The book is a manual of a kind aimed on understanding men, written from male perspective.

The plus is that the author writes coherently and can explain men well, his explanations are simple and to the point. His anecdotes are funny.

Yet while I appreciate the points and some insights are very useful, I also think that the book promotes some double standards. The word that comes to mind when reading about the intentional and always gracious approach the woman should have towards her man is "mothering". As if keeping the man in a safe place and with respect should come higher than the truth (this surely is not the author's intention, but in some cases the reader might misunderstand the meaning). Also, one of the standing point is that man can not change his maleness - I would dispute this, because while I can not change my femaleness, too, I can adjust it within the certain mantinels (for example: I can not change the hormonal reality, but I can work with it, educate myself and widen the tools I am working with. The same goes for the psychological reality.). We are not "victims" of our circumstances (and our realities).

I woild love to have a chapter about women explain their "femaleness" to men (with examples). While author is a male, he certainly has wide knowledge and could help women to find the right vocabulary and explanations.

I appreciate the presentation of the goal of synergy and working together for the same cause/goal while embracing our uniquenesses.

I Wish He Had Come with Instructions is a great book for women to help understand their husbands, sons, brothers, boyfriends, or to understand man in general. Very well written with a lot of good points and advice.

Some topics covered in this book include:
What to look for during both high-stress and low-stress
situations
Why he won’t talk or let you in
How men listen, and how it’s different from how women listen
What he means by what he says
The illusion of communication
What’s behind his choices
What a grown-up relationship looks like
How his past has shaped his present
What drives a man
What he needs that only a woman can provide
Why he can’t see dirt
What his emotions look like
How he cares

This book, by Dr. Mike Bechtle, is aimed to accomplish the essence of the subtitle: be a woman’s guide to a man’s brain. The author divides the book into five main sections: (i) the care and feeding of a man, (ii) how he thinks, (iii) how he acts, (iv) how he communicates, and (v) how he grows. Initially I asked my wife to review this book, but as a man, my definition of when to review it is different than hers, which is part of why this book is such a beneficial read for both of us. For men, this book can help identify one’s own thinking process and come to terms with it, learning and understanding how their own brain works. For women, this book can be the key to translating the universe, or close to it. Being married myself, I recognize that communication differences are often the main struggle between my wife and I. We do not understand each other's perspective, and more often than not our disagreement and frustrations with each other are simply because I am a man and she is a woman. In this capacity alone, this book is an excellent choice. Is it one hundred percent perfect? No. But it doesn’t need to be. The book prompts one to ask questions, which is more that what an author could ask for: engagement of the material. After reading portions to my wife, she now plans to read it on her own as well.

Bechtle writes conversationally, which works really well for my wife and helps me feel like I’m connecting with the author. I think other readers will enjoy his style of writing as well. He may have a doctorate, but his work isn’t his dissertation, which allows the audience to understand and engage the writing even more so. Not only is the subject matter worth the read, but the writing style helps the read be enjoyable as well.

Disclosure: I have received a reviewer copy and/or payment in exchange for an honest review of the product mentioned in this post.