5 comments about 1001 Questions to Ask Before You Get Married.

1. I really hope that if you are getting married, you have discussed most of the topics in this book before. If not, then the book should be helpful...but you might also reconsider getting married if these things haven't been discussed. There are a few topics that aren't obvious to discuss and if the book prompts that discussion, then it has done its job.



2. This book is really great. It asks questions that we wouldn't normally think of and gave us alot of insight to one another and they are serious questions that every couple should ask one another. It has really helped us communicate about some serious subjects. Thanks!



3. This book of 1001 questions steps you through the inquiries all couples should discuss before walking down the aisle. Whether it is asking questions relating to the past, significant others (which many couples do not care to banter about), personal perspectives, or daily routines - author Monica Mendez Leahy understands the foundational essence of talking through these subjects.
   
   You and your spouse-to-be have probably discussed a few of the run-of-the-mill questions contained in this book (e.g., Do you want children?). However, many of the chapters pinpoint pet-peeves, how often you like to dine out, what your stance is on separate vacations, and your reaction to tough times. Many chapters end by offering thoughts on the answers each of you gave and urges reconciliation where differences were unearthed.
   
   This book should not be purchased with dread, but should be viewed as an opportunity to enrich your relationship and learn more about the person you love. It is a must-read for any couple even throwing around the idea of marriage and it also is terrific for pastors and pre-marital counselors who are looking to toss in a few a-typical questions for couples.



4. My fiance and I are going through this book before we get married, and its been alot of help. We're learning a few new things about each other, but mostly it is getting us talking about our views and what we want for the future.



5. I love this book! My fiance and I went through it and it's taken us over a year to complete it, but we're talkers. It gave us a great opportunity to share information about ourselves that we might not have thought of or that we might have been reluctant to bring up on our own. In other words, it's a great vehicle for meaningful conversation and exploration. I'm a psychologist and I recommend this book to couples (married or not) to help with existing issues or to proactively address many questions that come up naturally in relationships. I even bought it for my brother and his girlfriend. It will make you think about what you really want in a relationship.

5 comments about Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts: Seven Questions to Ask Before and After You Marry.

1. Easy to read and follow, applicable to real life, suitable for individual, couple or small group study. I recommend the companion workbooks, too, in order to get the full benefits of the book.



2. We're using this book in a Couples Sunday School Class as a study guide and are working through the chapters and workbook questions together. It's true that more planning goes into the wedding than the marriage. Sooner or later we have to put work into the marriage to make it work and to enjoy the fullness of the union got intended. Well written. Thought provoking.



3. The first CD of the 4-CD set wouldn't read in my car radio, so I started with #2. This book came highly recommended, and I drive so much I thought I'd try a book on tape. It is in fact a really great book (so far), and it's nice to have it read by the people who actually wrote the book...it's very hard to misinterpret anything in the book. I think I will have to buy the print version though...I find it a little hard to really absorb what's being said while driving.



4. My Girlfriend and I are going through this book and it has helped us think through many issues that we would not have thought of. SYMBIS has tons of good insight and advice



5. Having counseled many couples in 25 years of pastoral ministry, I have read several books on marital, interpersonal relationships. The authors present sound principles that are easy for people to understand and to apply. I had a few older favorites I would recommend to couples until reading this book -- now I have a new favorite to share instead!
   
   One of the unique, most admirable qualities of this work is that it is very helpful to persons regardless of their marital status. A single individual will find it helpful for insight during dating. A person who is engaged will find it helpful in identifying issues that are sure to arise within marriage. A newlywed will find it helpful in responding to the major adjustments of sharing his/her life with another person. A person who has been married for several years will find it helpful in understanding how a marriage deepens and grows over the course of time.
   
   I strongly recommend this book to anyone wanting to enhance an upcoming marriage or an existing one. There are accompanying workbooks, one for men and one for women, that are also very helpful. This book is definitely one to own!

5 comments about The Truth about Cheating: Why Men Stray and What You Can Do to Prevent It.

