Product Description

Using the right tool for the job makes sense when it comes to building or fixing things around the house. But when it comes to significant relationships, men often grab the tools that make them successful in the workplace--and then wonder why they didn't work. Through humorous anecdotes and practical advice, this engaging book will help men discover the set of tools they need to build and repair the relationships that are most important to them.

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #405946 in Books
• Published on: 2004-01-08
• Number of items: 1
• Binding: Paperback
• 208 pages

Download Description
Using the right tool for the job makes sense when it comes to building or fixing things around the house. But when it comes to significant relationships, men often grab the tools that make them successful in the workplace- and then wonder why they didn't work. Through humorous anecdotes and practical advice, this engaging book will help men discover the set of tools they need to build and repair the relatiohships that are most important to them.

About the Author
Gary Smalley is one of the country's best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the author and co-author of 16 best-selling, award-winning books along with several popular films and videos. He has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and counseling. Gary has personally interviewed hundreds of singles and couples and has surveyed thousands of people at his seminars asking two questions: What is it that strengthens your relationships and what weakens them?

Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children, Kari, Greg and Michael, and six grandchildren.

Download Description
Using the right tool for the job makes sense when it comes to building or fixing things around the house. But when it comes to significant relationships, men often grab the tools that make them successful in the workplace- and then wonder why they didn't work. Through humorous anecdotes and practical advice, this engaging book will help men discover the set of tools they need to build and repair the relatiohships that are most important to them.

Customer Reviews

Men need changing?????
I liked this book. It is written in a manner to be approachable to many men. They use the toolbox as a metaphor on aspects of relationships. The toolbox makes this subject more approachable than other texts I've read. The gist is that men are are innately expert in 6 aspects of relationships, (fact giving, fact finding, take charge, task oriented, problem solving, competitive drive), while women are innately expert in a different 6, (open sharing, patient listening, win-win, selfless honor, time and energy).

The authors make no bones that each individual is imbued with differing levels of the 12, but they offer extremes or gender generalizations to illustrate the topics. Each reader will have to determine how expert they are with each tool. This ground has been ploughed before with John Gray's book, "Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus", among others. The topics is approached from a different point of view, with this one being Christian/bible based.

One main point of the book is that to be a complete person, as illustrated by Christ's examples is to be expert in all the tools. All the tools are need to form complete, sustained, and fulfilled relationships. The 6 "female" tools being that areas for development for men.

I could be overly sensitive, but I'm bothered by the hidden assumption that men need fixing. I struggle with a society that seems to assume that men are in need of fixing, hence the number of books that strive to help men. There seems to be fewer books to help women develop their lesser areas. I suppose if you accept the biblical proposition that men are the leaders of the family and the body of Christ, the onus is on us to to seize the opportunity. It would be nice if some one said that the other gender needs some help too.

Men's Relational Toolbox
This book is a great tool for the man that would like to better his relations with his family and friends. It has a lot of thoughts and ideas for improving your relationship, especially with your spouse. It's a great book for a group of men to study together to become a better person. I think that every man should read this book and it would not hurt for every woman to read it too. I believe that it would help make better relations between both sex.

Get It
This book is a quick read, but it very comfortably covers a lot of important topics. Contrary to one of the reviews on the site, it tries very hard not to belittle men. Of course the authors are men. It starts with the premise that men are designed by God to do certain things well, lead, protect, and problemsolve, and that men get into relational trouble when they bring the "tools" of these trades and try to apply them in a relationship. Together with "Wild at Heart" by John Elderidge, it is a good kick in the pants to become the man God intends you to be.