Love is a decision: Ten proven principles to energize your marriage and family [Hardcover]

Gary Smalley (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: 1989

The bestselling authors of The Blessing present a potent action plan based on thirteen proven, transforming principles--secrets common to all successful marriages, relationships, and close-knit families. Through inspiring, real-life stories, the authors show how love is a decision that begins with honor: the foundation for all healthy relationships.

--This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

Product Details

• Hardcover: 215 pages
• Publisher: Word Pub (1989)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0849907217
• ISBN-13: 978-0849907210
• Product Dimensions: 9 x 6.1 x 1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (29 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #296,831 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Gary Smalley is one of the country's best known authors and speakers on family relationships. He is the author and coauthor of 16 best-selling, award-winning books along with several popular films and videos. He has spent over 30 years learning, teaching, and counseling. Gary has personally interviewed hundreds of singles and couples and has surveyed thousands of people at his seminars, asking two questions: what is it that strengthens your relationships and what weakens them?

Gary's books combined have sold over 5 million copies. Many of them have even been translated into various languages. "The Blessing" and "The Two Sides of Love" have won the Gold Medallion Award for excellence in literature. "The Language of Love" won the Angel Award as the best contribution to family life. All other titles have been top-five finalists for the Gold Medallion Award.

In the last 30 years, Gary has spoken to over 2 million people in live conferences. He has been presenting his live two-day workshop, "Love Is a Decision," once a month for the last 20 years. Television audiences all over the world have viewed his award-winning infomercial, "Hidden Keys to Loving Relationships." Several versions of the infomercial--first with Dick Clark, then with John Tesh and Connie Sellecca, and also with Frank and Kathie Lee Gifford--have been aired. This 18-videotape series has sold over 4 million tapes.

Gary Smalley has appeared on national television programs such as "Oprah," "Larry King Live," "Extra," "The Today Show," and "Sally Jessy Raphael," as well as numerous national radio programs. Gary has been featured on hundreds of regional and local television and radio programs across the United States.

Gary and his wife, Norma, have been married for 40 years and live in Branson, Missouri. They have three children, Kari, Greg, and Michael, and six grandchildren.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

31 of 31 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars I never imagined marriage could be so wonderful, July 25, 2000

By 

Cindy (San Diego, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Is A Decision (Paperback)

This was the first marriage book I was able to read without becoming angry about all the things my husband WASN'T doing. Instead, for the first time ever, I suddenly saw the things I WAS doing to push my husband away from me, to crush his spirit. God truly used this book to show me His amazing and perfect plan and order for marriage, and my life hasn't been the same since. And when I changed, made the decision to honor my husband, he became everything I had hoped for without even trying or realizing. We are best friends now, not antagonists to one another. I never dreamed marriage could be as wonderful as mine is right now.

28 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Awesome Book...RE: David Bess, September 16, 2002

By 

Brad Bennett (Edmond, Oklahoma) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Is A Decision (Paperback)

In David Bess's review, he says there are better books. This might be true. But I liked this book because, when I read it, I was not involved in any church or religion and the book did not overly "push" any certain religion upon me. It did, however, open my eyes to concepts and things I had been blind to in my marriage. It also convinced me to start going to church and other things. I read the book in one night because I couldn't stop reading. I think this book is very good for people who haven't been living like christians and who don't necessarily want a lot of biblical quotes and chrisitian teachings at first, which might, due to the fact the person isnt currently practicing faith, deter them from finishing the book. The book has certainly changed my outlook on life, love, marriage and has even convinced me that finally the time has come to re-affirm my faith and start living like I know I should. READ THIS BOOK.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Definitely a Life Changer, December 6, 2002

By 

"remo_934" (West St. Paul, MN United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love Is a Decision: Thirteen Proven Principles to Energize Your Marriage and Family (Mass Market Paperback)

I had read several books, including a couple of Smalley's other works. Didn't expect to learn anything "new," but figured I would get a rehash of everything else that I've picked up over the years.
When he defined Honor and Genuine Love, it hit me in a way that it never had before - and makes complete sense. It heightened my curiosity, and made me want to explore a little further.
It was the piece of the missing puzzle. I've learned new things and you will too.
This book is a must for anyone serious about making the commitment to either get married, or to strengthen their marriage.
The books mentioned previously are good, but if you come out of this with a clear definition of Honor and Genuine Love, you will come out a winner and it will be worth the price!