The Bottom Line
Fowers believes that the romantic notion of marriage has been a "noble and exciting experiment", but the approach has failed. He offers suggestions on how couples and society can strengthen the vital institution of marriage.
Pros
- Straight forward, easy to read with practical suggestions for both individuals and society.
- This book is for those who want a long lasting marriage.
- Useful chapter notes and index.
Cons
- Not for couples who are looking for quick, easy answers to complex situations.
Description
- The author calls on individuals to have courage and commitment in their marriage.
- The high romantic expectations that people try to live up to are a myth.
- There is more to a good marriage than being happy and satisfied.
- "The Myth" discusses the myth of marital happiness, its history, and the science of marriage.
- A New Vision of Marriage delves into the virtues of friendship, loyalty, generosity, and justice.
- The final chapter gives ideas on how we can all work together to cultivate strong marriages.
- He calls on parents to teach their children about virtue.
- He urges couples planning to marry to recognize that romantic love is not enough.
- He recommends that folks use their minds as well as their hearts when they choose a spouse.
- He supports pre-marital ed, and gives suggestions for therapists, media, governments, and faiths.
Guide Review - "Beyond the Myth of Marital Happiness"
The paradox of marriage today is that so many people want long lasting and happy marriages, yet so many end up with just the opposite. Dr. Fowers believes that the reason for this failure is due to a misunderstanding of marriage from a historic perspective.
Shared goals, struggles and sacrifices, teamwork, and the comfort of working together on mundane tasks forge strong marital bonds. Highly recommended.
