20 Best Books About Relationships (2023 Update)

Words of affirmation, quality time, gifts, acts of service, physical touching – learning these love languages will get your marriage off to a great start or enhance a long-standing one! chapman explains the purpose of each language and shows you how to identify the one that's meaningful to your spouse now. updated to reflect the complexities of relationships in today's world, this new edition of the 5 love languages reveals intrinsic truths and provides action steps in each chapter that will help you on your way to a healthier relationship. also includes an updated personal profile.

More than 1,000,000 copies sold! strengthen and deepen your relationships with revelatory practical exercises, seven profound conversations, and sage advice from "the best couple's therapist in the world" (john gottman, ph – d, bestselling author) are you looking to enrich a healthy relationship, revitalize a tired one, or rescue one gone awry? enter dr. sue johnson, developer of emotionally focused couple therapy and "the most original contributor to couple's therapy to come along in the last thirty years," according to dr. william j. doherty, ph – d. johnson shares her groundbreaking and remarkably successful program for creating stronger, more secure relationships. the message of hold me tight is simple: forget about learning how to argue better, analyzing your early childhood, making grand romantic gestures, or experimenting with new sexual positions. instead, get to the emotional underpinnings of your relationship by recognizing that you are emotionally attached to and dependent on your partner in much the same way that a child is on a parent for nurturing, soothing, and protection. johnson teaches that the way to enhance or save a relationship is to be open, attuned, and responsive to each other and to reestablish emotional connection. with this in mind, she focuses on key moments in a relationship and uses them as touch points for seven healing conversations, including: recognizing the demon dialogues – finding the raw spots – revisiting a rocky moment – forgiving injuries – keeping your love alive these conversations give you insight into the defining moments in your relationship and guide you in reshaping these moments to create a secure and lasting bond. through stories from dr. johnson's practice, illuminating advice, and practical exercises, you will learn how to nurture, protect, and grow your relationship, ensuring a lifetime of love.

What if making one tweak to your day-to-day conversations could immediately improve every relationship in your life? in this 3-hour, conversational read, you'll discover the whats, whys, and hows of one of the most valuable (yet surprisingly little-known) communication skills available–validation. mastery of this simple skill will enable you to: calm (and sometimes even eliminate) the concerns, fears, and uncertainties of others increase feelings of love, respect, and appreciation in your romantic relationships quickly resolve, or even prevent, arguments help others become open to your point of view give advice and feedback that sticks provide support and encouragement to others, even when you don't know how to "fix" the problem and much more in short: this skill is powerful. give the principles and practices in this book a chance and you'll be amazed at the difference they can make.

New york times, wall street journal, and usa today bestseller – stop working on yourself as an individual and start working on your relationship as a couple, with the help of the renowned family therapist and author of the new rules of marriage “this book is a road map for all of us who seek true intimacy.”—gwyneth paltrow, founder and ceo of goopone of the best books of the year: the wall street journalnot much is harder than figuring out how to love your partner in all their messy humanness—and there’s also not much that’s more important. at a time when toxic individualism is rending our society at every level, bestselling author and renowned marriage counselor terrence real sees how it poisons intimate relationships in his therapy practice, where he works with couples on the brink of disaster. the good news: warmer, closer, more passionate relationships are possible if you have the right tools. in his transformative new book us, real brilliantly observes how our winner-takes-all culture infiltrates families with devastating results: repetitive fights that go nowhere, or a distant relationship in which partners end up living “alone together.” with deft insight, humor, and charm, real guides you to transform your relationship into one that’s based on compassion, collaboration, and closeness. us is a groundbreaking guide to a new science-backed skillset—one that will allow you to get past your knee-jerk reactions and tap into your wiser, more collaborative self. with a novelist’s flair, real shares the stories of couples whose relationships have been saved by these skills and pans out to the culture that reinforces our dysfunction. if you and your partner are backed into separate corners of “you” and “me,” this book will show the way back to “us.”

A guide to restoring trust in broken relationships from a renowed couple’s therapist.is my relationship worth saving? will the trust ever come back? how can things be good between us again? whether broken trust is due to daily dishonesties, a monumental betrayal, or even a history of hurts from the past, it can put a relationship at risk. this is the first book to show you exactly what to do to restore trust in your relationship, regardless of how it was damaged.in this complete guide, couples therapist mira kirshenbaum will also help you understand the stages by which trust strengthens when the rebuilding process is allowed to take place. and you will learn how the two of you can avoid the mistakes that prevent healing and discover how to feel secure with each other again.

