3 Remarkable Relationship Books You Must Read

Have you ever discovered a book with a message so insightful or so thought-provoking you just couldn't shut up about it?

Like a secret too big to keep, you had to share it with your family, friends and colleagues.

Each of the books recommended in this post made me feel the exact same way!

These highly recommended books contain invaluable wisdom and insights.

However, what you will not find are half-baked theories along with ridiculous, unrealistic promises. 

What they will offer you are tools necessary to construct the strongest foundation possible for your house of love.

(Author's note: The links below are not affiliate links, but are for your informational purposes only)

1. Lies At The Altar: The Truth About Great Marriages by Dr. Robin L. Smith. A frequent guest relationship expert on the Oprah show, Dr. Smith's excellent book is an absolute must have. Dr. Smith writes in an engaging, compassionate, yet no-nonsense tone.  She confronts the lies we tell ourselves which often trap us in unhealthy relationships. Among the top marriage lies she exposes are:

• You have to go along to get along
• Anything is better than being alone
• Marriage magically changes people for the better
• If the package is beautifully wrapped, the contents will be fabulous
• It's just you and me against the world

Regardless of your current relationships status, this book should be required reading for those seeking to build a relationship on the immutable principles of love, trust and truth.

2. The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman  Honestly, out of all of the books listed, this one caused me to really roll my eyes. The title just sounded a bit too woo woo  for me.  However, a persistent friend insisted I read this book. My eating crow never tasted so good!  The premise of the book is this: after years of conducting couples counseling, Dr. Chapman asserts there are five basic, fundamental ways people understand and express emotional love.  By learning what your and your partner's "love language" is, you will be better equipped to meet each other's emotional needs. In the book, Dr. Chapman describes what unique characteristics comprise each love language. In addition, he also provides detailed, actionable strategies to use to create deeper emotional connection between you and your partner.  If you have been skeptical of this book, my advice is to take the plunge and read it. Like me, you may find the taste of crow very pleasant indeed!

3. For Richer Or Poorer: Keeping Your Marriage Happy When She Makes More Money by Harriet Pappenheim, L.C.S.W. and Ginny Graves.  What happens in marriages where the woman out earns the man? How does this new paradigm shift affect the emotional, economic and sexual dynamics in a marriage? This pioneering book explores those very questions as millions of marriages are faced with this new family dynamic.  Using case studies and interviews conducted with hundreds of  couples, the authors present eye-opening findings which reflect how the very nature of gender roles in marriage is being re-defined in the 21st century.

Overall,  it's probably safe to say a key to building and maintaining solid relationships is having the right tools.  So stack the odds more in your favor by adding these three exceptional books to your tool kit.

What relationships books have inspired you recently? Please share your recommendations in the comments below!

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Comments

[Melissa]

Thanks for the great recommendations. I'm still a huge fan of Alisa Bowman's Project Happily Ever After. I love how she makes her points by sharing her own experiences so candidly.

[Terez]

Glad my recommendations intrigued you Melissa! More importantly, thanks for adding to this list with your own book suggestion. I've heard nothing but raves for "Project Happily Ever After," so it is definitely being added to my must read list.

Any one else have a title they wish to include? Please do so by commenting below!