The Commitment Chronicles: The Power of Staying Together [Paperback]

Cheryl McClary (Author)

Book Description

ISBN-10: 0972714405 | ISBN-13: 978-0972714402 | Publication Date: December 2, 2002

Relationship expert Dr. Cheryl McClary has created a unique book that combines her own story and the lessons of twenty years as a women's health expert, wife, personal advisor, professor, attorney, country music songwriter and judge. The Commitment Chronicles, unlike many books, says committed relationships are possible - and anyone can make a marriage work. "Too many of these books," says Dr. McClary are filled with you go, cheerleader tricks to be all you can be without actually telling you how. To have a truly successful relationship, you have to find Real Love for yourself and that takes hard work.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Dr. Cheryl McClary has successfully combined a career as a fulltime professor, mother, wife, published country & western songwriter and even a judge over the past 35 years. The Commitment Chronicles: How You CAN Stay Happily Married is the story of how she has done that and how any reader can also succeed in keeping a committed relationship together.

A native of Memphis Tennessee, Dr. McClary received her Ph.D. in public health from The University of Tennessee along with her MS and J.D. from Memphis State University. Her academic training included concentration in science, microbiology, chemistry and biology. She also attended the University of Dijon (France) studying language.

Over the past 20 years, she has been a special court judge in Memphis, practiced law, and from 1985 to the present, has served in a number of high level posts at the University of North Carolina Asheville. These include chair of the Department of Health & Fitness, Director of the Health Promotion Department, and Director of the Hippocrates Pre-Med Program. Her academic focus in the past decade has been the effect of relationships on health and counseling women who are seeking resolution of relationship problems.

Dr. McClary is the co-author of the textbook, Wellness and the Liberal Arts (Kendall Hunt) and is widely published with dozens of academic articles appearing in publications such as The Journal of School Health and National Issues in Higher Education.

Product Details

• Paperback: 220 pages
• Publisher: Top Shelf Pr (December 2, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0972714405
• ISBN-13: 978-0972714402
• Product Dimensions: 8.5 x 5.5 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (45 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,004,873 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Happiness for a lifetme with my husband, May 14, 2003

By 

"girlwonderlyhappy" (Sptbg, SC) - See all my reviews

This review is from: The Commitment Chronicles: The Power of Staying Together (Paperback)

With all of the educational information and credentials that the author list, I fully expected a medical text book type of reading from this book. The Commitment Chronicles: How to Stay Happily Married was recommended to me by a friend, and I thought, well, I will at least read one chapter. I am now glad I took her recommendation! It has been worth the time. I found that although Dr. McClary is fully qualified to write on the topic of marriage from a professional stand point, she has chosen to write it from a woman's and wife's viewpoint. I found this realisticly refreshing enough to apply to the "everyday living" that goes with being happily married. This is not some "up in the cloud, one day happy emotional, good feeling reviving" type of book. It gives useful and helpful hints that will assist you in finding a way to be happy yourself, then to work on talking-listening skills, and lastly intimacy revvers that are sure to keep you happily married.

36 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Erma Bombeck, Ann Landers, and Dr. Phil, October 6, 2003

By 

Roger E. Herman (Greensboro, NC USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: The Commitment Chronicles: The Power of Staying Together (Paperback)

Imagine morphing together Erma Bombeck's irreverent and funny writing style with Ann Landers advice-to-the-lovelorn and Dr. Phil's in-your-face attitude. Enter, stage left: Cheryl McClary, a PhD professor of Women's Health and holder of a juris doctor degree. This combination could be dangerous-even explosive! And it is. Warning: this book is not for the faint (or feint) of heart.

Cheryl (after reading this book, you'll feel like you're sitting in her kitchen, so we'll go with first-name basis) wrote this book for women, but a few men will find it valuable. Cheryl would suggest, however, that most men won't understand it because, you see, we're clueless. Yes, I'm a man. My wife gave me this book to read, suggesting that a book reviewer like me might find it interesting. Oh, boy.

To sum up Cheryl's philosophy, men are dolts. Well, she didn't use that particular word, but she employed a wide range of synonyms. We don't know how to be husbands, lovers, fathers, or any of those things. We have to be trained, led, managed by a capable woman. The capable part comes from knowing yourself-loving yourself-before looking outside. Women get so many messages that diminish them, self-love and strength is vital.
Every woman who has been birthed and raised by another woman, passing mental and psychological garbage down through the ages needs to read-no, absorb-this book. Put it under your pillow after bedtime reading and hope for osmosis.

Now, men. Read this book. Reality: It will only help a little bit in understanding your woman. You won't get as much out of it as a woman will, but if you pay attention you will cower and love with a slightly higher level of effectiveness. My wife insists that I am not clueless, though over dinner tonight she did admit that I used to be. Now I'm a step beyond clueless (and I am like the handsome, wonderful man Cheryl has been married to for 23 roller-coaster years): I'm trainable...and receptive. The rewards are worth the struggle. Be sure to check out page 149 for the list of lessons we can learn from the unconditional love of dogs.

There is no index. You don't need one. But you will find value from the bibliography and the rich collection of resources in the back of the book. This is a wonderful recovery guide for misguided women, confused men, and relationships that can benefit from the nurturing that comes from real love.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A GREAT BOOK!, April 29, 2003

By 

Josh Garrett (Des Moines, Iowa) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Commitment Chronicles: The Power of Staying Together (Paperback)

I ran across Mrs. McClary checking into my hotel a couple of weeks ago here in Chicago. She is a honest, down-to-earth person! She told me about this book she wrote and left me a copy to give to my mom. I thought I'll just skim through it to see what it was about. Being a 24 yr old male, I was shocked to be thrown into this book! Just the title and the bright pink cover would normally make me not look at it. BOY WAS I IN SHOCK! This book is incredible. It gives you insight on how YOU shape your relationships, not other people. We have all heard that we must love ourselves before we can love another. Such a true statement and this book will help you create "real love" and most important, happiness with one's self. I'm just amazed on how great this book really is. I read while on the train, and everday when I step out of that car, I feel like I'm walking on water. JUST A GREAT UPLIFTING book that helps you on your way. Men and women alike should read this. Our world would be a much better place. THANKS CHERYL! PS...It's on it's way to my mother! :)