5 Paths to the Love of Your Life: Defining Your Dating Style

When I read the introduction to this book, I found myself wanting to read on and discover what each of the five contributors had to say. Chediak sets up the contents nicely and in an engaging way. He puts forth three scenarios that help bring the various principles and methods espoused by each contributor more sharply into focus. I'm guessing most readers, like me, will find themselves aligning closely with one or more contributors, while finding others less convincing. I noticed that some of the user reviews were critical of what they saw to be "weaker" vs. "stronger" essays. But to me, that is the point of this book. It forces the reader to think through his opinions and presuppositions. For me, reading this book was much like being invited to facilitate a panel discussion with five people who have much experience in counseling others on this topic. I get the privilege of hearing opposing views and being able to compare and contrast them in a concise format. Chediak also helps to bring this comparison together nicely in the concluding chapter. For the Christian reader, the book aids in some healthy examination of potentially unexamined ideas. I am forced to ask myself whether my ideas about dating, courtship, etc. are based on biblical principles or not. I found this a healthy process, and as a father of four, I think it will be a valuable resource in guiding my children through their eventual close relationships with potential spouses. I found the book a worthwhile read that lends itself easily to good discussions.

This book is a great way to learn quickly about 5 different approaches to relationships, ranging from betrothal to courtship to dating. The authors write well, and the range of styles makes it a fun read. The book raises important issues: guy/girl friendships, emotional vs. physical intimacy, guarding your heart, how to view singleness, what to look for in a potential spouse, physical attraction, parental involvement, etc. When I finished I didn't have a clear sense which path I want to follow, but I felt that I got a lot of solid, Biblical teaching about how to think about marriage and relationships. I appreciated the way Chediak asked each author to address three different scenarios: teenagers in youth group, college students, and a single 30-something woman. I'm a college student myself, but hearing the authors' advice to other age groups made me think more about parental involvement and long-term singleness. All in all, a great read!

1) The book was very informative, and opened up a lot of Scripture and possibility in my mind. It really helped me get a much bigger grasp of the different terms (and I was surprised at some of the stances that people took on things!) It really challenged me to think biblically about what relationships were actually about (which is a very good thing). 2) The title/cover were... interesting. I received a lot of interesting glances because I was reading that book, thankfully it opened up the opportunity to share a little bit about what I was reading, but it just felt weird to be reading a book about "5 paths to the love of your life" when all the authors agree that the love of our life is and should be God. =) Just a thought. 3) Your summary chapters were excellent. They distilled down a lot of the differences and agreements and differences. If your purpose was in not demonstrating a bias towards one or another, I think you accomplished that beautifully (though I think some of the authors had much more compelling arguments than others =p) All in all, it was an excellent read. I'll be sure to share it with friends.

Good dating books are hard to find. But in a domain that's often narrow-minded, Chediak and company have teamed up to strike a beautiful balance, uncompromisingly affirming clear biblical truths and yet leaving healthy, open-minded wiggle room for wisely selecting your path for your own unique context and particulars. This book shows that there's not only ONE WAY to do the dating thing. There are five ways - indeed, five's just the beginning - there are perhaps as many valid ways as there are single Christians looking to get married! Don't try to fit somebody else's mold or put yourself in somebody else's story. Write your own story. Blaze your own trail. Be biblically-informed and hear from five different voices, and then live in light of truth and follow the Spirit's leading. This book helps get you going. Of special note: Chediak's intro and conclusion are superb - worth the price of the book.