Customer Reviews

Intimacy & Desire: Awaken the Passion in Your Relationship

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Because of the considerable attention Dr. Sandra Pertot's review has attracted, and the fact it is offered as a professional opinion, I feel it necessary to offer a different perspective on Intimacy and Desire (I&D) and her comments about it. I am a licensed therapist with 22 years of experience, and have not written any books (although I hope to). I have studied Dr. Schnarch's work for many years, including I&D, and consider myself knowledgeable about his approach. The one thing I have learned from studying Dr. Schnarch is he works tirelessly to pursue the truth in his work as well as his life. I am amazed at how much "The Old Man" continues to grow and evolve, and challenge himself to live within his principles of 4 points of balance. Dr. Schnarch as well as his wife Dr. Ruth Morehouse are serious clinicians as demonstrated in their articles and books. They are not carnival barkers with the newest way to make your relationship of 20 years "get that new car smell". On the contrary, they help you read your relationship's owner manual and learn to drive it better, so you can get more out of it and yourself. My opinion of Dr Sandra Perot's critique grows out of my love for my field and a quest for professional grace, and I hope it is received in the spirit in which it is delivered.

Professional standards require disclosure of commercial and other considerations that might bias statements made by psychologists regarding products and services. Dr. Pertot is the author of what might be considered a competing book in which she clearly aligns with the lower desire partner. (Read reviews of her book "Perfectly Normal: Living and Loving with Low Libido.") Her review of I&D glaringly fails to alert readers of her own biases, and postures as a professional opinion hesitantly given, motivated out of concern for public welfare. Had she clarified her wish to debate Schnarch (see replies to her review), the public would be better served.
Pertot is flat wrong on many points in her critique. Her review criticizes Schnarch's assertion "if you love each other and stay together you can count on sexual problems," and she states "no, research tells us that a great many couples are content with their sex lives even if they meet the criteria for a sexual dysfunction." Pertot mentions research to give her position credibility, but Schnarch's statement about frequency of sexual desire problems has nothing to do with sexual satisfaction research. Moreover his hopeful positive stance in I&D (noted in the Publisher's Weekly review) is completely consistent with this research. Whereas Pertot characterizes I&D as scientifically inaccurate, the reverse is actually true. While this book is written for the general public, it backed up with more than 150 scientific publications referenced in the back of the book.

Pertot takes issue with Schnarch's thesis that "there is always a low desire partner", stating "no, many couples are well matched." I&D makes clear "low desire partner" and "high desire partner" are relative positions in a relationship, on many issues besides sex. Even couples who are initially sexually well-matched usually polarize into one partner having lower or higher desire than the other due to sexual and non-sexual dynamics (which Schnarch describes). Partners often switch desire positions over the course of their relationship, and men are frequently the lower desire partner.
Partot most strongly disagrees with Schnarch's thesis that "the low desire partner always controls sex." She writes "This, in my view, reveals a rather limited understanding of the many different dynamics that can lead to differences in sexual desire." But Schnarch's statement does not concern the dynamics that lead to sexual desire differences, it states a basic fact of human sexual relationships (where rape is not tolerated). I&D offers one of the most complete, and possibly the most advanced, discussion of sexual desire dynamics you'll find anywhere.

Pertot mounts the argument, "It is just as valid to say that the partner who controls what happens during sex is often the cause of the other partner's loss of libido." This does not negate what Schnarch says. I&D considers situations where the higher desire partner dictates styles of sex the other partner finds aversive, noting this may cause the other to be the lower desire partner. However, Schnarch's thesis still holds true that the lower desire partner's agreement or refusal to have sex still controls when sex happens. I&D also notes that the lower desire partner frequently controls how sex happens as well as when it happens.

Pertot's reference to "higher libido partner" and "lower drive partner," underscores her own limited understanding of Schnarch's book and/or desire problems in general. I&D explicitly rejects conventional views of sexual desire as libido or biological desire, and focuses on uniquely human aspects of sexual desire: Our capacity for (1) bringing meaning to sex, (2) consciously chosen freely undertaken desire, and (3) desire for the partner and not just desire for sex. Libido and sex drive are antithetical to all of these.

Pertot offers three examples to bolster her critique of Schnarch's book. The first two involve one partner pressuring the other for styles of sex the other does not like. Pertot says less pressure might increase the lower desire partner's desire (Schnarch says this too). But Partot's examples actually illustrate Schnarch's thesis that the lower desire partner always controls sex--she's just suggesting how the higher desire partner might influence the lower desire partner to exercise control in ways the higher desire partner prefers.

