The are so many books on relationships out there already. Do we really need another one?
Probably.
While divorce rates are on the decline, there is still a whole lot of marital unhappiness out there. You almost certainly know people who are divorced, and others who are really unhappy as a couple.
Society is not doing awesome when it comes to marriage and relationships.
That is not to say there aren’t many wonderful, helpful, and successful marriage books out there – there are. I’ve read many of them and gained lots of wisdom from them. I try to read new ones regularly – it helps me keep my skills fresh, learn new ideas, and possibly most importantly, just keep it top of mind that my marriage is going to take work. Even as a veteran husband and couples counselor, I can’t slack off or my own marriage will suffer.
Marriage takes work, folks. Relationships take work.
[Meme: to make your marriage last, make your marriage first]
There’s a Couples Communication Book Out There For You
Even if this book didn’t bring anything new to the table, it’s hard to say it’s not needed out there. Because even with the many excellent options around, it’s very much a different-strokes-for-different-folks kind of situation.
You’ve got to find the approach that feels right for you. I’ve read books and tried ideas that really didn’t resonate with me, and others that really did. And I have friends and colleagues that disliked my likes and vice versa. You gotta do you.
I’d like to think The Couples Communication Handbook holds promise for every couple to improve their communication and better their relationship. But I also recognize that in reality, it won’t jibe for everyone. That’s okay. For $20 and an easy read, I’d say it’s worth a shot. (But I guess I’m biased. Can’t help it.) You’ll definitely gain something. I don’t think I’ve read any marriage book that I haven’t taken something from.
Is This Communication Book New and Different?
This book is not new and different.
Does that sound a little lame? It’s not. The biggest truths out there are the ones right in front of our faces that we actually know but need to be constantly reminded of. Is it news to anyone that you shouldn’t be scrolling on your phone while talking to someone? No. Do we all do it? Yes.
Much of what you’ll read in The Couples Communication Handbook comprises ideas you may have heard before. That said, there are a few new ideas in here. I’ve tweaked some classic communication tools to give you an extra edge in making them work. Additionally, I think I’ve done a swell job packaging and expressing some of the tried-and-true ones so that they make good sense and are easy to pull off.
Another way I think this book stands out is in the thorough explanations of how to execute some of these skills. I hold your hand all the way through, including by calling out some of the common mistakes we all make and how to avoid and/or fix them.
We Actually Need More Books on Marriage
The truth is we probably need even more relationship books. Regrettably, unfairly, tragically, we didn’t learn these in school. Instead we learned useless things like trigonometry (no offense to any trigonometrists out there) and the difference between igneous and metamorphic rocks, which, unless you are a professional geologist, has come up in your life exactly never. (This is starting to change with social-emotional learning curricula that are getting out there. A little bit too late for those of us who are already married.)
The good news is, you can still learn these skills. Anyone can. You can start today. Want to know how?
Buy the book. :-)
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