Intercultural Marriage: Promises & Pitfalls [Paperback]

Dugan Romano (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: November 2001

This insightful book is for couples either in or contemplating an intercultural marriage. Author Dugan Romano examines the impact of cultural differences on marriage and offers practical guidelines on how to deal with the complexities and problems involved. Romano suggests that the joys of an intercultural marriage often result as much from overcoming the obstacles and confronting the challenges as from the adventure of crossing cultures. Romano relies on the voices of the many intercultural couples she has interviewed. All of the chapters have been expanded and updated, and two are entirely new. The focus has remained the same, however. After an introduction, the author examines the motives of those who marry across cultures. She then identifies nineteen "troublespots" in such marriages, points at which cultural differences raise issues and create problems that are either not present or are less severe in monocultural marriages. These troublespots range from everyday basics like food

Product Details

• Paperback: 226 pages
• Publisher: Intercultural Press; 2nd edition (November 2001)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1931930333
• ISBN-13: 978-1931930338
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 6 x 0.8 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12.8 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (13 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,451,135 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Intercultural Marriage - Mix It Up, September 5, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Intercultural Marriage: Promises & Pitfalls (Paperback)

I am a Caucasian, American woman and have been with my Chinese husband, from Taiwan, for 8 years. I lived in his country for 6 years and regard my self as being rather well informed of cultural issues and the differences between us. I was so wonderfully surprised at how much MORE I learned, and how much insight I gained from reading Dugan Romano's book. Romano's division of the information by catgories,i.e. "Food", "Friends", "Family"...etc was very clear and concise. These categories also made for easy quick reference into a certain area of interest. The author creates a smooth, easy reading combination of academic, statistical information and acectodal information. It helped me personally and has helped strengthen my marriage. I have been recommending it to other intercultural couples.

15 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Essential Book for International Couples, April 2, 2004

By 

Caroline A Liebenow (Nashua, New Hampshire, USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Intercultural Marriage: Promises & Pitfalls (Paperback)

I'm an American married to a Finn and living permanently in Finland. I've always considered myself to be very insightful and sensitive towards cultural differences, but this book opened my eyes to a wealth of perspectives and realizations that I didn't know were normal or common to all marriages. Because the couples in the book are real, it makes you feel like you almost know them personally because you can identify with many of the same issues. Romano herself has experience with intercultural marriage, adding to the strength and wisdom of the book.

The book successfully walks a fine line: fun and easy to read while being serious, honest without being preachy, and "down to earth"/somewhat cautious while still being optimistic. The only negative thing about this book was that it ended. The more I learned about the couples and their situations, the more I wanted to know further. I still flip through it occasionally to recall key phrases and points. I want a third edition!

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A great guide for interacial couples, October 17, 2002

By A Customer

This review is from: Intercultural Marriage: Promises & Pitfalls (Paperback)

A great book which lays down all the questions that need to be answered before going marrying interculturally; from the aspect of friends, in-laws, children, religion etc. Also it prepares the reader of the problems in store for them in the future. What is unique about this book is that it does not give any 'correct' answers but actually guides the reader into understanding their unique relationship.