What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know: The Real Deal on Love and Relationships [Paperback]

Denene Millner (Author), Nick Chiles (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 20, 1999

From the author of The Sistahs' Rules and her husband comes a Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus for African Americans.Denene Millner's sassy, shrewd reaction to The Rules became a bestseller. The Sistahs' Rules spent six months on the BlackBoard list. Then, proving the value of her own advice about dating and mating, Denene married Brother Mr. Right, Nick Chiles. Once she'd laid claim to his heart, she took a really long look at his head to find out what his words and actions really meant. Together they decided to go boldly where few couples dare: inside the minds of a sistah and a brotha to reveal the real deal on what Black men think of commitment, monogamy, and other mysteries--and what sistahs know about staying true to themselves.

What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know is the first book for African Americans that decodes the inscrutable ways of the opposite sex. In this funny, honest, provocative book, Millner and Chiles step across the great divide to create--once and for all--real understanding between sistahs and brothers. They give the real deal on:

* The perfect date
* Why brothers think all sistahs are angry
* Why so many men could run down Michael Johnson in an effort to escape commitment
* Whether it's fair for sistahs to scream when brothers chase white girls
* Why good sex matters

What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know covers everything from first dates to lasting commitments, from myths and misunderstandings between brothas and sistahs to the kind of communication that fosters love and respect. It reveals, for the very first time, the motivations and fears coursing through that warm-blooded animal on the other side of the bed.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Coauthored by the creator of The Sistah's Rules and her husband, a reporter, this volume offers a fresh, often funny perspective on African-American relationships. Millner and Chiles probe each other's views on dating, sex and marriage in a fast-paced, sassy dialogue that both pokes fun at and illuminates the differences between male and female perspectives on love. What's wrong with taking the "slow route to the sheets?" Millner demands. "Men," retorts Chiles, with a candor that is one of the book's hallmarks, will go "fast, slow, medium?whatever's necessary to get into the panties." Some chapters address specifically issues of African-American relationships. One deals with the appeal of white women to the black "brother," for example, while another ponders why so many black women seem angry to black men. Other chapters reprise the universal themes of every relationship guide since the beginning of time. Such material can seem so basic it's banal: Do we really need such a clued-in pair to tell us that the best way to be asked out on a second date is to be yourself? Still underneath the street smarts and the slang so hip some readers will need a glossary, Chiles and Millner are warm, straightforward, down-to-earth mentors. One of the book's great pleasures is the chance to eavesdrop on their blunt but affectionate banter, which models just the kind of male-female honesty extolled by experts of all colors.
Copyright 1999 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From Booklist

Following on the heels of Denene Millner's successful book, The Sistahs' Rules (1997), this work written with her husband, Nick Chiles, is sure to be a best-seller given that the subject of male/female relationships is always a hot topic. Taking a page from John Gray's Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus (1992), the couple revamp his approach to relationships, tailoring their advice to African American couples. The book is divided into three sections--" The Meeting Stage," "Getting the Love You Need," and "Keeping It Alive" --each comprising about 10 chapters in which the couple attempt to understand each other's point of view by discussing obstacles that are unique to African American men and women. The authors tackle the subject with humor and raw honesty, offering an entertaining, informative, and provocative book. Sure to find a following. Lillian Lewis

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 302 pages
• Publisher: William Morrow Paperbacks; 1st edition (January 20, 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0688164986
• ISBN-13: 978-0688164980
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.3 x 0.9 inches
• Shipping Weight: 9.6 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,423,319 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I AM A WHITE WOMAN....., May 19, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know: The Real Deal on Love and Relationships (Paperback)

I GRABBED THIS BOOK FROM MY AFRICAN AMERICAN FRIEND, AS I WAS CURIOUS AND IT LOOKED FUN!! THIS BOOK IS HILARIOUSLY FUNNY AND CLEVER!! ANYONE CAN RELATE TO THE MALE/FEMALE RELATIONSHIP OBSTACLES IN THIS BOOK. ALSO, THE BOOK IS POLITICALLY CORRECT, CLEVER AND URBANE!! I HIGHLY RECOMMEND THIS BOOK TO ALL WOMEN/MEN STRUGGLING TO UNDERSTAND EACH OTHER!! 5 STARS!!!

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars So Funny, So True, June 28, 2001

By 

"queenr298" (Mattapan, MA United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know: The Real Deal on Love and Relationships (Paperback)

I found this book to be very insightfull and true. I may have not agreed with all aspects of the book, but I respect it very much. Along with mind opening subjects and discussion, it was also savy, sassy, and downright funny. Any person, regardless of sex, nationality, race, or creed should pickup this book. It gives a pretty good look into the mind and soul of African-American Women, Men and our relationships. To all readers however, do not use this or any other like this to swear by. The writers are human just like you and me and do not represent all African-American's feelings to a T. Therefore, use your own judgement in making decisions of the heart.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars funny, informative and colorful, June 24, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: What Brothers Think, What Sistahs Know: The Real Deal on Love and Relationships (Paperback)

This book will have you wanting to give the authors high-fives, and saying "I can definately relate to that." Deneen and Nick certainly dated-no doubt about it. They bring you to the dating scene of the '90's woman and man. So down to earth and real, this book is one that brothas may think they might want to read, but from one sistah to another, I know you should.