Customer Reviews

The Sanctity of Marriage Handbook: The Ultimate Guide to Marriage--Between a Man and a Woman--Featuring Those WhoCast the First Stone

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This little handbook is the absolute perfect weapon in any debate with anyone who is anti same-sex marriage. The reviewer who calls its execution "flawed" takes the book too seriously--anyone who picks up a $10 paperback with images of wedding cake toppers consumed in the flames of hell on the jacket thinking it is going to be some serious political tome has major perception problems, for which he should seek professional help (and perhaps a tutorial in spellcheck--takes guts to criticize a writer when you can't even spell hypocrisy yourself.) A funny, snide, sarcastic read, this is the perfect stocking stuffer for the progressive--or die-hard Republican--in your family.

Approximately one year ago, I was having a phone conversation with a close (albeit Republican) relative. She started arguing that two members of the same sex couldn't get married because the Bible said so and that we need to "protect the children." This relative just happens to be divorced and had an adulterous affair with a married man for many years. I haven't spoken to her since and she should have her own entry in this book. She'll be getting the book as a Christmas gift--as should all Republicans and, especially, all Christians who claim, like my relative, to be fine moral citizens...

We all know people that we absolutely adore who choose to have relationships with the same sex. Who are we to dictate that? This book provides some great information in a light hearted manner. We all need to be more open and allow people the right to determine their own preferences regarding their partners. After all that is what our country was founded on. Good book with good information for being more open minded. Annie Lawrence, author Love's Secret Live Your Life In Love.

"The Sanctity of Marriage" Handbook was published nearly 5 years ago-- but it's strangely relevant now with ballot propositions in California and Arizona. Instead of facing the usual arguments against same-sex marriage ("ewww,they're icky" or "they can't make babies"),the author takes on the arguers themselves. The author,in his own sardonic way,takes on Christian conservatives who've conveniently forgotten Jesus' words of "why do you bother your brother about the log in his eye when you have a plank in your own?"

"Sanctity of Marriage" takes on the usual suspects- Ann Coulter,who dated a pr0n magnate's son,the conservative blogger/male prostitute Jeff Gannon,serial adulterer Newt Gingrich (who is currently praising Prop. 8),along with Gary Bauer (famous for spending waaay too much time with a blonde secretary) and Bob Barr (who now opposes the Federal Marriage Amendment). It reads like a celebrity rag,not unlike OK! or US magazine. It has the depth of Brangelina's onset romance or Amy Winehouse's latest shenanigans.

"Sanctity of Marriage" has the full texts of the Defense of Marriage Act as well as the quixotic Federal Marriage Amendment (it's still on the GOP platform,despite Hurricane Ike,rising gas/food prices,the Iraq/Afghanistan wars) The book could use some expansion. It doesn't have Sally Kerns,R-Oklahoma,who equated marrying gays to terrorists,or GOP presidential candidate Mitt Romney,who said that marriage is between "a man and a woman and a woman and a woman."

Now that Prop.8 is a circus in California,send in the clowns!

Harris does a wonderful job of exposing just how contrary those who argue for family values can be from what they support! His book is not only hilarious, it also really gives the reader a good grasp on how duplicitous some people within the government can be in their personal lives. One example is a politician who impeached another because of his sexual affairs, yet was involved in his own at the same time! You will enjoy this book for its humor, but also for the hard facts that it provides. Political figures, beware!

This book had me in stitches. It's about time somebody pointed out how full of it these guys are. And Harris's witty banter is purely hillarious. It's hard to remember how tragic the issue is when you're doubled over laughing.

Bravo! We need more books like this.

The book goes through the hypocritcal right wingers and their vows of the sanctity of marriage. The quotes to back up some of the people would be funny, if it wasnt so sad.

It's a small book, but it's interesting.

In exposing the hypocrisy of those social and poltical leaders that wish to legislate morality, The Sanctity of Marriage Handbook pursues an admirable goal. However, this worthy goal is marred by Harris' clumsy style and questionable accuaracy.

At its best, Harris' writing is unsteady and full of the false bravado of a never-before-published author. At its worst, it is simply juvenile, full of the 'nee-ner, nee-ner' spite of a small child tattling on an errant sibling. What Harris does not seem to realize is that the comedy of his subject's statements stands on its own. His attempts to punch-up the humor through his commentary often punches it out instead. Also, as a stylistic note, Harris would have been well served by having an editor explain to him that using single-sentence paragraphs to emphasize a point can be very effective.

When used in moderation.

The issue of Harris' inaccuracy is most likely a matter of overzealousness. While his quotes seem to be accurate, many are presented with no consideration for their context. Harris engages in the sort of selective hearing that has made Michael Moore such a well-respected political commentator.

Any potential buyer for this book should ask herself the following question: "Am I looking for thoughtful commentary, or snide dismissal?" If the answer is the latter, then she should by all means purchase The Sanctity of Marriage Handbook. Some of the hypocrisy highlighted is wickedly funny, despite the author's commentary. If, however, she is looking for the former, she would be better served by spending her money elsewhere.