Men Head East, Women Turn Right: How to Meet in the Middle When Facing Change

Most people would agree that they face changes differently than do those of the opposite gender. To bridge the gap between men's and women's approach to life's shifts--moving to a new city or job, beginning or ending relationships, dealing with birth or death--business consultants Brock and Dooley have constructed an amalgam of men and women's strategies to handle change, improve interaction with others and prevent conflict. The authors suggest a five-step plan (the""Brock Method"") to address changes in sync: imagining a personal vision of the future, re-evaluating the present, developing emotional resilience in the face of life's vicissitudes, being flexible, and cultivating the self-confidence to take thoughtful action. Men and women may proceed through these steps in different ways as they contend with job losses, divorce, financial setbacks and ill health, but, the authors promise, they'll eventually meet somewhere in the middle. Brock and Dooley base their arguments about gender difference on studies comparing male and female brain activity, the human history of naturally selective gender roles and a plethora of case studies. While this information is intriguing, it's not exactly news: here, as elsewhere, men are abstract-thinking, take-action types and women are sensitive communicators and nurturers. The underlying idea--that people navigate transitions differently and understanding others' approach can improve relationships--is a valid point, but there's a lot of pseudo-scientific Mars versus Venus fluff padding it.