The Essential Difference: Men, Women and the Extreme Male Brain (Penguin Press Science)

"This is a book that I felt I should read for a long time and had to work myself up into reading. I shouldn't have been worried, it's actually really easy to read.

The Essential Difference, explores the possible differences between the male (systemising) brain and the female (empathising) brain, and also whether autism can be explained by being considered the extreme form of male brain. It is worth noting Baron-Cohen says that women can have male brains and men can have female brains.

The key to my enjoyment of this book was Baron-Cohen's tone and attitude, he is incredibly respectful of any differences and explains how these definitions shouldn't be used to limit people.

There are also four tests in the back of the book, so you can see what type of brain you have! I'm keeping mine a secret!

Highly recommended."
~ Written on 2006-12-31

"I had been saying it for years, this book proves it. Every married woman should read this and make him do the "eyes" test. It will explain a lot. The two things that emerge from the book are: (1) it's not really his fault, and (2) it won't get any better. "
~ Written on 2006-11-27

"I would recommend any Psychology undergraduate read this, and it will make an interesting read for anyone involved or interested in autism.

Baron-Cohen gives a simple yet detailed explanation of the differences between the Male and Female brain that have some how eveolved to be so despite us having evolved on the same planet, (and not on Venus and Mars as some other theories may suggest.)

The links made that suggest autism may be a form of the extreem male brain are truely revolutionary, I would be only too interested to read some of his research. It was also interesting to discover that as a female I have more of a male brain type myself. A Brilliant read, I would recommend it to anyone."
~ Written on 2006-06-27

"Baron-Cohen refuses to side step around the issue of gender in this fascinating book which provides not only a useful insight into autism but also offers more information about the differences between men and women than all the thousands of Mars/Venus psychobabble books floating around out there.

Where it was once a popular belief that any literature suggesting that *gasp* man and women are different was sexist, Baron-Cohen bravely explains why these differences occur and how the over development of the male type brain can lead to autism. As someone with strong links to the disorder it is a pleasant surprise to see someone who looks at the positives instead of merely reeling of a list of deficiencies in the autistic brain.

I would recommend this to anyone interested in autism or to those who want to understand their other half a bit better!"
~ Written on 2006-01-26

"It's a good if heavy book, and helped to provoke a lot of thought and answer some questions. But two questions.

Dogs are sociable. Cats are loners. Does this mean women prefer dogs and men prefer cats?

Does SBC's thesis account for why men tend to be more Dominant, and women tend to be more submissive?"
~ Written on 2004-07-06