For Better Forever: A Catholic Guide to Lifelong Marriage [Paperback]

Gregory K. Popcak (Author), Ronald David Lawler (Preface)

Book Description

Publication Date: March 1999

This entertaining, practical, and completely Catholic guide will show you how the marriage of your dreams is possible today. The book explores the characteristics that create strong relationships and helps couples determine both their strengths and their weaknesses. Recommended in Laura Berquist Health SyllabusAuthor: Gregory PopcakPages: 256, PaperbackPublisher: Our Sunday VisitorISBN: 0-87973-688-7

Product Details

• Paperback: 256 pages
• Publisher: Our Sunday Visitor (IN) (March 1999)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879736887
• ISBN-13: 978-0879736880
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 5.9 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #52,667 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

68 of 69 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Very helpful, solid, and wide-ranging, January 17, 2001

By 

Michael L (Bellevue, WA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: For Better Forever: A Catholic Guide to Lifelong Marriage (Paperback)

My wife and I have read many practical marriage books in the past few years, and we agree this is hands-down the best. Popcak presents a solidly Catholic foundation for marriage, and fills it out with down-to-earth and thoughtful practical advice.

While many marriage books today tend to concentrate in one particular area, a strength of this book is that it draws from other books with narrower scope (Gottman's "Seven Principles...", Chapman's "Love Languages", etc.) and works them into a more synthesized whole. The best I can say about Popcak's book in comparison is that while I thought those other books were perfectly fine, this one tends to make them look superficial by comparison.

Popcak has a slightly quirky style of occasional wise cracks, but the underlying message is presented with enough care and thoughtfulness that this doesn't detract.

His chapter on vulnerability is really, really, good, and his chapter on the beauty, and wonder of sex should be required reading for people who mistakenly think that Catholics think sex is sinful or bad. Also, his classification of stages of marriage was something we found very insightful and helpful, if painful to consider at times when seeing how we measured up! But even so, it was tremendously helpful in pointing out areas to work hard on.

His exercises at the ends of chapters are generally good, but couples with trouble communicating might want to defer sharing some of them until things improve (such as the one early on about sharing what is annoying about your spouse -- ouch!).

As a bonus, he also provides practical details for how to get help from good, supportive counselors for couples who need that (including himself, via phone!).

24 of 24 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Great resource, December 20, 2004

By 

Stephanie S. (Nottingham, MD United States) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: For Better Forever: A Catholic Guide to Lifelong Marriage (Paperback)

I was extremely pleased with this book. This book is great for any marriage, including good marriages. My husband and I have a solid, stable marriage, but it can always be better and more faith-filled. This book provides a great foundation for creating a great marriage. It discusses bringing Jesus into your marriage and how to be Christ to your partner; how to be a loving mate even when you don't feel like it; what the different "love-languages" are, and more.

This book does mention Catholicism is a few sections, but overall, it is more geared toward any practicing Christian. I highly recommend it to any newly or long-married couple.

40 of 43 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Life and marriage changing, June 2, 2000

By 

P. Mathes "Truth seeker" (Tn) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: For Better Forever: A Catholic Guide to Lifelong Marriage (Paperback)

Thanks to to Mr. Popcak for the best book I ever had in my hands to help a troubled marriage. This book has many words of wisdom and practical advice for all marriages. Using the applications he gives you, My husband and I are on our way to an even higher level of intimacy than ever before and we have just started to work at it. This book is funny and serious. I enjoyed every word. Many thanks to Mr. Popcak