Best Friends for Life

I believe this is a great resource for those studying this subject. It is more radical than anything I've read on the subject. However, with the continual decline of happy and healthy and lifelong relationships, I believe it is time to think radically. Even if you do not accept everything in this book I believe there is much food for thought to help you in your quest for a lifelong, best friend relationship. I believe this book gives a good comparison of the different options you might pursue in seeking a relationship.

I loved this book because it gave valuable insights to what a successful marriage looks like. Truly the key is having a marriage based on friendship and honesty; add to that Christ-centered and committment and you have the "secret" to a productive marriage. I enjoyed following the stories of various couples and how their relationships developed. I had my teenage daughter read the book as well; she gained insight on choices people make, the consequence of compromise and the value of developing friendship. I also recomend Passion and Purity by Elisabeth Elliot.

Well I read this book about a year ago and I am still using the lessons I learned from it. If you are looking for a book about courting and insight into character, read this one. I did not find this book to be dull in the least. It's an informative book and its purpose is not to "entertain". I found the ideas very interesting and went through the book rather quickly. I love this book and would recommend it to just about anyone(and I have).

I just finished reading this book, after hearing much about it for years. I was very impressed! It was really, really good. The Phillips have a great perspective on marriage preparation. I really appreciated their extreme emphasis on character, as well as the parents' role in courtship. I wished they would have talked more about how emotional purity was supposed to enter in, however. I was a bit confused on that point, as they encouraged "breaking up" after a couple was totally in love, if they didn't think the marriage was God's will. Though I'm still in the thinking process regarding the plan of "apprenticeship engagement" they outline--it's so radical, it takes a while to get used to :) --I think it *is* a good thing worth considering. I've been committed to waiting instead of dating for three years now, and am an active proponent of it. I've read many, many books on courtship, and the Phillips' is now one of my favorites, especially on character and marriage preparation. This book is highly recommended for all who believe in some form of waiting instead of dating, and want God's will in their love life! (I'd recommend Josh Harris' book I Kissed Dating Goodbye first, though, if you're new to the concept of not dating.)

This is one of the more detailed books I have seen on the topic. I felt like the author did an excellent job in clearly articulating the span of differences between dating and courtship. Having examples throughout the book made it very easy to read and helps the reader walk away with a better understanding of what courtship is and is not.