The book has been released, Of Sound Mind to MarryA Reality Check from the Marriage Counselor for Pre-Weds. You can place an order here: http://www.greenwood.com/catalog/C34723.aspx.
Jim's book comes awfully close to being an owner's manual for people who are thinking of marrying.
I run a service that matches counselors and therapists with couples and individuals. So I was eager to read Jim's book and hoping it would serve for many couples who may want to read rather than see someone, or want to supplement what their religious or secular counseling provides them.
I haven't seen anything quite like this before.
In my work I have several hundred clients, most of whom do some pre-marital counseling.
If couples just read this book, they wouldn't need anything else. That's how good the book is.
A great deal of thought that someone should give to getting married is really in asking the right questions. And those questions are clearly spelled out.
The first few chapters talk about how we need to ask honest questions about how we feel about our partner -- questions that are difficult to ask in the "altered state of being in love" as Jim puts it.
Then the book explores what most of us don't know to ask, and think about, with respect to children, and in-laws and a host of other issues that often cause problems in a marriage because we don't expect them.
The last part talks about specific issues and methods. This is worth the price of the book because a lot of problems can be avoided by good communication -- and Jim distills wisdom of how to communicate in easy clear language and exercises that couples can learn.
I don't expect anything will truly replace in-person counseling, but Jim's book is almost as good. Buy a copy today for yourself or for a friend or family member who is going to get married.
1/11/2008 6:43 PMNikki wrote:
I checked out your book on the Greenwood website, I have to say, I can’t wait to get my fingers on it! I have been married for almost three years and I must say I wish I had read your book before tying the knot! Wow I had no idea that marriage was going to be this mentally challenging. Thank god for good friends. Reply to this
So much of life should come with an owner's manual, but doesn't.
Jim's book comes awfully close to being an owner's manual for people who are thinking of marrying.
I run a service that matches counselors and therapists with couples and individuals. So I was eager to read Jim's book and hoping it would serve for many couples who may want to read rather than see someone, or want to supplement what their religious or secular counseling provides them.
I haven't seen anything quite like this before.
In my work I have several hundred clients, most of whom do some pre-marital counseling.
If couples just read this book, they wouldn't need anything else. That's how good the book is.
A great deal of thought that someone should give to getting married is really in asking the right questions. And those questions are clearly spelled out.
The first few chapters talk about how we need to ask honest questions about how we feel about our partner -- questions that are difficult to ask in the "altered state of being in love" as Jim puts it.
Then the book explores what most of us don't know to ask, and think about, with respect to children, and in-laws and a host of other issues that often cause problems in a marriage because we don't expect them.
The last part talks about specific issues and methods. This is worth the price of the book because a lot of problems can be avoided by good communication -- and Jim distills wisdom of how to communicate in easy clear language and exercises that couples can learn.
I don't expect anything will truly replace in-person counseling, but Jim's book is almost as good. Buy a copy today for yourself or for a friend or family member who is going to get married.
--Richard Geller
Reply to this
I checked out your book on the Greenwood website, I have to say, I can’t wait to get my fingers on it! I have been married for almost three years and I must say I wish I had read your book before tying the knot! Wow I had no idea that marriage was going to be this mentally challenging. Thank god for good friends.
Reply to this