People Dr John Gottman Books Gray Communication Problems

In the United States, bookstores sell many books that are written to help people "improve" (make better) their romantic relationships. John Gottman and John Gray are two authors who are very well known "relationship gurus," or people who give a lot of "advice" (recommendations) about relationships.

Dr. John Gottman is a psychology professor who researches how people "interact" (act with and around each other). He has written many "journal articles" (stories in professional academic magazines) and he has studied many "couples" (a man and a woman in a romantic relationship). His book, Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, explains that what people do in relationships is different from what they think they do. The book sells well, but it isn't extremely well known.

Dr. John Gray doesn't have as good an education as Dr. Gottman does. He hasn't done very much research, either. But he is a very good writer and his books are "bestsellers" (books that are very popular). More than ten million copies of his most famous book, Men Are from Mars, Women Are from Venus, have been sold.In his books, he explains that men and women think differently, and he offers many suggestions for how people can change the way they think to improve their marriage.

Dr. Gottman is very well respected by other "academics" (people who are professional teachers and researchers). His work is "recognized" (identified) as "top" (advanced) psychology. In contrast, Dr. Gray is very well known among the general public, and his books are entertaining. His work is usually thought to be part of "pop psychology," or "popular psychology," which is based on general opinions instead of research.

Which author would you "turn to" (look for advice from) if your relationship were in trouble?