The ideal companion book to the #1 new york times bestseller ever since relationship rescue became an instant number one new york times hardcover bestseller, phil mcgraws audiences have been asking for a workbook to help them apply his strategies for change to their relationships. phil, oprah's resident expert on human functioning, provides questions, exercises and self-tests that will enable couples in even the most troubled relationships to get their love lives back on track. and for those in solid relationships who would like to regain their spark, he reveals how to make that happen. he shows readers exactly how to pinpoint problems in their relationships, and how to make sure that the changes they enact will truly last. his straightforward, tell-it-like-it-is advice is made crystal clear in this easy-to-use workbook that is sure to prove immensely popular with his devoted national following.

Having clear boundaries is essential to a healthy, balanced lifestyle. when confronted with their lack of boundaries, they ask: – can i set limits and still be a loving person? – what are legitimate boundaries? – what if someone is upset or hurt by my boundaries? – how do i answer someone who wants my time, love, energy, or money? – aren't boundaries selfish? – why do i feel guilty or afraid when i consider setting boundaries? john townsend offer biblically-based answers to these and other tough questions, showing us how to set healthy boundaries with our parents, spouses, children, friends, co-workers, and even ourselves.

Once upon a time, martians and venusians functioned in separate worlds. but in today's hectic and career-oriented environment, relationships have become a lot more complicated, and men and women are experiencing unprecedented levels of stress. to add to the increasing tension, most men and women are also completely unaware that they are actually hardwired to react differently to the stress. it's a common scenario: a husband returns home from work stressed out and eager to kick back on the couch and watch television. a wife returns home from work stressed out and wants to talk about it with her husband. what happens? neither is on the same page, anger and resentment set in, and mars and venus collide. using his signature insight that has helped millions of couples transform their relationships, john gray once again arms the inhabitants of mars and venus with information that will help them live harmoniously ever after. in why mars and venus collide, gray focuses on the ways that men and women misinterpret and mismanage the stress in their daily lives, and how these reactions ultimately affect their relationships. "it's not that he's just not into you; he needs to fulfill a biological need," gray explains. "and it's not that she wants to henpeck you; she also has a biological drive." he shows, for instance, how a husband's withdrawal is actually a natural way for him to replenish his depleted testosterone levels and restore his well-being, and how a woman's need for conversation and support helps her build her own stress-reducing hormone, oxytocin. backed up by groundbreaking scientific research, gray offers a clear, easy-to-understand program to bridge the gap between the two planets, providing effective communication strategies that will actually lower stress levels. whether in a relationship or single, this book will help both men and women understand their new roles in a modern, work-oriented society, and allow them to discover a variety of new and practical ways to create a lifetime of love and harmony.

"what the heck is my partner thinking?" is a common refrain in romantic relationships, and with good reason. every person is wired for love differently, with different habits, needs, and reactions to conflict. the good news is that most people's minds work in predictable ways and respond well to security, attachment, and rituals, making it possible to actually neurologically prime the brain for greater love and fewer conflicts.wired for love is a complete insider's guide to understanding your partner's brain and enjoying a romantic relationship built on love and trust. synthesizing research findings on how and why love lasts drawn from neuroscience, attachment theory, and emotion regulation, this book presents ten guiding principles that can improve any relationship.strengthen your relationship by:creating and maintaining a safe couple bubble” using morning and evening rituals to stay connected learning to fight so that nobody loses becoming the expert on what makes your partner feel loved by learning to use simple gestures and words, readers can learn to put out emotional fires and help their partners feel more safe and secure. the no-fault view of conflict in this book encourages readers to move past a "warring brain" mentality and toward a more cooperative "loving brain" understanding of the relationship. this book is essential reading for couples and others interested in understanding the complex dynamics at work behind love and trust in intimate relationships.while there's no doubt that love is an inexact science, if you can discover how you and your partner are wired differently, you can overcome your differences to create a lasting intimate connection.

What are the ingredients of a successful and enduring relationship? love, passion, and commitment are all vital—yet without certain basic skills, even the most devoted partners can find themselves descending into arguments, power struggles, and disillusionment. julia colwell presents a practical guide for building a conscious partnership based on cooperation and trust—offering relationship-saving techniques and on-the-spot conflict resolution tools for disarming the explosive clashes that most commonly break couples apart.in this friendly and easy-to-use resource, dr. colwell teaches you essential tools for:crisis and conflict first aid—communication strategies and emotional mastery techniques to stop arguing and start connecting – getting unstuck from power struggles—how to shift from deadlock to mutual responsibility and support – ending the blame game—letting go of accusation and resentment to create win-win agreements – supporting each other's growth and success—how to retain your personal autonomy while fully committing to your partner's happiness – moving from reactivity to creative solutions—techniques to keep your brain's flight-or-fight instinct from undermining your heart's desires – sustaining love, passion, and romance—how you can choose to create a magnificent relationship together"relationships, while seemingly complicated, don't have to be so mysterious," dr. colwell says.

