“What Husbands Wish Their Wives Knew About Men” (Marlowe and Raleigh, Dobson and Morley)

Lovers of classic world literature among you probably are familiar with Christopher Marlowe’s poem “The Passionate Shepherd to His Love” (published in 1599, six years after his death). Marlowe was a controversial figure alleged to have been a secret agent of the English crown; he was killed in a knife duel. He was played by Rupert Everett in the 1998 blockbuster movie “Shakespeare in Love” starring Joseph Fiennes and Gwyneth Paltrow. As you may know, Sir Walter Raleigh (a poet and a privateer) wrote “The Nymph’s Reply to the Shepherd” as his answer to Marlowe.

I always discuss these poems by Marlowe and Raleigh in my Literature class at the Asia Baptist Bible College. Hey, what can I say? I am a sucker for sappy, centuries-old love poems!

Dr. James Dobson’s book “What Wives Wish Their Husbands Knew About Women”

Well, seven or eight years ago, I read through Dobson’s book (copyright 1975 by Tyndale House Publishers Inc; published by Living Books). The book is a worldwide bestseller, having sold more than two million copies, and the words on the frontispiece really get your attention – “Women have needs men don’t understand.” You can read portions of the book from Amazon. In this book, Dobson enumerates and discusses the top ten problems women face:

1. Low self-esteem
2. Fatigue and time pressure
3. Loneliness, isolation, and boredom and absence of romantic love in marriage
4. Financial difficulties
5. Sexual problems in marriage
6. Menstrual and physiological problems
7. Problems with the children
8. Problems with in-laws
9. Aging

Number 3 in the enumeration above is actually a combination of two related problems – absence of romantic love leading to loneliness, isolation and boredom. While Dobson wrote this book 31 years ago from a survey of American women, I would dare say that his findings and discussions still hold true today not only for Americans but also for Filipino women. (The book is available locally in Christian bookstores like OMF Lit, PCBS, etc. )

Patrick Morley’s free book “What Husbands Wish Their Wives Knew About Men”

Well, Morley has written a book titled “What Husbands Wish Their Wives Knew About Men” (new title Understanding Your Man in the Mirror). I do not know if Morley intended to answer Dobson’s book (just like Raleigh did with Marlowe) but the book is available as a free download. Morley discusses the issues that husbands struggle with. These are:

1. Significance - What Is It That Your Husband Wants?
2. Obstacles - What’s Troubling Your Husband?
3. Pressure - Understanding the Pressure Your Husband Feels
4. Work - Why Men Are Preoccupied with Work
5. Temptations - The Six Persistent Temptations Men Struggle With
6. Companionship - What a Husband Needs from His Wife
7. Physical Intimacy - What Else a Man Needs from His Wife
8. Communication - What Men Want to Express but Find Difficult
9. Resolving Conflict - Help Around the House and Other Sore Spots
10. Appearance - Why a Man Wants His Wife to Look Good
11. Fathering - Your Husband’s Changing View of Being a Dad
12. Hard Years - Living with a Difficult Husband
13. Perspective - Why Your Husband May Not Be As Bad As You Think
14. Golden Years - Preparing for Winter

I haven’t found time to read Morley’s book but chapter 10 (“Appearance - Why a Man Wants His Wife to Look Good”) looks very good ...

About Patrick Morley and his “Man in the Mirror” ministry

After spending the first part of his career in the highly competitive world of real estate development, Patrick has been used throughout the world to help men think more deeply about their lives.

In 1973 Patrick founded Morley Properties, which, for several years, was hailed as one of Florida's 100 largest privately held companies. During this time he was the president or managing partner of 59 companies and partnerships.

In 1989 he wrote The Man in the Mirror, a landmark book that poured from his own search for meaning, purpose, and a deeper relationship with God. With over 3,000,000 copies, this best-selling book has captured the imaginations of hundreds of thousands of men worldwide, and was selected as one of the 100 most influential Christian books of the twentieth century. Five of his 16 books have received critical acclaim.

In 1991, Patrick founded Man in the Mirror which has impacted the lives of 10,000,000 men worldwide, has distributed 8,000,000 books, and last year worked with over 40,000 church leaders to more effectively disciple men. Through his speaking and writing he is a tireless advocate for men, encouraging and inspiring them to change their lives in Christ. Every Friday morning since 1986, Patrick teaches a Bible study to 150 businessmen in Orlando, Florida which is podcast through iTunes and webcast throughout the United States and over 50 countries. He has written over 450 articles to help men and leaders, has appeared on several hundred of radio and television programs, and speaks to men daily through The Man in the Mirror radio program carried on 75 stations nationwide.

Patrick Morley graduated with honors from the University of Central Florida, which selected him to receive its Distinguished Alumnus Award in 1984. He has earned a Ph.D. in Management and completed post-graduate studies at the Harvard Business School and Oxford University, and graduated from Reformed Theological Seminary. For sport he races a 1974 Porsche 911. He lives in Winter Park, FL with his wife, Patsy. They have two grown children and two granddaughters.