Customer Reviews

The Marriage You've Always Wanted

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Every couple enters the gateway of marriage hoping their journey will last forever. Yet in The Marriage You've Always Wanted, Dr. Gary Chapman shares the sobering statistic that half of all couples today will probably split up. It doesn't have to be that way, he says. Since thousands have sought him for counsel, his book captures sage advice in a concise, readable form.

As bestselling author of The Five Love Languages, Chapman is the leading expert on what leads to unity in loving relationships. The key lies in yielding our own faults and weaknesses before the throne of Christ and asking the Holy Spirit to transform our behavior, words, and attitudes. In other words, we focus on changing ourselves, not our spouse.

In candid detail, Chapman offers personal anecdotes from his own marriage, as well as stories that flesh out marital problems and solutions. Each chapter delves into a different aspect of marriage, such as its purpose, why people marry, the art of listening, decision making, sexual fulfillment, leaving and honoring parents, and financial planning.

This book is a revised and updated edition of Chapman's Toward a Growing Marriage. Church libraries and marriage counselors will want this newer version. Ideally, it would make excellent reading and discussion material for couples before they marry. Yet, it offers examples and hope to couples in crisis situations, as well as those seeking to further strengthen an already wholesome marriage. -Heather Lynn Ivester, Christian Book Previews

Dr. Chapman is one of those authors who is able to blend a certain degree of humor, practical advice (that actually works), and yet is able to basically tell it like he sees it, all without irritating the reader or giving up his pastorship in the process. I love this guy.

Dr. Chapman wisely writes about the big hitters in a marriage; money, sex, personality, and even in-laws (something that is always needed to be discussed but rarely is). He does add a healthy dose of religion, but this shouldn't scare the non-religious reader because it is definitely not overbearing, nor is it "preachy" and you'd miss a whole lot of wonderful advice. This book is both suitable to the newly married, the veterans, and probably even those thinking about it.

This book is an update to one of his earlier books, "Toward a Growing Marriage." If you've read the former, this book might not provide you with anything really new so you may want to choose another. However, if you haven't read the former, this book is definitely a more accessible version for the average reader so buy this one.

Dr. Chapman just tells it like it is. I am not currently married but have been. I decided to read this book after reading about the love languages. It would be good for someone to read the five love languages before reading this book because he refers to the love languages. I can see where this book could help a couple get to know each other again, spruce up the marriage, or become "unstuck". If or when I should be married again, I would like my partner to read this book just for general knowledge.

My wife and I are Christian marriage counselors and this is one of the main books we give to couples for a comprehensive manual on improving their marriages. We have heard Dr. Chapman in person and he is authentic, down-to-earth and very biblical with a great sense of humor. The chapters are short so "non-readers" (some men and some women) are able to stay with the reading. We also like the exercises for couples at the end of each chapter as homework. Highly recommended for those wishing to grow in their marriage and understand God's design for marriage.

Every couple enters the gateway of marriage hoping their journey will last forever. Yet in The Marriage You've Always Wanted, Dr. Gary Chapman shares the sobering statistic that half of all couples today will probably split up. It doesn't have to be that way, he says. Since thousands have sought him for counsel, his book captures sage advice in a concise, readable form.

As bestselling author of The Five Love Languages, Chapman is the leading expert on what leads to unity in loving relationships. The key lies in yielding our own faults and weaknesses before the throne of Christ and asking the Holy Spirit to transform our behavior, words, and attitudes. In other words, we focus on changing ourselves, not our spouse.

In candid detail, Chapman offers personal anecdotes from his own marriage, as well as stories that flesh out marital problems and solutions. Each chapter delves into a different aspect of marriage, such as its purpose, why people marry, the art of listening, decision making, sexual fulfillment, leaving and honoring parents, and financial planning.

This book is a revised and updated edition of Chapman's Toward a Growing Marriage. Church libraries and marriage counselors will want this newer version. Ideally, it would make excellent reading and discussion material for couples before they marry. Yet, it offers examples and hope to couples in crisis situations, as well as those seeking to further strengthen an already wholesome marriage. - Heather Lynn Ivester, Christian Book Previews

This is an awesome book written by an awesome man. Dr. Chapman has really helped me to evolve. I will read anything he puts out. Highly recommended.

I am still working my way through this book, which is a practical book on how to improve our marriage by growing in our Christian walk. Although geared toward those wanting to improve their marriage, good advice is given for how to get along with everyone...not just our spouse!

This book was assigned to me for a class but I am so amazed at how Chapman's writing can change your heart for the best! If you are married or going to be married this book can give you the tools you need to maintain open and honest communication. It encourage unconditional love, and the guidance needed to see marriage as a life long commitment to honor God.

We purchased this book to go along with The Five Love Languages: How to Express Heartfelt Commitment to Your Mate, as well as a follow up to one of Dr. Chapman's conferences.

The advice, much like in *The Five Love Languages*, is straight forward and well thought out.

While these books may not save a marriage mired in addiction or deep financial problems--it will help a marriage that has forgotten how to (or never learned to) communicate.

Well worth it.

The concept of oneness and intimacy that Dr. Chapman reveals produces the most amazing and rewarding marriage realtionship possible. The more we practice his concepts, the better our marriage gets and it was good to start with.