I Will Never Leave You: How Couples Can Achieve The Power Of Lasting Love (Paperback)

~ (Author), Gayle Prather (Author) "within for a different picture of reality from the one the world is continually holding up..." (more)
Key Phrases: prime thought, justifying thoughts, ego peace, Aunt Clara, Real Argument, Little League (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Drawing on personal experience and case studies, the Prathers (Notes to Myself), human-potential workshop leaders in Arizona, argue that breaking up is seldom the best solution for a troubled marriage and can wreak emotional havoc in children. They make a strong case for avoiding today's trend toward separation psychology-the belief that humans function better when they don't "need" others. Detailing the eight stages ("mindsets") of "real" relationships, the authors show how partners can protect their marriage against such threats as infidelity, financial insecurity and even the special problems of step-parenting. Candid examples of how the Prathers overcame obstacles in their own marriage add to this book's credibility.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

From Library Journal

New Age inspirational writers Hugh and Gayle Prather continue their promotion of long-term relationships, one of the themes explored in Notes to Each Other (Bantam, 1990) and A Book for Couples (LJ 2/1/88). Decrying "separation psychology," which emphasizes self-fulfillment over fidelity, the authors assert that leaving a partner rarely makes anyone happier. Drawing on both their 30 years of married life and their 20 years of practice as marriage counselors, the Prathers outline the eight stages of a relationship, point out common difficulties, and give practical-though sometimes simplistic-strategies for coping with affairs, infatuation, finances, and stepfamilies. This basic marriage counseling guide is recommended especially for self-help collections where New Age books are popular.
Lucille Boone, San Jose P.L., Cal.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc. --This text refers to an out of print or unavailable edition of this title.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 396 pages
• Publisher: Bantam; Bantam Trade Paperback Ed edition (January 1, 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0553375318
• ISBN-13: 978-0553375312
• Product Dimensions: 8.2 x 5.3 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 12 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (11 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #389,628 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

18 of 19 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Breaking the Illusions, August 22, 2000

By A Customer

This book has saved my marriage, and will probably save it again in the future.

My husband and I have a closer and loving relationship because of the things we've learned and worked on from this book. We both read different chapters for ourselves and to each other. We still go back from time to time and reread different passages about anger and fear. It's so well written and supported by Hugh and Gayle Prather's personal experiences as well as those of couples they've counseled. I love the way they challenge many socially accepted ideas. In being aware of similar thought processes and patterns, my husband and I have been able to get to the core of real problems instead of dancing around the problems that aren't really problems at all.

This book is not for people who do not want to grow. It's not for people who think that marriage does not require work. It's not for people who are under the illusion that "marriage isn't supposed to be this hard." It's for people who want to believe in their choices, and who believe in the specialness of a longlasting relationship, and who've realized if they don't work it with this person, they'll just have to work it out with the next.

Those who aren't afraid to fight for what's important will want to read this book. Those people who want to stop blaming others for their own unawareness will want this book. I really can't say it any better than Gadban from Minnesota. It truly is a book to read before you give up on all you've invested in and break the promise you made before your spouse, friends, family, and God.

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent antidote to the ease of divorce, October 19, 1997

By	[e-mail] (Maggie Hunt-Cohn, Austell, GA) - See all my reviews

October 19, 1997 Book Review Occasionally a self-help book by support group leaders shows me the author is a light bearer. If you aren't lucky enough to have such help for a rocky marriage, their book is clear enough, loving enough, comprehensive enough, that you might find guidelines to save it with. The book is "I Will Never Leave You; How Couples Cam Achieve the Power of Lasting Love." by Hugh and Gayle Prather. I picked it up in hard cover, from the remainder table at our bookstore. I sure hope it's being issued in soft cover. The authors are as concerned as any of us about the widespread belief that divorce can make for happiness for at least the person leaving. They point out that your every such desertion withers your soul a little more. They have seen how people grow by sticking with the promise made with "I do." Their first chapter, "The Twenty First Century Relationship," tells the sorry story of today's broken marriages and half orphaned children. Readers will recognize these sad facts. Glance ahead and see chapters and subjects like "Beyond I, Me and Mine, The Part of You That Chose Your Partner. A Potential for Healing Can Look like War. Four Sensitizing Techniques, Predisposing Expectations, Four Examples of Core Dynamics. The Eight Mindsets of a Real Relationship. Protecting and Perfecting a Real Relationship, and "I Will Never Leave You: the Six Promises of a Real Relationship." And there are about six pages of such carefully thought out headings. END

16 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Simply Excellent, January 4, 2001

By	J. Charles Hansen (San Jose, CA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This is a beautiful, thoughtful book written by a husband and wife team who offer an antidote to the prevailing mindset which has resulted in a high divorce rate and millions of broken promises. The Prathers impart some wisdom on the subject of enduring relationships based on their own experiences and those of the many couples they have counseled over the years.

The authors take us through the different stages of a marriage and map out what to expect and how to deal with these changes. They present an excellent strategy for having arguments, and discuss how much people lose out on by choosing divorce. There is a good chapter on dealing with an affair. They end with the six promises of a real relationship

I felt that almost everything they have to say here rings true. This is a great roadmap for staying married forever and reaping the rewards of lifelong love and friendship. They inspire me to have a successful and "real" marriage.

I would highly recommend this book to anyone.