Help your relationship flourish with evidence-based strategies for newly committed couples have the important conversations that connected and committed relationships are built upon with help from this modern-day entry into relationship books for couples. it's full of strategies for maintaining a healthy, satisfying partnership, plus all the guidance you'll need to put the strategies into practice. unlike many other relationship books for couples, this one includes: a guide to key relationship skills–strengthen your bond with techniques for intimacy, communication, and conflict management, and learn how to apply these techniques to your relationship. a range of therapies–find strategies rooted in mindfulness, cognitive behavioral therapy, and more. an inclusive approach–read stories from diverse couples in a wide range of committed relationships, with this contemporary choice in relationship books for couples. relationship-building activities–take a quiz to determine each partner's love language, find discussion questions for topics like morals and values, and complete a check-in with each other at the end of each chapter. relationship books for couples can help you build a firm foundation for your relationship–and this book is the only one you'll need, with up-to-date therapeutic strategies and expert guidance.

An instant international besteller​ spiritual writer and rising woman founder sheleana aiyana takes you on a transformational inner-work journey to heal lifelong relationship patterns and reclaim power over your life. romantic relationships can infuse our lives with the magic of intimacy and connection. if you find yourself struggling to let go after a relationship ends, or you keep hitting the same wall in dating and relationships with emotionally unavailable people, this is not a sign that you are broken. it is a sign that somewhere along the way, you learned to sacrifice yourself in order to be loved. in becoming the one, spiritual leader and visionary founder of the rising woman community sheleana aiyana offers a roadmap for transforming your relationship patterns to end the cycle of self-abandonment and move into the light of self-discovery. the desire for love is wired into the very fibers of our being, but before you can create rewarding bonds with others, first you must stand wholeheartedly in self-acceptance. becoming the one is an invitation to find your way home to yourself. expert advice: based on wisdom gleaned from the traumas of her past and years of guiding thousands of women around the world in her internationally acclaimed "becoming the one" program of spiritual and therapeutic healing practices, sheleana aiyana's revolutionary lessons teach you to embody the qualities you are seeking in others so that you can become "the one" for yourself. essential lessons: learn to connect with your inner child, challenge your core beliefs about love, set self-affirming boundaries, discover and celebrate your true desires, recognize red and green flags, and build a secure, loving relationship with yourself. by learning how to trust your body and make peace with your past, you'll clear the path for healthy, conscious love–one that returns the authority to you to choose how to live and whom to love. rave reviews: "this is a spectacular guide to the inner world and relationships; it dispels myths, grounds you in transformative truth, and reconnects you to your power."–yung pueblo, new york times bestselling author of clarity connection "this masterpiece will take you from pain to freedom. reading becoming the one will help you understand the process and power of healing."–nedra glover tawwab, new york times bestselling author of set boundaries, find peace perfect for: anyone navigating a recent breakup or feeling fed up with dating fans of self-help and self-improvement books adding to the shelf alongside women who run with the wolves, attached, glennon doyle's untamed, or books by esther perel

Relationships are wonderful . . . until they're not. join #1 new york times bestselling author lysa terkeurst as she helps you stop the dysfunction of unhealthy relationships by showing you biblical ways to set boundaries–and, when necessary, say goodbye–without losing the best of who you are. is it unloving or selfish to set a boundary? are christians ever called to walk away from a relationship that's no longer safe or sustainable? lysa terkeurst deeply understands these hard questions in the midst of relational struggles. but after thousands of hours of counseling intensives and extensive theological research that transformed the way she defined healthy relationships, lysa is now more committed than ever to loving people well without losing the best of who she is. she wants to help you do the same. in these pages lysa will help you: understand the five factors to remember when implementing healthy boundaries. determine the appropriate amount of personal and emotional access someone has to you based on how responsible they'll be with that access. stop being misled and emotionally paralyzed by wrongly interpreted or weaponized scriptures that perpetuate unhealthy dynamics in difficult relationships. overcome the frustrating cycle of ineffective boundary-setting with realistic scripts and practical strategies to help you communicate, keep, and implement healthier patterns. be equipped to say goodbye without guilt when a relationship has shifted from difficult to destructive and is no longer sustainable. receive therapeutic wisdom you can trust directly from lysa's christian counselor jim cress, who weighs in throughout the book. you'll be relieved to learn that boundaries aren't just a good idea, they're a god idea.

In this updated edition of their bestselling book, relationships, drs. les and leslie parrott dig below the surface to the depths of human interactions, offering expert advice and practical tools for improving the most important aspect of human life: relationships. designed for college students, young adults, singles, and dating couples, this cutting-edge book teaches the basics of healthy relationships, including friendship, dating, sexuality, and relating to god. newly updated and expanded to include the latest research on relationship building and vital information on social networking, it provides readers with proven tools for making bad relationships better and good relationships great. real relationships is filled with thought-provoking questions and links to its separate workbook. the workbook—integral to getting the most out of real relationships—contains dozens of self-tests and assessments that will help readers determine their relational readiness, the health of the home they grew up in, their understanding of gender differences, and much more. real relationships and the real relationships workbook furnish an honest and timely guide to forming the rich relationships that are life's greatest treasure.

