Review: You Just Don't Understand
Editorial Review - Kirkus ReviewsHere, Tannen expands relentlessly upon a single chapter in her That's Not What I Meant! (1985)--the one that dealt with gender differences in conversational style and that, she says, prompted 90% of the subsequent requests for interviews, articles, and lectures. It all begins, Tannen Finds, in childhood. Boys tend to congregate in hierarchal groups, play competitive games, and engage in one-upmanship and jockeying for status. Gifts relate one-on-one or in small groups and tend to play games (hopscotch, jump-rope) in which everyone gets a turn. Gifts also spend much time gossiping or negotiating differences. As adults, women's language, Tannen says, is usually nondemanding and negotiable. ""Would you like to do such and such?"" a woman typically asks, and is then hurt when the response is ""no."" A woman will discuss life's ""downers,"" expecting sympathy, and will be turned off when her man comes up with a solution. Tannen ranges widely through linguistic research, poetry, and fiction to document her points. Most interesting: transcripts of a series of videotaped conversations of school-age, same-sex groups, which bolster Tannen's observation that girls and boys speak and act as though they belong to ""different species."" Persuasive--but Tannen hammers home her limited number of points with such force that the reader cries uncle halfway through the book.
Review: You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
User Review - C - GoodreadsSome of the stories cited in this book seem dated, as do their resulting conclusions about the general nature of men's and women's socialization (which has probably changed slightly since 1990 ... Read full review
Review: You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
User Review - Denya - GoodreadsI read this for a project for my American Grammar and Usage course. While I thought it was interesting, I didn't agree with everything the author had to say. I felt that she was bitter toward men and portrayed then as very superficial. Read full review
Review: You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
User Review - Thomas Van der ploeg - GoodreadsPutting it down on page 55, probably going to end up on the bottom shelf of the bookcase. It just doesn't work for me. Not sure why. I tried to read in English and then in Dutch but it's just not ... Read full review
Review: You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
User Review - Zack - GoodreadsSynopsis: Linguist Tannen explores the different ways women and men use spoken language to communicate. Thoughts: This book is very clearly written and pretty interesting. Tannen's two big points are ... Read full review
Review: You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
User Review - Boonie Sripom - GoodreadsAlthough most of our communication styles may be socialized, there are many inherent traits that I believe make it difficult for men and women to understand one another. The simplest example I can ... Read full review
Review: You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
User Review - Ha Li - GoodreadsThe input is great and interesting. A lot of common traits were pointed out and I saw it in my every day life. However, I can't help to question who she studied: I've seen a video regarding this book ... Read full review
Review: You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
User Review - Misty - GoodreadsInsightful book for my marriage actually. Understood differences better Read full review
Review: You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
User Review - Kim - GoodreadsRead it back in my single days...don't remember much, but I remember I enjoyed it. Read full review
Review: You Just Don't Understand: Women and Men in Conversation
User Review - GoodreadsNot that I didn't like it, it's really interesting. But I don't feel like I have to finish it right now. Maybe some other time. That, plus it was making me really self-conscious about communicating with other people.