1. This book is about a bunch of excuses husbands give for betraying their wives. From She didn't pay enough attention to "ME", to not enough sex. Yes, I did read this book from beginning to end. Since this book also confirms that husbands lie about cheating, then of course they're going to lie about the reasons they cheat. And the reasons these husbands give in this book works! Wives actually believe these excuses and tend to blame themselves. First off, a husband will not cheat on his wife if he loves and respects her. PERIOD! Men will never admit the real reason why they cheat. Why husbands cheat is very simple. You don't have to buy any book to tell you this. You don't have to see a shrink or talk to your mother or girlfriends as to "why". You don't have to go on the Dr. Phil show, or Oprah show or any other show. Husbands cheat because they can. Because society (especially the wives) don't hold them accountable. As long as a husband doesn't face hard consequences he will keep on cheating. The last statistics I heard of (years ago) said that 9 out of 10 wives forgive a cheating husband (men know this). Yet, 9 out of 10 husbands DO NOT forgive a cheating wife. Why? Because men see forgiving a cheating wife as weak on the husbands part. So they see their wives as weak for forgiving them. If there's one think I know about men is that men do not respect weakness. Husbands do not respect forgiving wives. Yes, they want you to forgive them because they want their cake and eat it too. So, to all you women who forgive your husbands for cheating and you stay in the marriage, you are staying with a man that doesn't respect you. HE WILL NOT TELL YOU THIS! That is one of those deep dark secrets that men don't want women to know. If you don't believe me, then ask your best male friend that question. Ask a male friend that you know who will tell you the truth. Now, here's another secret about women. Women do not respect their husbands if they cheat on them. Men, you will never get that respect back. She will never look at you in the same way. If your wife stays in the marriage then she does it for the money, children, fear, scared of the unknown or because she has low-self-esteem. Some say that women stay with an unfaithful husband because she doesn't think she deserves anyone better. I have a different view on that. Maybe women stay because they know that there isn't much better out there then what they have. Food for thought! So now you have 2 people who don't respect each other in a relationship. Heaven help them if they have children. Women, if you want men to stop cheating we have to band together. Never, ever stay with a cheating husband. If you do then you condemn your daughters, your grand daughters and every female born after to the same misery you are going through. But then misery does love company!
   
   Want to know how to tell if a husband will cheat on you before you marry him? Did your husband try to jump in your pants on the first date? A man who will jump in bed with you on the first date is not marriage material. This is also a guarantee that he will cheat. A man that will have sex with a woman he doesn't know will cheat. PERIOD
   
   I believe Mr. Neuman's research, but I don't believe that the men were being totally honest with him. They were probably looking around for the camera. After you listen to the reasons they gave for betraying their wives you should of asked them if they really cheated because they knew they could because of their arrogant and self-entitlement attitude. I can't wait for your next book on why wives cheat. My opinion is totally different then why husbands cheat.
   
   P.S. I believe 90% of husband will cheat sometime in their marriage. A male friend of mine thinks it's around 70%. Again, ask your best male friend (non romantic) this question. Ask him to be honest with you.



2. As a man I found that the author was able to describe the ways that men feel about troubled relationships. It put into words many feelings that I and other males experience. I recommend that men read this book so that they might better articulate their distress. One of the reasons men act out their feelings rather than verbalize them is a poverty of language. This book is very articulate and puts the feelings men experience into easily understandable language. My hope is that men will begin to verbalize these feelings and that a dialog between partners can happen before an affair is started.



3. Lets begin with the title of this book. My husband saw me reading this book and he cringed. The title of this book actually started an argument as to why I was reading this book. He thought, I thought he was cheating!!!
   
   My second problem with this book is that it was written awfully similar to "Proper care and feeding of husbands" By Dr. Laura except it was done with a softer tone with facts to back it up. The truth for me is that neither book is/was helpful to my marriage. Both books want the wife to coddle the husband like a child and not hold him responsible, and to only see the good in your husband and over look what's not working, stop nagging etc. Yeah I can see how a husband would love that. It lets them off the hook for say the last 12 years of having your home in disrepair because he promises to finish the home remodeling project within the end of the month.
   
   Trust me if you try the advice in this book you most likely will end up in a much worse place in your marriage then when you started. Nothing will ever be resolved and your husband will never know how unhappy you are until the day you throw the divorce papers at him.
   
   You can not stop your husband from cheating. It's his choice to do so and there is not one thing you as a woman can do to control that choice because it is not YOUR choice.
   
