Why Men Fear Marriage: The Surprising Truth Behind Why So Many Men Can't Commit [Hardcover]

RM Johnson (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 28, 2009

You’re out there dating, and you’re looking for marriage material. But how can you tell if the guy who’s wining and dining you tonight has (somewhere deep inside his complex male machinery) the potential to make a lifelong commitment? And what can you do to significantly increase your odds for finding Mr. Right?

Why Men Fear Marriage is the new dating bible, and it begins with one essential golden rule: If a man is interested, he’ll let you know. From there, #1 Essence magazine bestselling author RM Johnson explains, with wit and honesty, what men really think, feel, and fear when it comes to tying the knot. You’ll learn to recognize the five types of guys—yes, every man fits one of them—and discover invaluable and empowering advice on every page:

• ten steps to make him pop the question without an ultimatum

• how to spot opportunities to meet marrying men—at the gym,

at the market, and elsewhere

• when to take his phone number, and when to give him yours

• how to let a guy down . . . gently

• where you should meet on your first date

• an instant way to win his respect

. . . and much more.

--This text refers to the Paperback edition.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Attempting to replicate the success of Steve Harvey's Act Like a Lady, Think Like a Man, this dubious self-help from novelist Johnson (The Million Dollar Divorce) might as well be called Act like a Doormat, Think Like a Cavewoman. Johnson derives numerous dos and don'ts from retread stereotypes regarding men's notorious fear of commitment and tendency to wander, pinning the blame on a vague sense of helplessness and the legacy of deadbeat dads. As if pandering to women's worst suspicions weren't enough, Johnson advises them to by all means pander to his hurtful behavior, double standards and childish demands: "never deny your boyfriend of... sex. Men simply think there is just no reason to do that." He also addresses heavier women, discussing whether a woman who hasn't lost all her pregnancy weight is worthy of sex, and emphasizes the importance of keeping house and cooking. Chapter nine, "Ten Steps to Make Him Ask 'Will You Marry Me?'" is comparatively more helpful, and could have made a decent pamphlet-the full-length treatment only serves to clarify why Johnson, at 40, is still single.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

About the Author

R.M. Johnson is the author of nine novels, including bestsellers The Harris Family and The Million Dollar Divorce. He holds an MFA in Creative Writing from Chicago State University. He currently lives in Atlanta, Georgia.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 256 pages
• Publisher: Gallery Books/Karen Hunter Publishing; First Edition edition (July 28, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1439101493
• ISBN-13: 978-1439101490
• Product Dimensions: 9.4 x 6.3 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (8 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,547,304 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars The Truth About Some Men, July 24, 2009

By 

Cydney Rax "rmn1994" (Houston, TX United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Men Fear Marriage: The Surprising Truth Behind Why So Many Men Can't Commit (Hardcover)

In most cases, when a man writes an advice book regarding male/female relationships, the author uncovers truths in which many women aren't aware. After all, who knows the male mind better than a male? With WHY MEN FEAR MARRIAGE, R.M. Johnson definitely continues the trend of unveiling critical knowledge about why some men do what they do. The material he presents covers a wide range of topics, from how men feel about women's night out (they don't like it), to the differences between why women cheat (it's unforgivable), and why men cheat. He says that men can cheat without growing emotionally attached to their co-cheater, and that's why a woman should forgive her man (OMG).

One refreshing aspect, and there are many, is how the author isn't afraid to tell women what men are afraid of. This is important. We assume men are fearless, but it's good to know that isn't true. Johnson provides many tips that women will enjoy learning even if we don't understand them all. This book is recommended for all women who've ever wondered why her guy hasn't proposed. And even if you're a woman who doesn't care about getting a man to pop the question, you will still learn something valuable about men from Johnson's book.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars If He Liked It, Then He Would Have Put A Ring On It!, February 21, 2010

By 

The RAWSISTAZ Reviewers (RAWSISTAZ.com and BlackBookReviews.net) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Why Men Fear Marriage: The Surprising Truth Behind Why So Many Men Can't Commit (Hardcover)

RM Johnson has written a very candid relationship book clearly intended for middle-aged women with children on how to spot, the at times elusive, marriage-minded man. WHY MEN FEAR MARRIAGE also gives advice on how to spot a man who will never marry you, or one who may just be using you as his transition until he finds the woman of his dreams. Mr. Johnson identifies the types of men who may or may not "put a ring on it". Nothing in the book was as surprising as the title suggests; however, I do believe many women will want to hear this message again.

Johnson's tone definitely takes on a "tough love" pitch as he describes how he feels men view women and marriage. This book would be helpful to those tired of going around the relationship circle, or for those in the midst of a break-up. More than just relationship advice, or even answering the question "Why men fear marriage?", this book attempts to rectify pitfalls of the dating game by encouraging parent(s) to raise young boys into becoming men who value and appreciate marriage.

As a woman, I'll admit that it was hard to hear some of Johnson's descriptions of men's perceptions, but the intentions of the book aren't to tell women what they want to hear. Read this book when you need to reaffirm what you already know to be true about men and relationships.

Reviewed by Christina Lenear
for The RAWSISTAZ(tm) Reviewers

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Why Men Fear Marriage, August 12, 2009

By 

Judith Harding Janone "Library Lech" (Vermont) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Why Men Fear Marriage: The Surprising Truth Behind Why So Many Men Can't Commit (Hardcover)

A year or so ago the relationship book, "He's Just Not That Into You' by Greg Behrendt was on the circuit. It became a movie and was seen as gospel for people in relationships. The event was also said to be a comedy so not to worry if you saw yourself or your significant other sacked out on the couch in the middle of your conversation, or more likely, sneaking out to visit the other significant other. It was all in fun. "Why Men fear Marriage" is a more seriously informed relationship book, so well put together I sped through it like a speed dating contestant at the local bar. The is a juicy insiders look at the operations of today's single male. A Glamour/Cosmo take between bookends. All the more to enjoy. Johnson's material is realistic and delivered with compassion. If you are in a relationships recognizable on his pages, Johnson won't make you feel like a dating dud, rather, his honest portraits of "manly" behavior in this arena are comforting because they are helpful. Concluding, Johnson says, marry and limit sexual options, remain single with many sexual options, but become lonely.