The Don't Sweat Guide for Couples: Ways to Be More Intimate, Loving and Stress-Free in Your Relationship (Don't Sweat Guides) [Paperback]

Richard Carlson (Author)

Book Description

Series: Don't Sweat Guides | Publication Date: October 17, 2001

In today's busy times with work and kids' demands, there often isn't much time left for couples. Yet partners need to nourish their relationships, too. This guide provides innovative yet simple strategies that show couples how to find more time for togetherness; how to avoid arguments; and how not to let the petty things become big conflicts in a relationship.

Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Best-selling author Richard Carlson, Ph.D., creator of the popular Don't Sweat the Small Stuff series and the just published Don't Get Scrooged, died suddenly of cardiac arrest enroute to New York on December 13. Carlson, 45, published his first book in 1985 and went on to publish more than 20 books that remain popular in English and in translation in 130 languages and 35 countries. Richard Carlson grew up in Piedmont, CA. He received his undergraduate degree from Pepperdine University and his Ph.D. in psychology from Sierra University. He was in private practice as a psychotherapist when he started to publish books about psychological and spiritual health. As his books started to attract a large audience, he began writing full time so he could teach more people how to live with presence and ease by cultivating gratitude and generosity. Dr. Carlson was a large supporter of and participant in the National Center for Family Literacy and at the time of his death he was working on a project with them called for "A Penny a Book" from publishers, authors and literary agents to promote literacy. Dr. Carlson is survived by his wife and life partner of 25 years, Kris Carlson, his co-author on Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love and the author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff for Women, his loving daughters Jasmine and Kenna, sisters, Kathleen Carlson Mowris of Olympic Village, CA and Anna L. Carlson of La Selva Beach, CA, and his parents, Barbara and Don Carlson of Orinda, CA. A private memorial service will be held next week. Donations in lieu of flowers can be made in Richard's honor to local food banks, Challenge Day, Girls Inc. or Children Inc.

Product Details

• Paperback: 208 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (October 17, 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0786887206
• ISBN-13: 978-0786887200
• Product Dimensions: 6.5 x 5.6 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 3.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #208,010 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

During his life, Richard Carlson, Ph.D, was considered one of the foremost experts in happiness and stress reduction in the United States and around the world and was a frequent featured guest on such shows as Oprah, The Today Show, The View, NNC, CNN, Fox, PBS and over 2000 other shows.Don't Sweat the Small Stuff continued to be a publishing phenomenon with over 20 titles in the brand franchise, two of which were co-authored and authored with his beloved wife, Kris. He died of a pulmonary embolism in December 2006, at the age of forty-five.

The words "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" have become a part of American Culture thanks to Richard Carlson's book that became a runaway best-seller and made publishing history as the #1 best-selling book in the United States for two consecutive years.
Don't Sweat the Small Stuff spent over 100 weeks on the New York Times Best-Seller list and is still considered one of the fastest selling books of all time and has sold over 15 million copies worldwide.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

49 of 52 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars LOVE IS WHAT YOU MAKE IT!, October 4, 2001

By 

Sandra D. Peters "Seagull Books" (Prince Edward Island, Canada) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Don't Sweat Guide for Couples: Ways to Be More Intimate, Loving and Stress-Free in Your Relationship (Don't Sweat Guides) (Paperback)

As a counsellor, I have heard couples express time and time again, "there just isn't enough time." We all have twenty-four hours in a day; how we choose to spend those hours is our choice. In today's hectic, fast-paced world, we have a lot on our plate. Careers, children, parents, friends, chores, community activities, the list of priorities seems endless. So often we make the mistake of allowing life to control us, rather than taking control over our life and often the people who fall last on the list of priorities are your partner and yourself. Through all our daily turmoil, it is important to remember that happy, fufilling relationships do not just happen, they need to be nourished and tended with loving care so they will continue to flourish and grow.

As a rule I am not a huge fan of Richard Carlson, simply because his writing style is generally too elementary for my personal taste. That is not to say there is anything materially wrong with his work, no, not by any means, but my personal perference is for material that is more in-depth (perhaps that is the psychologist's nature coming out in me.) This book is common sense, too, but it does offer some very basic ways for couples to improve their relationships and emphasises the importance of spending quality time together as a couple.

In addition, partners can worry, fume and fret over very inconsequential matters. Harsh words are spoken, tempers flair and before you know it, the trivial matter becomes a full-blown agruement. As Carlson might say, "Don't sweat the small stuff!" Love has a way of bringing out the best and the worst in us. Readers who want to improve their relationships but do not want to get bogged down in a lengthy, mind-absorbing self-help book, will find this book simple, straight forward and easy to read.

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

2.0 out of 5 stars Ok, but not as good as some of the others, November 25, 2007

By 

L. Pronk (Iowa, USA) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Don't Sweat Guide for Couples: Ways to Be More Intimate, Loving and Stress-Free in Your Relationship (Don't Sweat Guides) (Paperback)

If you normally enjoy the Richard Carlson "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff..." books, I did find this book somewhat enjoyable. There are some differences from the other "Don't Sweat" books. I noticed that it was written "by the editors of," so it isn't actually written by Richard Carlson. The foreward is by Richard Carlson. The main difference I noticed, which was the deal breaker for me, is that this book didn't relate personal stories the way other "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff" books do. I think the personal anecdotes in Richard & Kristine Carlson's "Don't Sweat the Small Stuff in Love" are what really made that book special and more importantly, relevant. Unfortunately this book lacked that personal touch. Still good general advice.

0 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Carlson does it again, March 10, 2008

By 

DANA WELCH - See all my reviews
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This review is from: The Don't Sweat Guide for Couples: Ways to Be More Intimate, Loving and Stress-Free in Your Relationship (Don't Sweat Guides) (Paperback)

There's no question about it, Carlson has made a franchise out of "Don't Sweat." One would expect it to gather moss. Not so. Carlson pulls another one out of the hat with counsel for couples that is often overlooked.