   If you are reading this book in hopes to fix a marriage that has gone bad, run to the phone and get an appointment with a marriage councilor. Open and honest communication is key to any good marriage and having a third party present will help make it safe for BOTH of you speak and help you learn to communicate and resolve issues so you will no longer have the laundry list of unresolved issues to spout about in an argument.
   
   **I am editing my review because I would like to recommend Passionate Marriage: Keeping Love and Intimacy Alive in Committed Relationships by David Schnarch, Ph.d as a book that is helpful for women who want a co-dependent free marriage.



4. Marriage counselor Gary Neuman adds this fascinating book to those he has written on helping kids cope with divorce, and also one on emotional infidelity and finding the spirituality in tie of struggle and happiness.
   
   This book on cheating is based on survey results as well as Neuman's professional experiences. My book has many tabs marking significant pages I want to refer to when talking with friends about this.
   
   The irony is that I am writing this review on our 41st wedding anniversary--and even I learned several things about MEN. Written for women to better understand what makes men tick-and what makes them cheat, Neuman lays it all out.
   
   Actually the author tells women that men are complicated beings even thought women don't think they deal with emotions very well. In fact the reason men cheat are:
   
   - 92% of men living in the U.S. who cheated said it was not primarily about sex.
   - 48% of men said EMOTIONAL DISSATISFACTION was the real reason they cheated.
   
   To eliminate a man's feeling of emotional disconnection, his wife has to take on an attitude of appreciation and kind gestures.
   
   The male psyche is programmed to win, and if he feels like he "cannot win at home no matter what he does" in his marriage, he will find someone else who makes him feel like a winner. A man's world is about simplicity. The idea of lying about having an affair was interesting, and many men lie because they figure it is the easiest of the options they face-like telling the truth. Neuman stated that for every lie that is avoided (after the wife asks...), there is a better chance of repairing the marriage.
   
   The book is done in two parts: 1) Why and how men cheat, and 2) How to improve your marriage. The appendix is about value of therapy and how to heal after an affair.
   
   I liked that each chapter contains some case studies, tips and things to do, and he backs up everything with results of the survey.
   
   This book isn't just for women who feel their husband many already be cheating, but as a prevention manual.
   
   Armchair Interviews says: Very interesting!



5. A comprehensive reading of this book just might save your marriage, especially if you are a female,married or planning to marry. It might also be helpful for any male considering marriage or presently married. If I had read this it could have saved my own marriage which failed due to infidelity. You cannot undo what has been done, not ever.

5 comments about The Guide to Getting It On, 6th Edition.

1. This book is one of the best guides you can find for overall, general information about the sex act. It is very ambitious, and runs the gamut from top to bottom, left to right and every other direction. It's fun to read, and is a must for any sexually active couple. Couples may also like a more specific book about oral sex. The Sensuous Couple's (Flip Over) Guide to Seismic Oral Sex is highly recommended because it is a flip over book. One side is dedicated to cunnilingus; flip it over, and the other side is dedicated to fellatio. Both acts get equal treatment, and it is not necessarily heterosexually biased. Highly recommended.



2. Sorry, but I'm the author of this book, and they wouldn't print this note unless I gave the book a star rating.
   
   We've been wrestling with Amazon for the past year to have the current 5th edition of the GUIDE TO GETTING IT ON come up first when shoppers do a search. It still doesn't. Instead, the 3rd edition from 2001 comes up. Heck, the German edition comes up before the current 5th edition!
   
   I pride myself on making sure that you get the absolute latest information, and I put more work into each new edition than a lot of authors put into an entire new book. You are selling yourself short if you read anything other than the current 5th edition, which is light years better than the 4th edition.
   
   You might ask, what's changed about sex? There's a tremendous amount of new information about human sexuality that is coming out all of the time. We are constantly finding out that we've been wrong about certain things, plus there's new research findings to analyze and integrate. At any given time, I've got a "must read" stack of new publications about sexuality that is at least three feet high--from the latest in the Journal of Sexual Medicine to learning about new sex slang.
   
   If you are reading The Guide, I hope you'll make sure it is the latest edition--which for now is the 5th with a publication date of 2006. We did an updated 2nd printing of this edition in June of 2007.



3. By Dr. Paul Joannides - repost
   Sorry, but I'm the author of this book, and they wouldn't print this note unless I gave the book a star rating.
   
