Love for the Living : Meditations on the Meaning of Marriage and Life [Hardcover]

Dan Saferstein (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: June 14, 2000

This moving memoir by licensed clinical psychologist Dan Saferstein begins with the death of his sister, a watershed event in which he finds the seeds of life change, and, ironically, the beginning of a deepened appreciation of his marriage. With great insight and humour, Saferstein tells us what he has learned in life: about love, sex, and companionship, and about money, careers, and family. His talent for finding just the right catch phrase renders his writing accessible without being preachy, and profound without being dark.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

His 28-year-old sister's death in a motorcycle accident in Jamaica roused clinical psychologist Saferstein from what he calls his "Restless Period" of vague dissatisfaction and unhappiness, spurring him to reignite his marriage and begin planning to have a third child. He effectively passes on the lessons he learned during that time, offering advice on love and relationships, marriage and family. Examining his early life with an alcoholic father, a mother who was a Holocaust survivor and an older brother suffering from mental illness, Saferstein advises readers to "Mourn Losses Together," "Nurture Friendships," "Apologize When Necessary," "Embrace Conflict" and "Do Less Out of Obligation." His prose is clear and simpleAso simple, in fact, that he occasionally sounds as if he's trying to explain a complex concept to a child. His thoughtful insights are also marred by a few snide remarks about "New Age" people, with whom he seems to fear being associated since many of his views are commonly linked to New Age thought (e.g., "Trust Your Destiny," "Embrace the Present," "Find Work That Is Meaningful"). Saferstein's at his best when he's more introspective: a passage in which he describes a visit to his childhood home successfully introduces the reader to the boy inside the author, and his account of the mature love within his long and bumpy marriage rings deep and true. Saferstein admonishes fellow therapists who only listen and don't offer anything back to their patients; despite a few distracting lapses, his book gives back in abundance. Agent, Anne Rittenburg. (July)
Copyright 2000 Reed Business Information, Inc.

Review

"Dan Saferstein guides us down the path of loss and brings us out the other side where we reunite with promise, peace, and meaning." -- C. Leslie Charles

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Hyperion; 1st edition (June 14, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 078686530X
• ISBN-13: 978-0786865307
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 14.4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #7,537,536 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love for the Living - You Must Read It!, July 19, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Love for the Living : Meditations on the Meaning of Marriage and Life (Hardcover)

I love this book. It is such a far cry from most self-help books that only offer sterile solutions and formulas. The author of Love for the Living shares his most personal experiences and lessons in a very conversational way.

I found myself identifying with this book as a new wife and parent, as someone's child and as someone's sibling.

This book is deeply moving, hysterical, straightforward, honest & nostalgic.

You must read it!

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Lor The Living by Dan Saferstein Phd, August 22, 2000

By 

Irka Miller (Michigan) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love for the Living : Meditations on the Meaning of Marriage and Life (Hardcover)

I was touched by the sensitivity, wisdom and honesty of the writer. While written in an easy readable style, it's a book that goes to the core of human needs and feelings:love,pain, understanding,belonging and other. I appreciated Dr. Saferstein's approach to relationships often from the woman's point of view.At times it seemed that it was a woman's voice speaking to me. Reading about the writer's personal life, I found many subtle lessons to apply to my own life. I found it uplifting that grief at the death of his younger sister resulted in a new reawakaning to all the things that were dear to him. It made me reflect on my relationships and what was important to me in life.

1 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Not just a self help book., August 28, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Love for the Living : Meditations on the Meaning of Marriage and Life (Hardcover)

This book is thoughtful, gentle, deeply reflective and wonderfully written. It brings a literate touch to the self-help genre.

Saferstein walks you through some important events in his life in order to derive general lessons that will be helpful for anyone who has suffered a loss, or is going through a change of life, or working their way through a relationship. It is his first book and is a very worthy effort. I look forward to reading more from this promising new writer who moves the self-help genre to a higher plane. Highly recommended.