Pertot's ultimate indictment is her example in which "the higher drive partner wants/expects sex at least daily; the lower drive partner's preferred sexual frequency is once a week but is willing to have sex 3-4 times a week. Who is driving the sexual pace here?" Pertot's example again doesn't address what Schnarch is saying but proves his point. Both partners in her example attempt to influence the other's preferred sexual frequency, but ultimately this couple will have sex 3-4 times a week because this is what the lower desire partner decides. The lower desire partner having more sex (or the higher desire partner having less sex) than he or she might want doesn't change the fact that the lower desire partner ultimately decides the couple's sexual frequency.

Pertot disingenuously asks, "so to not be controlling her/himself, should she or he say yes every time?" I&D answers this complex question from many different viewpoints--some of which include the lower desire partner saying "No." Moreover, her question unfairly positions Schnarch as aligning with the higher desire partner against the lower desire partner, and positions herself as being neutral. Actually, Schnarch's position is scientific and sympathetic to both partners, while Pertot adopts a lopsided alliance with the lower desire partner. Many lower desire partners like I&D because it says the lower desire partner controls sex whether he or she knows it, likes it, wants it or not. Schnarch says low desire partners are often dismayed and burdened by the powerful control they have. Often they don't want to be controlling sex or their partner, they just want to have control of themselves. Pertot's question confusingly states the issues backwards. One of this book's great strengths is Schnarch's unique idea that "the urge to develop and maintain a sense of self" is a primary determinant of sexual desire, and issues of self hood and self-determination outweigh horniness, hormones and libido.

Pertot fails to note that I&D offers the first explanation why normal healthy couples have sexual desire problems, and removes the stigma of being the low desire partner. If I&D's thesis is as misguided as Pertot contends, would the American Association of Marriage & Family Therapy have selected Dr. Schnarch to receive the 2011 Outstanding Contribution to Marriage and Family Therapy? I suggest you read Intimacy & Desire and decide for yourself.

This is an excellent book whose greatest gift is that it makes the vast ground plowed 13 years earlier in the author's 2nd book, Passionate Marriage, readily accessbile. The latter was a great book but a dense, difficult read that gave its greatest gifts only after repeated readings. This book, in contrast, makes the author's approach to self and relationship development easily understood. It brings his theory down to earth and gives guidence in applying it to one's life. I highly recommend it.

The book is, indeed, fun to read. Schnarch can deftly shift between transcribing the words & thoughts of a counseling session to his principles of human interaction & growth, and on to sometimes salacious stories of couples getting it on -- not only sexually but mentally & emotionally, and in a more open, enlightened way. He breaks into a mercifully short few pages of techno-babble at the beginning of one chapter to show his inclusion or understanding of brain science, but that is the only lapse in the smoothly flowing writing in this book.

Schnarch presents a number of "moving parts" within our relationships that work to grow us personally & as a partner. And his approach is generally at odds with the common approach within our culture of accomodation or withdrawal from conflict. Instead, he suggests that confronting one's issues -- from one's family of origin or from one's current partner (and commonly they are one & the same) -- is the real path to growth. The process involves these key variable:

* All key dimensions of activity, including sex, have a high & a low desire partner.
* Our sense of self can be based on others' opinion (other validated) or on our own heart (self validated). Both are valid, but if one is predominantly other-validated, then one becomes reluctant to say or do things that will endanger our partner's good opinion of us. And that creates major problems often to the extent of losing our self in the process.
* The tension between autonomy & connectedness provides the opportunity for personal growth: the authors Crucible Approach (which he's trademarked).
* Mind mapping is the core process of understanding the thoughts & intentions of another. Only where you allow another to honestly & fully know you can you have that deep connection most of us seek.
* Mind mapping as well as personal integrity is intimately involved in maintaining collaborative alliances with your partner. Being able to maintain such a collaborative alliance most of the time over a prolonged time is what makes for a "good relationship."
* Being psychologically prepared to sustain an alliance, and the integrity necessary for it, requires individual skills that were collectively called "differentiation" in Passionate Marriage and are here more usefully detailed as his Four Points of Balance on page 72.
* Marriage is a people growing system. One of its key mechanisms is to give you 2 Choice Dilemmas, forcing choice between alternatives that are both desirable. It forces growth where we might otherwise be tempted to complacently stay within our comfort zone -- and thus stagnate within relationship.
* Desiring your partner is one such Choice. And positively choosing your partner is a key part of fully participating in relationship.