   We've been wrestling with Amazon for the past year to have the current 5th edition of the GUIDE TO GETTING IT ON come up first when shoppers do a search. It still doesn't. Instead, the 3rd edition from 2001 comes up. Heck, the German edition comes up before the current 5th edition!
   
   I pride myself on making sure that you get the absolute latest information, and I put more work into each new edition than a lot of authors put into an entire new book. You are selling yourself short if you read anything other than the current 5th edition, which is light years better than the 4th edition.
   
   You might ask, what's changed about sex? There's a tremendous amount of new information about human sexuality that is coming out all of the time. We are constantly finding out that we've been wrong about certain things, plus there's new research findings to analyze and integrate. At any given time, I've got a "must read" stack of new publications about sexuality that is at least three feet high--from the latest in the Journal of Sexual Medicine to learning about new sex slang.
   
   If you are reading The Guide, I hope you'll make sure it is the latest edition--which for now is the 5th with a publication date of 2006. We did an updated 2nd printing of this edition in June of 2007.



4. My therapist told me about this book and said it was not psycho babble, but edgy, funny, informative, and extremely helpful. Well, with that kind of reccomendation, I went to Amazon and found and bought it! It arrived quickly and that night I started reading, it is all the things my shrink said and more! Anyone wanting to put some spice in your sex life, for couples that are getting bored, and anyone else who is puzzled about their sex life, this is the one!!



5. I recently ordered the 6th edition and have been absolutely thrilled with it. The Guide to Getting It On is without doubt the most comprehensive guide to all the physical and emotional components of quality sex and quality relationships. Still probably best suited for heterosexuals, it does include sections on gender bending and orientation; in addition, many of the tips and techniques can be applied by members of any type of relationship. I would strongly recommend this to parents of teenagers (your kids could really benefit from this!), but even experienced adults will find it helpful, entertaining and humorous.

5 comments about Calling in "The One": 7 Weeks to Attract the Love of Your Life.

1. this book is fantastic. i bought it at the suggestion of the bodhi tree bookstore sale person who said it was the most popular relationship book in the store. orignially i bought it for a friend who had asked me to recommend a book about relationships. but as i paged through it at home i realize i wanted to buy it for myself, too. i am single and i do want to meet 'the one'- but i am not at the place where i'd buy a book about finding him. but this book is not really about finding the one as it is about becoming that which you seek to find. if you are looking for love you need to be love- and you need to love yourself fully and completely. if you are looking for security you need to find security in yourself first rather than look for someone who can make you feel secure. if you are looking for trust you need to trust yourself first before you can trust anyone else. it's all very basic psychological stuff- but even the most psychologically savy can learn a thing or two from this book. especially when it's your blind spots that are causing you to not be open to love. even freud couldn't see his own blind spots.
   
   this book does take a commitment though. the 1 star reviewer who said it was too demanding and too psychologically hard to bear was right in a sense. but the point of the book is to show you that the reason you haven't met mister or miss right isn't because you just don't have any luck- it's because there are blocks in your psyche that are deep issues that need to be dealt with in order for you to be fully open to love. that is not easy work. in our fast-food/short-cut culture where people are learning speed reading so they can get through a book in 10 minutes- this book could feel like getting stuck behind grandpa driving in the fast lane. but there is a point to the intensity of the lessons and the necessity of a commitment to doing the lessons each day for 7 weeks.
   
   it is inevitable that those who read this book are going to perceive it in their own way as a result of experiences in their own lives. so someone who hates it has their whole history backing them up for hating it. i would say check it out and see for yourself. of all the relationship books out there- this is the one that makes you take the most responsibility for yourself and requires you to truly know yourself. in my opinion that is the only way one can find 'the one' and be able to create a healthy, lasting relationship with him or her. you may meet 'the one' before you truly know yourself- but those relationships are typically the ones that don't last and end in divorce. relationships are not easy. they take work. if you want to do the work in order to reap the rewards- read this book.
   
   (as a side note- i have recommended this book to 6 people now and they each had their own reactions to it. they all have had resistance come up in some form or another to doing the lessons or committing to the reading each day. some were not ready for the work- others were. it's all about where you are at right now in this moment. also- this book is written for women- but i would recommend it for men, too. incidentally i recommended it to my ex and he and i are doing the lessons together. the author recommends you get a friend to support you on your journey and highly recommend it as well.)



