Best Marriage Books

These are some of the best marriage and relationship books we have come across over the years. I’ve recommended them all, but we most often give away copies of Love & Respect.
Click on any of the pictures to learn more.

 Written from a Christian worldview, but accessible to anyone, this book brings many to a big “aha!”  People we have given this book to often say something like “That principle explained everything about our relationship.”

 

 

 

 

Written from a non-faith perspective, this book gives scientifically verified principles for what actually makes a relationship work, often contradicting popular cultural ideas. Eye opening and immediately actionable.

 

 

 

 

It seems like this book has been around forever- and yet it is still a big seller. A very simple idea that can change the way you relate to spouses, children, parents, friends and even the people you work with.

Strategy for an Epic Holiday

A great family holidayIt was a fresh idea: Plan the holidays based not on what we wanted to do, but how we wanted to feel.

Easy to define the target: Unrushed, rested, refreshed. Closer to one another.

How to pull it off?

Short travel days. Loose schedule. Multiple days in the same location.

So began the best family holiday ever.

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Mortality Part 2

Ralph Wride, Daren Wride, fly-fishing
Dad (left) at 52 years; Me @ 52 years

Another Reminder of the Ticking Clock

In 1994 I was 30, my dad was 54.

He passed away that Christmas Eve, almost six years after being diagnosed with malignant melanoma and one year after being surprised by a clean bill of health at his five year checkup.

To be honest, 54 still seemed a long ways away from 30.

But when I turned 36, the math got to me.

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Advice to My Younger Self

Ralph Wride ,Priscilla Wride, Daren, Dean and Dale Wride
The Family, Circa 1978

Advice to My Younger Self Through the Years
or
A Few of the Many Things I Wish Someone Had Told Me

Advice to my 5 year old self: Get along with your brothers. They could become your best friends.

Advice to my 10 year old self: Be nice to those girls everyone thinks are ugly and torments. Many of them are smart and will be beautiful in a few years. And all of them are valuable.

Advice to my 15 year old self: See, I told you. They’re beautiful or fascinating or both. But it’s not too late to start being nice. Getting to know the people others avoid will give you relationships and perspectives few others have. And your kindness might just be a lifeline for them.

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What is Success to You?

I once got an email that asked the question “Do you think people who are extremely successful have less work/life balance?”

I replied, “Define successful.”

The response focused in on net worth, which is certainly one form of success. And I suppose if we’re honest, money-related success seems to be the one that preoccupies us the most.

But few of us when pushed will define ultimate success in terms of dollars and sense.

What’s your best definition of success?

I have several on file:

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