Centering and the Art of Intimacy: A New Psychology of Close Relationships

I think this book is the single most profound, direct and on-point summary of fundamental relationship pitfalls and traps I've ever read. It points things out so they can be recognized, dealt with, and remedied. Book introduces a healthier way to be in relationship; it provides great and effective guidelines for living and communicating that have become a cornerstone not only of my personal life but also of counseling and mediation I have done for over 20 years. If you want to improve your relationships on any level, this is a must-read.

In a moment, I am going to review and comment upon this book, and describe to you what it is. First, let me post a brief warning so you know what this book is NOT. I am kind of an "absent-minded professor" type of guy. I assumed that this book was intended to help someone like me get to be a little more "centered," calm, and inwardly focused, in order to be better prepared for a relationship with the next lady in my life. Please take note: that isn't exactly the aim of this book. The book begins with the assumption that you are ALREADY in a relationship, and that you wish to improve it. The exercises are geared toward couples, and often make no sense to attempt alone. Therefore, technically, I wasted my money. However, I still think this could be a pretty useful book to me, someday. For you, perhaps that day is already here."Centering and the Art of Intimacy" is laid out in two parts. The first part, "A New Psychology of Close Relationships," attempts to shake up the way you think about relationships. It consists of a few helpful essays, which provide real life examples and metaphors to help you conceptualize the paradigm the authors wish to explore with you. This part of the book ends with the authors discussing their own relationship, and the ways in which the act of commiting themselves to productive change had a positive impact on their relationship. I liked that chapter, it's pretty inspiring to read.The second part of the book is longer, more comprehensive, and more interactive. It includes exercises of all kinds, designed to get you to take stock of who you are, what you and your partner want, where you want to be, and how you might get there. As I said, the book is extremely interactive, with at least 10 or 12 activities and worksheets. Readers are encouraged in various ways to keep a journal, to help foment thought about the changes they seek to make. Some of these exercises can, perhaps, occasionally get a little too "New Age" for some people, but there is a wide range to explore. You can probably find a few things that you could benefit from.Basically, this book could be pretty useful to a couple already in a relationship. If you appreciate, enjoy, and/or value the approaches taken in this book, I would like to recommend that you seek out "Games People Play," the classic text of transactional analysis, by Dr. Eric Berne.Enjoy, and good luck!!

I am thoroughly impressed with this book! It has helped me so much in dealing with my boyfriend; I have found it to be a tremendous help in breaking out of the patterns that damage a relationship!

My mother gave me this book years ago. It has been a wonderful guide in my journey towards healthy relationships. It has shown me my co-dependent ways of relating and given me different options as I have matured.