2. I intially picked this book up as a guide to bring love into my life but got so much more. The exercises, which are necessary for the success of the book, are enormously empowering, healing, comforting, inspiring, revealing, and fun. This is the only dating/self-discovery book that I have found that has the reader feeling like they are actually participating in changing/(bringing love) into their life and seeing/feeling immediate results. It differs from many other well written books in that although others are well written; they lack the specific tools for the reader to feel like they can actually control their lives. I could not wait to read this book every day. Life changing!



3. This is an amazing book that not only tells you of the magic of creating the love of your life, but also shows you how to manifest it as well. With concrete exercises and examples, with stories that illustrate them, and with spiritual and inspirational wisdom to help you along the way, this is book that will help make your dreams of love and partnership come true.
   
   Michael Z, Author, The Wisdom of the Rooms A Year of Weekly Reflections



4. I have been using this book for over a week and I am really enjoying the exercises and journaling! I find this book to be incredibly eye opening and inspiring! I am getting alot out of this,it is worth every penny! I feel it is increasing my confidence and helping me to make better relationship choices! We all have unhealthy patterns or "types" we need to break away from and this book is helping me to put everything in clearer perspective!



5. When you were broken heart, it's worth reading and get peppy to get new love!

5 comments about The Attachment Parenting Book : A Commonsense Guide to Understanding and Nurturing Your Baby.

1. I happen to love this book although I think it is so sad that it ever had to be written at all. My husband is luckily from another culture and if it had not been for his support I would have probably have listened to my parents, doctors, and the majority of mothers that I have met and done to whole cry it out, making my infant adhere to a strict, un-flexible schedule, and not holding thing. My husband's culture is non-violent compared to our culture. Murders in the his country of origin our seldom heard of and rare. The mothers and fathers in his country value family and children instead of money and material things as in our culture and get this the parents when they are older are taken care of their children. These same children love and respect them for who they are not what they buy them. Here in the US a lot of kids don't respect their parents and only care about getting the latest video game, etc. His culture is warm and nuturing torward children and although the culture as a whole practices "attachment parenting" it is just a normal occurence for them and it isn't in books and labeled there. I have no idea why books like this have to even be written when people should just know to treat infants and children kindly, but unfortunately since most of us in America have been raised in this manner and all the other parenting books I have purchased besides this one all talk about baby training and letting infants self sooth, etc. I guess that is why bad habits continue on with the next generations. Mothers and fathers should love and nurture their children, hold them, and not allow them to self sooth like parents in many other (non-violent) cultures, and William Sears and his wife should not have to put a label on what is basic parenting that should come natural to every single parent in our country. Open your minds and please read this book and take something from it. Please educate yourselves and make our culture non-violent for our children.



2. The Dr. Sears books have been a staple for parents for years.
   I am a new mom and must admit that these books have actually comforted me with such great and basic advice.



3. As a first-time mother, I wanted to do everything in my power to ensure that my (now almost 7-month old) son felt loved, safe and secure. We still co-sleep, I breastfeed on demand, and, at the urging of Dr. Sears and Martha Sears, I initially wore him in a sling as much as possible, which was basically all day. I don't think Dr. Sears realizes how thinly some eager new moms are willing to spread themselves in order to "do what is best for the baby". After about a month of this, I was ready to pass out. I would strongly urge mothers to first evaluate their circumstances, and decide what their personal limit is, because the more you wear the baby, the more abnormal it becomes for him to lie in the bassinet, the bouncy seat, or anywhere else. Babies are smart, and the more you wear them, the more they resist being put down. For me, it had gotten to the point that I couldn't even shower, because they baby would cry the minute I put him down. My husband works long and variable hours, and we have no family in town, so I had no relief. Very gradually, I began putting him down little by little, and eventually he started to enjoy playing independently in his bouncer, and now in his Baby Einstein activity center. Please, don't make my mistake. Wear your baby in moderation. If you don't, you will exhaust yourself, your marriage will suffer, and the baby will be very anxious unless he is held.



