As a person looking for tips on relationship-building, I ...
594505
As a person looking for tips on relationship-building, I found it an insightful read. However, the spiritual aspect was a little too abstract for me to understand and appreciate fully.
3490231
The spiritual guidebook to relationships is a collaboration between two writers/teachers, one male and one female. Lodro is a Buddhist teacher and Meggan is a feminist Christian mystic. They each draw from multiple spiritual sources and a variety of personal experiences in exploring how we can be more mindful and more authentic in our relationships with ourselves and others. While the book focuses a lot on romantic relationships, it looks intensely at our relationship with our self and how that guides our way of relating to others. This book covers multiple aspects of relationships, including sexual intimacy, and provides suggestions for how to be more self-aware, more present, and more open to love. Each chapter concludes with a set of numbered tips that summarize the advice offered by both authors in that chapter. There are also a variety of quotes from sources such as Pema Chodron, Thich Nhat Hanh, A Course in Miracles, and other well known writers. The end of the book has a section for the reader to jot down any notes they have while reading the book. This is a nice self-help book to explore how to have better relationships while learning to love and appreciate oneself more.
897880
Though a lot of the advice in the book does seem a bit like "common sense", it is presented with a refreshing clarity and with specific examples that make this book readable and persuasive.  This book focuses on how to sustain and build relationships, and identifies specific actions or behaviors that are maladaptive to relationships as well as others that help us rebuild and repair.

One thing I related to in this book was the idea that some people grow up learning to be very stoic with a "keep your chin up" mentality (eg, me), and others are really encouraged to talk through and express their emotions. When a couple contains one of each of these types, it can be challenging to talk through issues in a way where both people feel understood.  It takes a lot of work to learn how to put the way you are feeling into words, if it's not something that you grew up with, and this book had some suggestions that I found helpful.

Another interesting point was this idea of "bids", i.e., individual mini-requests for attention or affection (i.e., asking spouse to make you tea, or suggesting to go out this weekend) and that the way you respond (not necessarily just yes/no, but how you show the other that you acknowledge their request even if you can't meet it) is integral to the relationship.  So even if you have a project to finish and can't go out on Saturday to the beach, saying more than "I'm busy and can't go" but maybe suggesting an alternative or even just expressing your desire to spend time with the other, is helpful and sometimes sufficient.

This was a really helpful book on understanding human relationships, and I marked a lot of pages I'm sure I'll return to.
2496183
I am still reading it but it has been a real help to me as I seek my own grown-up girlfriends and know how to be a friend as well. I am learning what a healthy relationship looks like.
743161
but I struggle sometimes at figuring out what makes other people tick. I wish there was more information on how to identify strengths in other people or discover which people are worth pairing up with. I felt the book was missing a chapter at the end that might tie things together better. Overall I loved the way the online tool created custom PDFs for me.
3574377
I enjoyed the tips they gave readers on ditching dating in the digital world. I'm a very social person and hate talking on the phone, but I agree that dating today has lost that old fashioned charm. Connecting with a person can only be done in person. I like the two views on certain issues, and I'm very glad they left their personal story for the end. This was a nice free find, so check it out if you're stuck in a dating rut.
2610674
It is a very goo break-down of each of the stages of dating; from both the male and female perspective. Author takes what he learned from relationships (his own and his clients) and offers practical advice of how to side-step potential pitfalls, or how to deal with them as you follow these exact steps". This book is about how to transform yourself into a better partner (which inturn can make you more attractive to the opposite sex, a commonly-announced but rarely achieved goal of many books about relationship.
3754173
Good read for those guys who have failed at relationships before, and that is what this book focuses on.

All too often, relationships are built on the wrong foundation, and that often results in disaster. This book will equip you with the tools you need to not only show you how to get a girlfriend but how to choose the right one.

Meaningful relationships are more than just looks and this perspective will teach you about that.

If you have struggled at building long-lasting relationships then you might want to give this book a read. I found it quite interesting.
2574036
I'm a big fan of Heather Forbes, Brian Post etc., but while they convince me of the 'why', I need more tips on how. I felt like this book encourages overlooking disagreeable behavior.  I get it, in choosing love, the behavior will change, but I found myself wanting more coping strategies for in the meantime.
4888697
Does a great job at grouping people by their personality and what fills their bucket.  Most relationship books say "better communication" but that is so vague and means something different for everyone.  This helps you understand what makes the special people in your life feel loved and will help you foster relationships that build each other up and help you appreciate each other more.
3295048
I wasn't looking for a self-help book. I just wanted to be more focused on myself. This book is key. The preface caught my interest and made me want to read further to see what I could learn about me.  Each chapter is written simply with personal stories that relate to everyday life. The journal prompts at the end of each chapter were key for me, I am a terrible journal-er and used the prompts to lead my self-discovery. In short, I would suggest this book to anyone looking for a way to find their faith and deepen it through simple, everyday life.
2421359
Although I am not married, I purchased the book to learn to strengthen my male relationships. The Author does provide realistic guidance to achieving a healthy relationship.
2564607
If you are like most people, you think that there are many relationships in which you find yourself that you think, "That could have gone better!"  Or maybe you are like many others that have seen relationships fall apart and wondered why.  Still yet, you might have great relationships, but are looking for ways to keep them that way.  If any of this describes you, read on!  If not, you might want to save a few minutes and read the comics.

