The Modern Scholar: He Said/She Said: Women, Men and Language

As a female grad student in astrophysics, I spend most of my time with a) guys and b) women who are very comfortable being around guys. I was hoping that this book would give me insights that would allow me to communicate better with my male colleagues, but mostly it's helped me pin down why I find it so hard to interact with women who use language and communication in a more stereotypically female way than I do. Tannen emphasizes that the male and female patterns she identifies are not universal, and she doesn't try to make any spurious evolutionary-psychology claims about why the typical behavior patterns she identifies exists, which is a big relief, since those always seem to end with "and that's why women should just stay in the kitchen where they belong."

The most valuable lesson I've gotten from this book is that when someone's communication style is different from yours, you tend to make assumptions about their thoughts and feelings that are not necessarily accurate. As a result, instead of realizing that the person isn't getting your message and changing the way you communicate, you assume that are insensitive / lazy / argumentative / etc., which only creates more problems. This book gives you at least a basic framework for figuring out whether your problems with someone are due to the fact that your communication styles don't match or due to the fact that the other person actually is a jerk.

Given that I've spent my entire adult life studying physics, I wasn't expecting anything from this book resembling what I generally think of as "science." It's just a bunch of anecdotes that may or may not ring true for a given listener. I found that the anecdotes agreed with my own experiences, and that Tannen's interpretations seemed reasonable. Your mileage may vary.

The book (lecture) is interesting and confirms what I've thought of men and women and language. Didn't really add any (or much) new information for me, though she articulates much of it in a way that I probably couldn't have myself. A lot was repetitive - made me realize why I was bored with college lectures - tell me once, tell me again, then reinforce it. Aarrgggghhh! The lecture begins with laying out what the entire book will entail, then at the end of every lecture, what the next lecture will be about, and at the end of that one, the same thing again! Don't tell me what's coming, just let it come....please.

Yes. I have topped up my wish list with other Modern Scholar titles on science, literature, and history.

N/A

The differences in how boys and girls typically resolve disputes and establish hierarchies were particularly interesting.

The sections about interactions in the work environment and the home are applicable to everyday life, and may come in handy someday.

This book is full of Aha and Oh Yeah moments. Tannen's real life examples and studies verify what we have known but either could not explain or make others understand about the differences in male/female communication. It is concise and abundant in communication differences. Rather than offering ways we need to change to be understood, it explains both are perfectly understandable just the way they are. This is the guide book to learn each other's language. Listen once to enjoy being astounded and the second time to take notes.
The chapters that explain Dads trying to understand little girls and Moms wondering what their boys actions and lack of words mean. Tannen nails it for all of us!

if there was only one audiobook that I could recommend for every husband and wife and every parent it would be this one. Understanding the foundations of language and communication from childhood to the adult is a powerful tool that each and every one of us need in order for all of us to be better partners and parents.

Deborah Tannen's course on how men and women develop their communicative styles is truly an eye-opener and continually engaging throughout.

I recommend this audiobook to everyone. The information in this book is so important for every aspect of your life. From professional to social.

I wish that I have known this information many years ago. I gained information from every lecture and the experienced many moments of "that makes sense" or "Oh know I understand"

It stacks up pretty high in the non-fiction genre.

How certain things regarding genders do not change no matter what a parent does. Basically how society impacts.

I thought the lecture format was interesting way to deliver this information. The question and answer period at the end of each section sometimes answered a question I was also thinking.

No