4. Only half way through this book and loving it! The title is right in the sense that this is a "commonsense guide" but it is great to have some kind of affirmation that what you are doing is the right thing, especialy being a 1st time parent. I especially appreciate the authors' acknowledgment that all of their ideas will not work for everyone or that not everyone will need to use all of their ideas. A.P. is a very natural, intuitive way of parenting and this book is very helpful in helping you realize these intuitions and to go with them. I personally have a hard time going with my gut instincts - I tend to doubt myself and usually listen to an outside opinion - but this book has made me a little more aware of my instincts, or more the fact that my feelings ARE insticnts, and that makes it quite a bit easier to recognize them and to listen to myself. This is especially important in the area of child rearing because no one at all knows my child or what is best for them better than I do. It's a definite confidence booster! Would recommend to everyone!



5. i work with people who use drug and some times the state may take their children because of this and this book helps me help them to be better parents the state is also doing trainings about attachment parenting in new york so i thank you for this book!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

5 comments about The Pop-up Book of Sex.

1. Well constructed amaxzingly life-like and sexy pop-up book hilariously illustrated and attuned to those who enjoy a refreshingly humorous but realistic view of sexual positions. A perfect gift for the "he" or "she".



2. I got this book awhile back and I love it. This is definitely adult content but in good taste. Alot of fun to read/look through with your partner or loads of laughs with a group of friends. The illustrations are fabulous. I couldn't stop laughing. It's a keeper.



3. I thought it was great, I gave this to my boyfriend as a gift. He had to show it to his male roommates as well as his frat boy friends. They all love it and called it the "Adult Christmas pop up book." Our love life hasn't really gotten any better, but he did learn some new things that were pretty good. Id suggest giving this to a guy, I ended up giving it to a whole fraternity and they Love it!



4. I found this product to be alot of fun, but a few of the pages were a bit uneventful and didnt really have much of an interactive experience like other pop-ups. The pages that were the most impressive had FUN interactive aspects to them and whimsical humor. AND understand that you only get about nine pages, but half are so uninteresting that it seems more like five. Overall- it is still an interesting and fun gift- I ordered one for a gift and one for my collection.



5. I don't know what more a person could expect. It's a lot of fun. It's racy and erotic without ever being explicit or gross. It seems somehow wrong to use the word "cute" for a book that has a tableau in which the woman in the maid's outfit has the bare man bent over the counter blindfolded, and at the yank of a tab, spanks him with her feather-duster--but "cute" is what comes to mind. Now, the novelty will not go on ceaselessly with this thing. It's not a beloved book you're going to return to time and again for wisdom and comfort. But to surprise and either shock or delight new friends, this baby has potential.

5 comments about Love Letters of Great Men and Women From The Eighteenth Century To The Present Day.

1. For those only interested in this book because of the SATC movie the letter varies slightly. I'm not sure that many people know that it is a great mystery whom the "immortal beloved" is referring to by Beethoven. There are many theories about who "immortal beloved" is and there is even a movie about it...but no one knows. I love that. I love to read that letter and I feel like I am given a brief glimpse into someone's secret heart and I wonder how she felt about him.



2. This book has all of the love letters from the SATC movie that I was looking for. It's a beautiful edition.



3. I adore this book, and the theme behind it. As a romantic at heart and as one of those girls that would love to believe in true love, this book confirms to me that it is actually possible to find your soul mate. Now I'm not saying this book is for the people that want to read about happily ever after's, because in reality most of these love letters are dated and back when Beethoven was in love with the imfamous "Immortal Beloved" people didn't always get to have a happily ever after. The letter's are more based on the Romeo and Juliet scenario. You find your true love but you are destined to forever be apart. However, those facts do not take away from the remarkable truth that these letter's were written by real people for real people, and while reading them you can find yourself trasported to that place and time, and feel just as loved and adored.



4. Some of the letters I have to question why they were included. $5.99 would be a better price for this. Extremely disappointed.



5. This is of course the book eluded to in the Sex and the City movie. I have been able to take quotes out of this book and pass them along to my girlfriend when she is having a bad day. She really appreciates the inspiration these love letters provide to her and I get big brownie points for the romantic implications. I need all the help I can get.

5 comments about Mars and Venus on a Date: A Guide for Navigating the 5 Stages of Dating to Create a Loving and Lasting Relationship.

1. i never learned to date. it's good to have some insight. it's opened my eyes to improving myself as a dater--and i'm seeing the fruits of those improvements.



