DeBoer, K. (2004). Gender and competition: How men and women approach work and play differently. Monterey, CA: Coaches Choice. ISBN: 1-58518-876-X. 162 pages. Cost: $19.95 USD.

The author provides the reader with a straight-forward, pragmatic North American perspective of how men and women approach work and play environments. She presents a framework through gender cultures, based on Chodorow’s (1974) and Gilligan’s (1982) works, citing that each gender approaches competitive environments differently. Girls seek bonding experiences to define success; boys battle to achieve success. Women enter the workplace connecting to achieve success. Men enter competing to achieve goals. Although the goals are the same, the approach to their achievement is markedly different.

Through the use of anecdotes from her and others’ coaching and business careers, the author meaningfully communicates differences between males and females in sport and work settings. Values, fears, outcome and process, conversation, learning, competitive behavior, the importance of winning, keeping score, dealing with failure, fair play, responses to authority, leadership and motivation are topics that are presented.

The author has skillfully presented a book on a fascinating topic in an easy-to-understand format. She has also presented information based on feminist theory in a way that is meaningful to the reader. Through her discourse, she is able to present innovative ways to bridge the different approaches to work and play in order to better understand the human condition. The cost of the book also makes it appealing for those who are seeking a pragmatic approach to better understand gender and competition.