AUTHOR TALKS TO ANIMALS, LENDS ADVICE

News Source: Sunshine Coast Daily, page 4, Tuesday 19th October, 2004
By: Elizabeth Tilley

Best-Selling Californian author John Gray was wondering why relationships between humans could not be as simple as those with animals during his first trip to Australia Zoo yesterday.

The expert behind Men Are From Mars, Women Are From Venus spend the day feeding kangaroos, eyeing off tigers and snarling at crocs on the not-so-sunny Coast, as part of his Australian tour to promote his popular books.

Dr Gray said he was not surprised at recent BankWest research finding an alarming rate of couples clashed over cash, particularly the more they earned.

“It makes perfect sense to me” Dr Gray said. “The more money, the more choices you have to spend it on and the more decisions that have to be made.” Dr Gray said conflict arose because women tended to spend money on things for the home or things that would keep them secure for the future, while men preferred to buy things that made them happy in the present. “They both have to recognise their different points of view are valid and come to a compromise,” he said.

“At least animals instinctively know the difference and do not try to change each other.”