2. I hated the book, Men are from Mars and Women are from Venus........... However, this book really seemed right on. Great insight for women on how men think, how men date, when and when not to call and the especially important, "Stage Two: Uncertainty period". Explains why men wait to get involved, etc. If you are baffled about men like I was, this book is worth it's weight in gold.



3. Do you have this book on your shelf? If you don't, order it NOW. It will help you put the understanding and FUN back in dating. Gray makes it so clear on how to understand men and women; you don't even know you are learning.
   
   Dating skills seem so obvious once he points them out, but I wish I would have read this book yearsss ago. ~
   
   Order today, you won't regret it!
   
   Merna Throne
   
   Pocket of Pearls: A 30-day pocket workbook to start hearing a softer voice inside of you!



4. John Gray's book emphasizes open communication in his book between men and women This is clearly important.
   
   But, the open communication isn't so open at times. Gray doesn't encourage being candid at times. This is a slippery slope. For example, Gray says that if a man is late because of an accident on a bridge, he should apologize without explaining the reason for being late, and the woman should be nonjudgmental. Is this communication relationship enhancing?
   
   Also, he frequently over emphasizes the differerences in men and women without acknowledging their similarities enough. For example, Gray's simplistic view of men as the wrongdoers in relationships and women as the saviors weakens the material. He explains in detail how men should learn to apologize and women should learn to forgive, but not vice versa. We all make mistakes in relationships and both parties need to learn the importance of sincere apology and forgiveness.
   
   Good communication is clearly important in any relationship and I applaud John Gray's attempt to get couples to communicate, but emphasizing non candid behaviors dilutes the main message of the book.
   
   Also, stereotyping the sexes can lead to polarization and a breakdown in communication. Understanding gender differences is important, but equally important is the acceptance and celebration of our similarities.
   
   The Re-Discovery of Common Sense: A Guide to: The Lost Art of Critical Thinking



5. This book changed the way I relate to men. The techniques really work and I wish I would've read this book 20 years ago. I realized I can be feminine and receive love. I can allow a man to help me and not do everything myself. Since reading the book I've really enjoyed my new dating life and love being more feminine and having the ability to attract men. It's a lot more fun. I look forward to reading and learning more from this author.

5 comments about Pregnancy, Childbirth, and the Newborn: The Complete Guide.

1. After starting "what to expect" and being told that it was horrible I was given this book by my midwives. It is THE book every pregnant woman should read. It does cover pregancy but not all the scare tactics that you read in the other books that make you paranoid about breathing. I found it very helpful in creating a birthing plan and knowing all the options I had. I didn't have the pregnancy I thought I would have as my sons were born prematurely and didn't survive, when it happened I knew exactly what was going on. On the other hand in "what to expect" the chart that says abdominal discomfort, you may have gas or you may be going into pre-term labor. Give me a break! So again...pregnant, thinking of being pregnant, know someone who is pregnant, this is the book!



2. ...from the day you get that positive test until the weeks after bringing your perfect little bundle home.
   
   I had the most wonderful opportunity to take my childbirth education classes from Penny Simkin herself. She gave us this book, as well as "The Birth Partner," as reading materials for her class. I don't know where I would be without this. All through my pregnancy, labor, and the weeks following, I had this book by my side. It answered any possible question I could think of, and when it came down to a c-section, I was able to try to calm myself by thinking back to what I read in this book. I can't believe they were able to fit so much into so few of pages!
   
   Great pictures and illustrations, wonderful information, and a must have for any newly pregnant mom. I would have been lost without it!



3. Penny Simkin has the talent to share her passion for supporting mothers with research based information in a very clear language.
   Every pregnant couple needs this book.
   Ana Paula Markel



4. (written by Charles' wife)I just had my 4th baby. Before each birth, I prepared myself by reviewing the birth and post-partum chapters. This is essential reading for those who hope to have a natural birth yet want to be informed about about possible interventions. The book doesn't have much on pregnancy, but that part takes care of itself. Prepare yourself for the challege and reward of a drug-free labor with this book.



5. I read a lot of pregnancy books, and this was the best of the bunch. Penny goes over coping mechanisms for unmedicated labor, medication options, possible complications and interventions, all in incredible detail. Also highly recommended is her companion book aimed at labor partners/coaches, "The Birth Partner".