Love is a Verb: Stories of What Happens When Love Comes Alive [Hardcover]

Gary Chapman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: May 1, 2009

Dr. Gary Chapman has spent his life helping people communicate love more effectively and in turn build more satisfying and lasting relationships. His book The Five Love Languages is a regular on the New York Times bestsellers list--even after being in print for fifteen years--and has made the term "love language" a part of everyday speech. Love Is a Verb takes his teaching to the next level. Rather than a typical relationship self-help book filled with lengthy explanations of principles and techniques, it is a compilation of true stories displaying love in action. These stories--written by everyday people--go straight to the hearts of readers, who often say that illustrations are the most effective parts of a book. Gary Chapman adds a "Love Lesson" to each story, showing readers how they can apply the same principles to their own relationships.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Chapman—author of the bestseller The Five Love Languages—posits that our culture often seems to have a love-tracked mind. This time he takes his expertise in the area to a more personal level by offering readers 40 stories written by everyday folks who have practiced what Chapman preaches: love is a verb. Readers will discover a husband and wife who make I'm sorry part of their lives; a father who sacrifices coaching basketball to help care for his infant daughter; a university staff member who learns to see an outcast girl through God's eyes; and a mother-in-law who learns to love her son's wife. Chapman follows each story with several paragraphs highlighting a key point that can help in developing healthy relationships, drawn directly from the preceding story. Those who have read and applied Chapman's love languages to their lives will find inspiration; newcomers to Chapman's work will find that love takes on many forms and is worth the effort. (May)
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From the Back Cover

Be Inspired by Lives Changed by Love Gary Chapman, bestselling author of The Five Love Languages, shares forty uplifting true stories from everyday people like *Doris, who chose to love her husband when what she really wanted to do was run away *Loretta, whose family was mended by love in action *Faith, who learned how to love a mother who had become a stranger *Laquita, who finally fell in love with her husband after forty years *Jacquelyn, who found the courage to love someone who seemed truly unlovable Because love isn't just a feeling. Love is a choice, and love is something we all need to do. Love is a verb. Since 1979, Gary Chapman has written more than twenty books. His book The Five Love Languages has sold five million copies in English alone and has been translated into thirty-six languages including Arabic and Hindi. In addition to his busy writing and seminar schedule, Gary Chapman is a senior associate pastor at Calvary Baptist Church in Winston-Salem, North Carolina, where he has served for thirty-six years. Gary and his wife, Karolyn, have been married for forty-five years and have two adult children and two grandchildren. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 224 pages
• Publisher: Bethany House; 1 edition (May 1, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0764206745
• ISBN-13: 978-0764206740
• Product Dimensions: 9.1 x 6.1 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (18 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #415,980 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

6 of 6 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Chapman Explores What it Means to Choose Love in Your Marriage, Relationships and Life, June 29, 2009

By 

FaithfulReader.com (New York, New York) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love is a Verb: Stories of What Happens When Love Comes Alive (Hardcover)

"Love means never having to say you're sorry," was a popular expression in the 1970s. But anyone who has ever been married, tried to resolve a family conflict or heal a broken relationship between two co-workers knows that saying couldn't be further from the truth. Love means having to say you're sorry, recognize your own weaknesses, and learn how to overlook others' faults. Love is active, not passive. Love is more of a verb than just a noun.

In his new book, Gary Chapman, bestselling author of THE FIVE LOVE LANGUAGES, explores what it means to choose love in your marriage, relationships and life --- even when it's not easy. Unlike his previous titles --- many of which are self-help in nature --- LOVE IS A VERB is a collection of 40 real-life stories of everyday people practicing the art of love. Each story is written in first-person and highlights a moment when it was difficult to express or even feel love. Then they share how they reignited their hearts to choose to love once again. Chapman offers a few brief paragraphs of what can be learned from the story.

One particularly moving chapter, "The Changeling," describes a mother who had to learn to love her son twice. The child had captured his mother's heart when he first entered the world, and filled it with joy and delight. But at the age of five, his health began to suffer. Nearly two years later, he had a massive stroke. When he recovered from the coma, the young boy had been transformed from a loving ball of laughter to someone who spewed "I hate you" and "You're dumb and stupid" to everyone he encountered --- including his mother. Overwhelmed by the hostility of her own child, the mother struggled to love her unlovable son. Eventually, he made some improvements and slowly was reintegrated into a program for challenged students at the local school. Over the years, she found herself falling in love with her son all over again, not as who he was but who he had become.

Chapman concludes this powerful story:

"Life happens. The unexpected can occur in any of our lives at any time. Most of us are very cognizant of that fact --- so much so that we may easily fall into the trap of worrying about all the "what ifs" that we someday might have to face. Thankfully, (this story) reminds us that although life happens and tragedies ensue, love has the ability to adapt. Somehow love is flexible and strong enough to step up to the challenges it faces."

While some of the stories describe married couples who have lost that loving feeling, a good portion of the book is dedicated to challenges and trials that emerge in all kinds of relationships. One story describes a family who chooses to deliver hot coffee to some tired, cold rangers as a blessing, while another describes a woman who reconnected with her sisters after years of separation.

Overall, the quality of these stories is solid, but fans of Gary Chapman may find themselves wishing he had contributed more than a four-page introduction and a few paragraphs at the end of each chapter. Recommended to fans of Chapman as well as readers of Chicken Soup for the Soul.

--- Reviewed by Margaret Oines

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Have you ever picked up a book just because of the title?, June 5, 2009

By 

Dawn Ewing "Dawnafer" - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Love is a Verb: Stories of What Happens When Love Comes Alive (Hardcover)

Have you ever picked up a book just because of the title? This is such a book for me. I was intrigued by the thought of "love being a verb" so I began to peruse the book. I loved the short chapters with meaningful stories. I enjoyed the scripture verses and author's comments at the end of each chapter. This book was easily read but putting into application all of these thoughts will take time, my time.
Each chapter was written by everyday people with their everyday struggles and challenges but with endings that encourage and uplift the reader.
The final question is how will this book change your life? Love IS a Verb. Do it!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "And the greatest of these is love...", August 19, 2009

By 

D. Meshack "Uplifting Life" (Inglewood, California United States) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Love is a Verb: Stories of What Happens When Love Comes Alive (Hardcover)

Gary Chapman's compilation gently shares the in's and out's, ups and downs, and challenges of loving in a heart-warming and enlightening manner. The Contributing Authors present practical solutions for constructing a legacy of love in all areas of life. The most appealing aspect is good old storytelling that leaves a imprint on the heart.

The collection simplifies the formula for loving others by reminding that Love is exemplified or hidden by actions, choices, and decisions. The collection is easy on the spirit and shines a light on the true essence of love in everyday life