120 of 121 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Sharing Experiences, Thoughts, and Hopes, September 15, 2000
This review is from: All About Us (Hardcover)
I learned about this book as a result of my enjoyment of Mr. Keel's book, All About Me. I wasn't quite sure what the focus of a book called All About Us would be, but I was interested in finding out. I am glad that I was curious, because this book took me towards new and improved thoughts about my wife and our relationship.
Before reading further, let me emphasize a few things. This is not a book about romance, nor a guide to improve your relationship (see Relationship Rescue for that). You are encouraged to pursue this book's questions in a spirit of adventure and fun. If the idea of answering questions from a book is not your idea of adventure and fun, this book is not for you. So most people who will read and enjoy this book are ones in a good or excellent relationship who want to deepen and widen it some.
One final word of caution. There are a lot of questions in here about your sexual experiences with other people (before and during your relationship), your fantasies, and your sexual regrets. If those are not comfortable areas for a discussion, I suggest that you either skip the book or mutually agree to pass on those areas.
Another way to pursue the book (if your partner or you isn't comfortable with a discussion) is to do it privately, without sharing your answers. That makes the book experience much more like All About Me.
You should also feel free to make up your own questions. You will probably think of some that make this experience fit your relationship even better. This is a chance for all of you romantic couples to come up with lots of romantic questions.
As I went through the book (by myself, for reviewing purposes -- I plan to start it this weekend with my wife), I had a very good time. I enjoyed remembering the early days of our relationship, and the high points since then. I was thrilled to realize that I could answer some of the trivia questions that I would not have known about before we were married. That made me feel closer to her. I especially liked the questions about what I liked best about her. I know she'll enjoy hearing me say what they are.
Hmmm. Now that I think about it, this would be a good book to take along on a weekend to a country inn during leaf peeping season in New England without the children. Your selection of where you read it will also affect your pleasure from the mutual discoveries.
In almost all of the parts of the book, each person has a chance to answer independently. Although the book doesn't say anything about discussing each other's answers, I suspect that those discussions will be the best part of the experience. You could even try guessing what your partner will answer, and that could double the fun!
Basically, I suggest that you use the material here as a jumping off point for adventure and fun rather than taking the whole thing too literally.
After you are done, think about how you would like you and your partner to answer these questions 10 years from now. Then imagine what will have to happen in the next 10 years for your relationship to evolve in that happy direction.
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24 of 26 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Spectacular, but be open-minded, February 10, 2003
This review is from: All About Us (Hardcover)
I bought this book to try and open up some lines of communication with my long-term boyfriend who tends to freeze up when talking about serious matters or practices "selective hearing" when we talk about our problems. I thought that maybe if it was WRITTEN DOWN he couldn't misconstrue anything. Well, I was right.
At the end of the first section of this book it asks both you and your partner if you are willing to accept what this book reveals. If either of you would answer no, don't go through with it. My boyfriend and I got through about nine pages before he said he had to take a break, and we hadn't even gotten to the really serious questions yet.
I think that this book asks questions you wouldn't normally ask or have a hard time talking about. They are straight forward and while some of them are just fun, many are very serious and potentially hurtful answers could result from them. Just be prepared. I would definetly recommend it.
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29 of 33 people found the following review helpful:
1.0 out of 5 stars
Total crap. Writer should end himself, promptly., November 28, 2010
This review is from: All About Us (Hardcover)
Wow. Does this writer smoke crack for writing inspiration? The other reviews of this book that also have one star really summarize it: this book may completely destroy your relationship, but will add absolutely nothing to it. Why would a question about your most satisfying breakup be in a book about the love of your life? Not something to dwell on. You stay in this relationship out of habit? You stay in this relationship because you are afraid again? Stay together because of economic dependence? All questions from this book GUARANTEED to cause lingering resentment and heartache, or double your money back.
This book asks you to both answer whether or not an affair could refresh your relationship. Answering this question wrong could give a guy all the heartache of having an affair without any of the fun...much like the rest of this awful book.
"Did you ever take advantage of your partner while they were asleep?" Seriously?
We're sitting here pulling these out at random. It disguises itself as a cute book to put out so guests or your parents could read it and go "awww"
"you have drawn blood in a fight with an ex?" This isn't a relevant or topical thing to discuss in a current relationship; it's a legally incriminating statement that can be used against you in a court of law.
I think the most damning part of this book was touched on in an earlier review: "Have you committed an indiscretion on vacation or business trip that you have never revealed to your partner?" Is this the format to reveal said indiscretion? Almost worth it for the lols, but ultimately you're better off trying to squeeze laughs out of ACTUALLY committing an infidelity. Don't buy, ever. Warn everyone you know.
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