His work on the physiological changes that happen when one is experiencing conflict in their marriage is one piece that I find to be very interesting. It helps us all to understand marital conflict from a different angle. For me, this information helped with my understanding of fright and flight responses in conflict. Second, I find that much of the interpretation that he offers for his statistical findings is very insightful. I have used his analogies many times now.
Couples seem to relate well to that illustration.
When it comes to his interpretation with regard to active listening, however, I think that Gottman is missing something. One reality of research is that what we find may be a reflection of what we are looking for. A second is that statistics are one thing. How we interpret them may well be something else. Now, it is true that we need to examine criticism carefully to determine what truth is being said.