Reading this book or any book won't cure a troubled relationship. But it will give you guidence on how to face your own part in your troubles and, very importantly, give meaning to the fact of your relationship struggle. Yes its hard, but yes it is the felling of growth. Find that meaning and the hardship becomes very tolerable.

I highly recommend this book (and Passionate Marriage).

I found my relationship falling apart after 8 years together with my husband. After reading Intamcy and Desire, I found that many of the problems that I thought were my partners were things that both of us needed more insight into and that they were problems set up to reoccur throughout our lifetime if not addressed.This book is a lifesaver for the intelligent mind.

It is not just sex. Dr. David Schnarch, a sex psychologist, gets this. Intimacy and desire is all about loving and becoming truly your best. This is Dr. Schnarch's clearest book to date bringing together family system theory and neurobiology research findings to create sense out of the "people-growing" machinery of marriage.

My own 27 years experience as a marriage counselor makes two things increasingly inescapable: Family System Theory is the best way to do family and Schnarch is the only one using it to really do our partner. Intimacy & Desire unravels the mystery. To want to want is faithfulness to grow intimately, live and in person, at home with those who know you best: lovers, family, and friends. The reader gets to know the sexual struggles of real life couples who all discover how true love can change their life, except of course Barbie and Ken who were remained too sadistic to get it.

Dr. Schnarch is the only writer out there in the wilderness of self-help books, who graphically demonstrates how humping says something about who you are and how you family. He shows how f**king (see Chapter 14 for "The hardest person to f*** is your spouse"), having oral sex, solving premature ejaculation, overcoming tickles, and engaging in normal marital sadism affects how you are you and how lovingly you are married. In so doing, you find you have to have a solid sense of yourself, discover how to own and regulate all of your passions, wisely act (rather than blindly react), and hold on and hang in there when growing gets uncomfortable.

As the only book about intimacy you will ever need, Intimacy & Desire gets five stars. But be careful what you wish for. Intimacy and desire will make you become more yourself and give more than you ever thought you could love. And that can happen when you do not have sex with your partner and also when you do. It is all about sex, too. Just read Schnarch.

While Schnarch's "Passionate Marriage" was an intriguing book, and gave much room for thought, I struggled with it, and I'm no stranger to psychology-type texts. Intimacy & Desire is MUCH clearer, and more useful to a lay person trying to understand and work with marriage as a "people growing" machine. His "Four Points of Balance" in this book is brilliant...gives you specifics to ponder and help move yourself along. Having read this book, I will go back and re-read "Passionate Marriage" (again). Highly recommend for couples who want to go deeper and (re)invigorate their marriages.

I was knocked out by the smart and sensible perspectives offered in these pages. I've been partnered for 10 years now and we've both had excellent individual and couples counseling along the way from before we met and since (we're in late middle age). And still ... I've been bitter and have felt helpless and compromised for the past few years about our sex life together and the ever-dwindling level of intimacy between us. UNTIL I READ THIS BOOK. Wow. We've got a real chance now of changing lifelong patterns that have hurt us throughout our lives and in relationship with each other and a good shot at the "resilient collaborative alliance" (and better sex!) we've both longed for. It'll take courage and effort but this book gave me the hope I've been desperate for. Whether or not we stay together (and I hope we do) chances are good that I'll have benefited substantially because of having read it.

One of the most concise, understandable and scientifically documented books on relationships I have read. This book explains the physical manifestation of the spiritually enlightened life. Profound understandings delivered through research and example. Magnificent and down to earth all in one. Highly recommended for anyone who is in relationship to other people (read "everyone")and to those whose spiritual path might benefit from more down to earth grounding.

To those in limbo on purchasing this book...
I have been with my guy for 3 and a half years! They have been good but we were lacking the passion we both needed to fulfill us! We are both pretty stubborn and didn't want to go the route of seeking a third party to mediate our position and tell us what we're doing wrong! I read a portion of this book online and was hooked! I ordered it and started reading it the moment i received it! It has given me great insight into not only where my feelings derive from but where my fiancé's are coming from as well! I feel more understanding and more confident that we are going to enter a happy and confident relationship for the rest of our lives!
Thank you Dr. David Schnarch

Anna B

I had the pleasure of hearing this quote from Dr. Schnarch as he presented his work from this book at a psychotherapy conference. I have always respected and enjoyed his findings, research and teaching. This book does the an even better job than the rest of his past books describing differentiation. I use his work with all of my couples and find it to be most helpful in working with lesbian couples. I highly recommend this book for therapists working with couples and for the couples struggling to find their way back to each other.

I require all my groups to read this or Passionate Marriage. I think Schnarch is the Guru of our time. A great Bowen theorist!