Customer Reviews

Breaking Up Without Breaking Down

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

This book is awesome! I must say that I was skeptical about a book actually being helpful through a break-up, but after exhausting all other outlets (friends, family, even counseling) I decided anything was worth a try. I don't know why, but this book just spoke to me. This book not only offers advice and a step-by-step guide on how to begin to heal after a break-up, but more importantly, it gives stories of others who have gone through a break-up and made it out alive. Reading these stories really helped me put my situation in perspective and realize that all hope of moving on and finding real love was not lost.

I HIGHLY recommend this book to ANYONE who is going through a break-up or has gone through a break-up or even might one day go through a break-up. It doesn't matter your current relationship status, this book has the power the heal hearts that don't even know they're hurt yet.

This book shares others heartbreak stories and reminds you that despite the loneliness you are experiencing, you are not alone. This book can relate to anyone. The personal accounts cover just about every scenario and type of relationship. You will get perspectives from all sides and likely find yourself nodding with understanding with every relationship. Aside from the actual hardship tales the author also gives you some great advice of her own. You will walk away from this book with a newfound strength and motivation that you hadn't realized was already in you.
"Love is not about finding the right person, but creating a right relationship. It's not about how much love you have in the beginning but how much love you build till the end."

Kristina, I have one comment to make. Where were you when I went
through a devastating divorce in 1980? Anyone at all who is going through a painful break-up: To save your sanity, please read this book!

Matters of the heart are highly intoxicating. I lose myself often in the process, and it's comforting to know I'm not alone. The many stories shared in this book offer an insight on heartbreak and recovery. Though painful, it's a necessary evil we should all go through at least once our life. Only then can we grow and develop into the person we're meant to be.

I bought this book because of all the positive reviews, but found it lacking myself.
It started out well...I appreciate the author pointing out that those who are cheated on should not allow anyone to convince them they are to blame for the affair, not even partially.
I wholeheartedly agree with the author that there is no justification for cheating and that every person is responsible for their own actions. I also agree when she says that not all people are cut out for monogamy and that if you're cheated on, it's best to cut this person out of your life.

I also appreciated her pointing out that men are just as crushed at getting dumped as women are. Men come off as tough and macho, but they do get their hearts broken, too.
Also appreciated is the author pointing out the other factors which contribute to a breakup, like compatibility issues, communication problems and how technology is making it easier for people to run away from relationship problems.

But the rest of the book, the majority of the book actually, was less inspiring.
What you get is story after story after story about breakups, told from the point of view of the person dumped (and some of these people, like the ones who cheated, deserved to be dumped).
After each story, the storyeller gives readers advice on how to handle breakups better.
The problem is that this advice is only one or two sentences long. And it's the generic, cliché, quick fix advice you might find in a women's magazine like "Don't settle for less than you deserve" or "Listen to your heart".
Even the advice in the later chapters has a generic ring to it like, don't seek revenge and learn to forgive.
The author just barely touches on these topics and then quickly moves on...but these are complex topics that need more analysis than this.
If this book helped other people, that's great. But for me, it didn't go deeply enough to be helpful.

This book was given to me by a friend and turned out to be a much bigger help than I expected. It is raw, real and doesn't sugar coat the reality of how much it hurts or how hard it can be to heal from a broken heart. Most of it is common sense stuff but sometimes that is exactly what is lacking when the heart can't seem to get onto the same page with the head. I would definitely recommend this book to anybody that is trying to find a new direction after a relationship has gone sour.

This book is not only filled with insightful and helpul healing techniques but is also very interesting and entertaining, allowing you to delve into the personal lives of others. This also allows you to compare and reflect upon you your own life and relationship experiences. I highly recommend this book for you or a loved one in need of some TLC.

Bought this for a friend going through her first break-up. I read a few of the stories myself and thought they were very insightful, especially the advise after each. I wanted to read the whole thing! I only gave it 4 stars because I didn't get to read the whole book.

This book is worth one thousand therapy sessions!

I'm not trying to be fancy with words; I'm just writing from the heart. I knew I was too smart to stay in another bad relationship, but I was also too needy to leave. So, I bought the book before the breakup. Wow! It gave me the strength to get through without taking the easy way out and going back to him.

The book boosted my confidence, prevented bitterness and resentment for the ex and, most importantly, made me realize that my problems, whether they were his fault or not, were no longer important to him.

I filled my phone with text notes of mantras from the book. It SAVED me!

Another book that I found extremely helpful to pave the way for a healthier future was "The 7 DUMBEST Relationship Mistakes SMART People Make. You see, I learned that we all have needs and that's ok, but being needy isn't.

I wish you well! =)

Here's a handy book for dealing effectively with the pain of a romantic/love break up. Some of my quick observations about this wonderful book are:

1. The use of the term "emotional roller coaster" helps readers understand the series of emotional highs and lows that they can expect to experience during the aftermath of a break up or divorce. Fasten your seat belts!

2. There is an insightful chapter to help newly single parents learn how to ease their children into the transition(Chapter 8). This is something that is often overlooked!

3. Readers can learn how to find the valuable lessons hidden deep within the pain of a broken heart. And, most importantly, this new awareness helps a person to let go of the pain (even abandon the pain part completely) and move forward!

4. While most breakup books tend to be geared specifically toward women, this book presents a more universal look by providing real stories from real men AND women who went through heartbreak hell and lived to talk about it. As a man, I know that men suffer just as women do only in different external ways.

5. I particularly enjoyed the DO and DON'T lists of the anger track (pages 82-83) or the "better off because" list on page 85.

Breaking up without Breaking Down is a nice book to read for anyone who is involved in a painful breakup and needs a quick understanding of what's going on under the surface so they can let go of the pain and move on.