How to Stay Married & Love It!: Solving the Puzzle of a SoulMate Marriage

I read this book a total of three times, one right after the other. Let me explain:The first time: for myselfThe second time: to write down all the exercises and create a workbook of sortsThe third time: with my husband while each of us worked through our make-shift workbooksEach time I read this book, How to Stay Married & Love it: Solving the Puzzle of a Soul Mate Marriage (Nancy Landrum with Jim Landrum) I was able to grasp something different. I found myself thinking with a more positive attitude while working to apply this knowledge.This book is set up in a very reader-friendly format filled with charming illustrations and inspirational quotes. I was reminded while creating my own workbooks to accompany this book that it isn't about being perfect, but rather making all the "pieces of the puzzle" fit . . . finding harmony.My husband isn't one who finds reading at the top of his list of interests, so getting him involved with this project was no easy task. Before long, however, he began initiating our time together with this book. While our marriage isn't in danger of ending, finding tools necessary to keep that from becoming a reality has always been important to both of us. This book proved to be quite useful in that venture.

"How To Stay Married & Love It! Solving The Puzzle Of Soulmate Marriage" is a response to the high and climbing divorce rate in America. It was conceived as the result of the difficulties that the authors had as a married couple and how they overcame those struggles. After arriving at what they feel is a soulmate marriage they realized that the lessons they learned may prove helpful for other marriages. From that idea the book was born. The book does a good job of covering the most common relationship problems and offering constructive advice to move through those problems. While there are many chapters on specific items, the book can basically be divided up into four primary areas (the areas referred to as "corner puzzle pieces"). These areas are 1) point of view/perspective, 2) communication, 3) respect and 4) commitment. Sometimes the book seems more like a workbook with exercises, checklists, skits and other teaching devices. But going through the skits, exercises, etc. can be illuminating. While there is really nothing new here that is not in other relationship and marriage books, some will find this a particularly easy to read and understand book compared to others. No fancy theories or long drawn out psychological descriptions of techniques, just good, direct information and techniques that anyone can work through.

How To Stay Married & Love It! Solving The Puzzle Of Soulmate Marriage by Nancy and Jim Landrum is an informed and informative guide written in response to today's regrettably high divorce rate. Individual chapters focus on communication difficulties, motivating oneself to be respectful to one's partner even when inwardly seething, and learning to devote one's heart to a relationship. How To Stay Married & Love It! is a highly recommended, "reader friendly" guide that offers a multitude of new insights into the conflicts, difficulties, and rewards of married life.

I found this book to be easy to read. The chapters were short and each chapter's information built on the previous ones. The stories of the Landrum's stuggles and the description of the relationship they now enjoy gave me hope for my marriage. Nancy's list of defective communication tools let my husband and I know exactly what we are doing that creates hurt and distance in our relationship. Subsequent chapters gave clear directions for communication methods that are helping us to resolve our conflicts.