Customer Reviews

Men Are Like Waffles--Women Are Like Spaghetti: Understanding and Delighting in Your Differences

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(4)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(2)
1 star:		(4)

 

 

My boyfriend and I went to the author's seminar at our church and this book has really helped us to understand (or at least attempt) to understand how each other thinks. It really does help build strong relationships if both partners are willing to read it.

The premise of this book is that men are like waffles- they think in boxes, that is, they can only efficiently think about one subject or category at a time; and that women are like spaghetti- they think about everything in an interconnected manner.
Before I say anything else, reader be warned that this review is based on my own tastes and preferences, and is not necessarily unbiased.

I hate generalizations and this book is full of them, from the title to the marriage jokes. The extent of generalizations made me actually physically angry at several points.
However, I do like new ways of looking at problems and this book has that, if presented in a limited manner. If you can get beyond the assumption that all men are waffle-thinkers and all women spaghetti-thinkers, I believe this book can lead to a thought provoking discussion on how different styles of thinking can interrupt communication, especially between marriage partners.

I read "Red Hot Monogamy" by this couple, and I found some of the same things to be true in this book, but they took it to a whole new level of "cheesy" with this one. Unfortunately, they use more email forward stories (actual things I've received in email forwards) than original material. I was extremely disappointed to find that - especially after their glowing review by Dr. James Dobson. I actually think the concepts are valid, and even somewhat helpful in understanding relationships. However, all the "meat" of what they've written was clouded by the silly, stereotypical junk they pulled together to try and make it funny. I would like to see them focus on being more original and not try so hard to make everything sound like something I could get for free in an email forward.

The beginning of the book was one of the hardest parts to get through. Here is an actual question from a 27 question quiz given on page 25:

"To prove your love for your wife, you would gladly:
A. Climb the highest mountain.
B. Swim the deepest ocean.
C. Hold her purse while she tries things on at the mall and run the risk that, at any moment, one of the guys might walk by."

It's this kind of "filler" that the book could have done without. Unfortunately, I fear it would have been a very short book without it.

Honestly, I believe their hearts are in the right place, but now I believe they can use that enthusiasm, knowledge and God-given talent to put together something more intellectual and less excruciating to read.

This book is definitely on my list of worst books I've read. The symbolism, waffles and spaghetti / men and women, is simply beaten to death. I had to put the book down for a while (I stopped on the line which read, "Anger is by far the most common emotion experienced by men") and just couldn't read anymore for several days. I had to force myself to choke the rest down.

It simplifies *both* sexes *far* too much, and sprinkles in some silly anecdotes, garnered from emails passed ad nauseam around the internet such as "15 Great Things about being a guy, #1 We Know Stuff About Tanks". It explains men as unable to grasp a multi-level conversation, unable to multi-task, and incapable of relating to a woman's thought process. Women it casts as unable to completely finish a task, incapable of discussing a simple subject, and also unable to understand the other sex.

Women are like spaghetti, because their thought process runs on and on in an interconnecting web, and men are like waffles because they compartmentalize and "sit" in "sometimes blank boxes, just to relax". There. You don't have to buy the book now, or even worse read it, because that's the only original information presented within it. The rest is just filler.

This book was not only helpful to me but my husband also read it and thought it was great! The authors present their information in a friendly, humorous, easy to understand manner. (It's an easy read too.)
If you and your spouse are looking to understand one another better and communicate with each other in a way that is effective and reaffirming this book will be beneficial to you.
Did I mention it's entertaining too? :o) I liked it.

This book should have been named 'Bill and Pam Farrel's guide to marriage', because that is what it essentially is - just Bill and Pam sharing what they do in their marriages, and giving themselves lots of pats on the back.

The tips and techniques they offer lack research, there is insufficient representation of what other couples think and do, and the advice given is sometimes overly naive in today's culture where couples are exposed to sexual encounters and relationship issues way before marriage.

For women looking for more practical advice supported by good research, I recommend For Women Only by Shaunti Feldhahn.

I HIGHLY recommend this book. Even though I have been married for almost 27 years, by reading this book I learned alot about myself and my husband! I wish I had known some of these things many years ago. I plan to give this book as a wedding gift in the future.

You're never too old to look at relationships from a different perspective, and this book gives you that opportunity. It's an easy read with plenty of anectdotal content and humor. It's along the lines of Men are from Mars, but from a different angle. I would recommend to anyone - man or woman - who would like to fine tune his or her approach to building a deeper understanding and relationship with a partner.

This is a great book. Stereotypical men v. stereotypical women. Being one of the afore mentioned men. Right on. Hilarious and accurate. Highly recommended.

I don't recommend this book for anyone who have real problems or want real advice. The examples seem contrived, their problems shallow and the tone lacks authenticity. They treat the subject too light to be much help. On the positive it is a easy read, although it does not offer any real advice.