate sex less frequently.
Men are quick to respond sexually and are difficult to distract during sex.
Women are slower to respond and easier to distract.
For many women, feelings of closeness, warmth, safety, intimacy and affection can be as satisfying as an orgasm."
Gone are the "some men" or "some women" statements, and the citations are simply quotes from other peer-written Christian marriage books, not scientific studies!
They actually made a very shocking statement that had me rewind the audiobook to make sure I had actually heard what I thought I had heard. I was aghast.
Direct quote: "Men need orgasm for sexual satisfaction, women do not."
Excuse me WHAT?????
I had to rewind the audio several times to make sure I had heard properly. Remember this is an MD making this statement after reportedly deeply studying brain science research on male and female brains for many years.
He claims that the act of sex can be just as pleasurable and rewarding for the wife whether she orgasms or not, because she is receiving oxytocin either way, but the man only receives oxytocin during orgasm.
They recycle several sources that are cited in all the mainstream Christian marriage books, who support the idea of gender stereotypes that are God-given designs, such as this one from His Needs, Her Needs:
Dr Willard Holly: "The typical wife doesn't recognize her husband's deep need for sex any more than a husband understands his wife's deep need for affection. Men are like microwaves, women are like crockpots. A man's sex drive can turn on almost immediately. (This is called spontaneous desire.) A woman warms up all over like a crockpot."
They quote Love and Respect, Shaunti Feldhan wrote the forward, and her books are also used as citations. This is just sloppy "research" attempting to back up a theological position. I believe the secular world calls this "junk science."
The section "The Beast Needs a Beauty" is infuriating and offensive in my opinion, and not based on any biblical principles. It states that "having an attractive mate is one of man's most basic needs" and that women who are courageous enough to try lingerie are less likely to have unfaithful husbands than those who prefer white cotton underwear, quoting an anecdote from a book called Why Men Don't Listen.
"A wife's attractiveness is often a vital ingredient to the success of her marriage, and any wife who ignores this notion--for whatever reason -- risks disaster." quoting Dr. Willard again from the book His Needs, Her Needs.
I kid you not. This section made me furious.
Why is this so important? Oh because men are so visual, and God made them that way on purpose, remember. Nowhere do they suggest that husbands keep themselves attractive for their wives as well. Or that this might be equally important for the vitality of the marriage. Because no one thinks women are visual. Sigh*
So despite some good and helpful truths, there is enough garbage here that I would not recommend
wasting your time reading past the first half.