Formerly a Wife: A Survival Guide for Women Facing the Pain and Disruption of Divorce (Paperback)

by Welby A. O'Brien (Author)

Product Details

• Paperback: 232 pages
• Publisher: Horizon Books Publishers (September 1996)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 088965137X
• ISBN-13: 978-0889651371
• Product Dimensions: 8.3 x 5.2 x 0.6 inches
• Shipping Weight: 7 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #1,148,119 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

47 of 47 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Fantastic woman to woman detail that every man must read!, September 23, 1998

By A Customer

The approach by O'Brien, who has a master's degree in counseling was to detail the process of divorce from a woman's perspective. She shows the pain and rejection, the anger and the effect of consequence of divorce.

O'Brien lures you in by starting soft, then pinning you to the wall with detailed accounts of hard hitting real life drama that we all relate to. You will cry with her and later share her triumphs.

This book is not a self centered portrait putting the author on center stage. Rather it is an eye opening account of the author's observation of experiences that prove common to most women. It is a selfless and very healing protrayel of the steps needed for survival. This is not a 'see the duckie' fuzzy kids story. This is an 'I was eaten by the bear ... and lived' horror story, that though tragic in reality then, leads the author to show what every woman must now do, just to keep on living.

The author leads into amazingly simple but maningful steps for every woman to take to regain her life, her self meaning, her physical and emotional well being.

I however am a man. This book had a different meaning to me. I also saw the tragedies caused by my own caulousness and the devastating effect that it had on my own ex wife. Yet I saw the common survival techniques were as valuable to me as a man as they were meant to be for the woman of divorce. I also related well to Ms. O'Briens unique observation of dealing with the painful emotional waves of marital seperation ... the FEEL, DEAL, HEAL approach. Too many others have just tried to help us make the pain go away, Ms. O'Brien shows us how to face off with and conquer it.

This book is destined to become a classic on the subject of divorce, and should be required reading for any one facing or recovering from divorce, and those guiding others through it.

11 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Timely & insightful!, August 27, 1999

By A Customer

Welby O'Brien has obviously been there!! She gives practical advice on issues large or small that impact a life after divorce, especially an unexpected divorce. I felt like I was reading the book about me. I find that I continually refer to her book for practical guidelines as well as the great questions she poses at the end of each chapter. This is a must for all christian women who have gone through a divorce.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Spoke from my heart, January 9, 2007

By	S. Evans "S. Evans" (Texas) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I cried when I read this book because everything I was feeling was written here. I felt validated and not alone. I highly recommend this resource. It is excellent.