Marriage, a History: How Love Conquered Marriage

This is an extremely well researched investigation of the institution of marriage from earliest times to the present. It may prove shocking to some readers to discover how recent our concept of "traditional marriage" may be. But information such as this book provides is essential for those concerned about marital values. History provides us with immensely important lessons regarding the attitudes and feelings of human beings over the centuries; and we must not shrink from the observations made here as we seek to understand the social and economic and even religious crises of our times. The scope of the book is incredibly ambitious yet it is clearly and at times entertainingly written, and always inviting. It can point the way for further research in many areas. On all counts, a fine and important book.

My fiance and I got this book so we could learn more about what we'd agreed to do. This book has radically improved the way we understand our relationship and our decision to get married. I highly, highly recommend this book to anyone planning on getting married.

I can't add much more to the customer review above, except to note that one should keep an open mind while reading...I made the mistake of reading aloud a few passages on the early Christian views of marriage to a Christian friend, and she was very, very insulted and angry, snapping that the author was clearly wrong, as THIS is the way that passage in the Bible should be interpreted, and how dare she write something so blasphemous. I didn't press the matter. I, however, being rather agnostic, enjoyed it immensely, and learned QUITE a lot! The various views on family structure and what defined a marriage over the centuries was illuminating, and I found myself quoting it to anyone in reach (hence my problem above). It's tilted toward Western culture in the last part of the book, being focused on the American history of marriage, but it's still an excellent read for anyone wanting to see how marriage was looked at in the past.

Considering the current mood in this country, it is about time a contemporary author tackled this subject. Having read all four of Ms. Coontz titles, I was not suprised that she thoroughly researched her subject, and then wrote an evenhanded, enlightening, and informative book. Recommended to anyone who wants to gain understanding of marriage that is deeper than the myths we all learned from the 1950s to the present.

Stephanie Coontz's newest book (you can always count on her to address a critical current issue from the vantage point of well researched fact) is a lively read, filled with stories about marriages of ordinary and celebrated couples throughout history. This is an historical look at a socially constructed institution, not a book of faith. While Coontz does not advocate staying married at any cost, she is not anti-marriage. In fact, she talks about her own relationship as a happily married woman. Although she warns that lifelong marriage will never again be universal, she proposes that good marriages can be better than ever before. Her explanations of the ways that rules for such marriages are changing provide the most potent criticism of what is so wrong about so many contemporary advice books on the subject. .