Having established that you are interested in helping your relationships stay vital, allow me to introduce you to a great book.  Love At Last Sight by Kerry and Chris Shook (Who brought you the 30 days to live campaign) have hit a home run with this simple, active and often intriguing book on relationships.  Normally, books do a good job focusing on romantic relationships, friendships or business relationships.  The Shooks have done a great job of addressing how to improve relationships across the board.

Each day a new concept is introduced as Kerry and Chris help you to look at four key areas of relationships.  They deal with the Art of Being There in which they address how to make sure that you give each other the relational attention you did as you began the relationship.  In addition, they address being proactive in your relationships.  While most of us shift into neutral and watch our relationships go down into the icy waters of indifference, they help us to see how simple, little, incremental decisions can help to make sure we stay steaming on the surface.  One of the best sections of the book is the section in which they address being willing to be uncomfortable as a means of keeping the relationship fresh and vibrant.  Instead of allowing our comfort with each other to act like an anesthetic, they suggest that being awkward enough to express need, anger and feelings just might be the key to making sure that changes in the relationship move it to the right place and level to make sure they last a lifetime.  Lastly, they talk about Letting Go of hurt, insecurity, pride, guilt, selfishness, unrealistic expectation and the shadows of our past as a means of solidying the present and future or our key relationships.

This is not an easy book to read, but it is an even more difficult book to act upon.  It is not that it uses a vast vocabulary or has long chapters or a contrived subject.  It is hard because it calls for, expects and anticipates action on each and every concept.  It requires introspection, but also outer action.  It requires soul-searching, but also an investigation of those with whom we have relationships.  It not only calls for looking in, but looking out and up.

If you ever wished a book would come along with some practical advice, action and activity to help you work on, maintain and improve your significant relationships, look no further.  It can be found in Love At Last Sight by Kerry and Chris Shook!

[...]
3471854
Anyone can have a one-night stand, but how do you maintain an ongoing, sexually stimulating relationship that will last a lifetime? This book explores how to create a lasting bond with your partner and increase her pleasure as well as your own. It offers helpful suggestions and informative discussions on this delicate topic in a frank and honest way. We all have struggles in the sexual arena, and even the best marriages can be improved. This is a book for couples, not for the random Don Juan looking to score some tail. If you aren't willing to do the hard work required for a lasting intimate relationship, don't get this book. If, however, you love your partner and want to build something to last forever, this book can help you out.
3798655
Ok, I'm only on chapter 9 so far and I thought thia book was going to be much like the same relationship/dating books I have already read, but it is not. I've actually been having problems with the guy I've been seeing for the past year and I tried ONLY one of Matthew's tips/lines for kicks and giggles and to my suprise it actually worked. We've actually been having trouble communicating and not seeing eye to eye on anything, but today we had a VERY pleasant conversation and that seriously hasn't happened in WEEKS.

I'm in sales as an occupation so I believe I know how to successfully relate to and build rapport with people, but dealing with relationships, it's a different ball game.  I am definitely going to continue this book and take notes while doing so.

I HONESTLY didn't think I would get anything useful from this book, but thought I may find a few hints here and there, but I definitely am expecting so much more with my continued reading.
3480257
This book has some difficult concepts to grapple with in today's society, and I'm not going to say you are inherently non-Christian if you don't agree with what the author says about dating. This is an important thing to dig into, however, and if you have opportunity to read this book, do so.
Mr. Holzmann lays it out pretty bluntly and in a way that anyone can understand, and sometimes that comes off as a tad cheesy, but if you look past that, he has many good points, such as:
Don't go into a "committed" relationship without a clear purpose in mind. Plan ahead what you intend to do, and make sure it's clear what's going on.
Don't treat some friends with respect while treating others like trash.
Focus on being a friend first and let the relationship develop if it will.

I've seen some interesting reviews on this book, some good, some bad. I found some stuff useful, and other stuff not as much. I think to wrap up I'd say it does make perfect sense to properly get to know the person you intend to marry. John Stone, a campus minister, said that you need to be able to like the person you're going to marry, not just find them attractive. How do you know you like a person if you don't know them? What better way to get to know someone than to simply be friends with them? This book has some valuable stuff in it, and I'd say it's worth reading if you're going to books for dating advice.
3569511
I personally know Jamie. She has made several moves in her young life, including a cross-cultural move, and has learned what it takes to connect with others in a new community. She is transparent, authentic, and practical in helping others find friendship and belonging in a new place.

For those who find it difficult to initiate relationships, Jamie's step by step process will be a helpful guide to building new relationships. Though the guide is written with young mom's in mind, I believe the process that Jamie offers can be helpful to anyone - male or female, young or mature.