In this updated edition of their bestselling book, relationships, drs. les and leslie parrott dig below the surface to the depths of human interactions, offering expert advice and practical tools for improving the most important aspect of human life: relationships. designed for college students, young adults, singles, and dating couples, this cutting-edge book teaches the basics of healthy relationships, including friendship, dating, sexuality, and relating to god. newly updated and expanded to include the latest research on relationship building and vital information on social networking, it provides readers with proven tools for making bad relationships better and good relationships great. real relationships is filled with thought-provoking questions and links to its separate workbook. the workbook—integral to getting the most out of real relationships—contains dozens of self-tests and assessments that will help readers determine their relational readiness, the health of the home they grew up in, their understanding of gender differences, and much more. real relationships and the real relationships workbook furnish an honest and timely guide to forming the rich relationships that are life's greatest treasure.

Why is love between men and women so difficult? in this groundbreaking new book, bestselling author terrence real analyzes the crisis in intimate relations, a crisis that has lasted more than a generation, yielding divorce rates of 40 to 50 percent. here real offers a radical new vision of love and the practical tools with which to achieve it. the current crisis is a product of changing gender roles, real explains. in the past thirty years, women's roles have changed radically and men's have not. for the first time, adult women are asking their partners to access the very skills — emotional sensitivity, expressiveness, responsibility — that most men have had psychologically, if not physically, stamped out of them as boys. patriarchal culture does not raise boys to be intimate; it raises them to be competitive performers. at the same time, girls are taught to be compliant and accommodating. the result is that, within relationships, men feel bewildered and unappreciated while women feel unheard and resentful. conventional therapy, which either sidesteps the issue or reinforces "traditional" male roles, has failed. the demand for intimacy in marriage must be met with new skills. real's insights into marriage are a direct outgrowth of his pioneering work on male depression, which culminated in his bestselling i don't want to talk about it. as in that book, real draws on myth, literature, film, and heartrending stories of the men and women he treats to illustrate his compelling analysis. breaking taboos about love, marriage, and passion, real not only reconstructs gender roles but also shows that patriarchy's idealized model of love is impossibly flawed. he teaches partners to replace it with a love that acknowledges imperfections, and he then provides five core relational skills designed to help every couple reach their full potential. is the book that every couple has been waiting for — and our culture needs.

Originally published in 1988, getting the love you want has helped millions of couples attain more loving, supportive, and deeply satisfying relationships. the 20th anniversary edition contains extensive revisions to this groundbreaking book, with a new chapter, new exercises, and a foreword detailing dr. hendrix's updated philosophy for eliminating all negativity from couples' daily interactions, allowing readers of the 2008 edition to benefit from his ongoing discoveries during his last two decades of work. harville hendrix, ph.d., in partnership with his wife, helen lakelly hunt, phd., originated imago relationship therapy, a unique healing process for couples, prospective couples, and parents. together they have more than thirty years' experience as educators and therapists and their work has been translated into more than 50 languages, with imago practiced by two thousand therapists worldwide. harville and helen have six children and live in new york and new mexico.

After food, water, and shelter, relationships are the most important factors in determining quality of life. at work, productivity and efficiency depend on relationships. at home, relationships with your spouse, children, and friends are key to success and happiness. and among nations, relationships start and stop wars. this invaluable guide shows that only by further developing yourself can you further develop your relationships.based on dr. murray bowen's innovative family systems theory, this important book has been in print for over 25 years. newly revised and expanded, extraordinary relationships, second edition shows you how the principles of family systems theory can be used in all arenas of life, including family relationships, intimate relationships, friendships, the sing life, the workplace, the international arena, and most important your relationship with yourself.

“over a decade after its publication, one book on dating has people firmly in its grip.”—the new york timeswe already rely on science to tell us what to eat, when to exercise, and how long to sleep. in this revolutionary book, psychiatrist and neuroscientist dr. pioneered by psychologist john bowlby in the 1950s, the field of attachment posits that each of us behaves in relationships in one of three distinct ways: – anxious people are often preoccupied with their relationships and tend to worry about their partner's ability to love them back – avoidant people equate intimacy with a loss of independence and constantly try to minimize closeness. – secure people feel comfortable with intimacy and are usually warm and loving. attached guides readers in determining what attachment style they and their mate (or potential mate) follow, offering a road map for building stronger, more fulfilling connections with the people they love.

Digging below the surface to take you to a whole new level. offering expert advice and practical tools for improving the most important aspect of human life, this workbook is integral to getting the most out of real relationships–drs. les and leslie parrott's updated and expanded edition of their classic and bestselling book, relationships. – used in conjunction with the real relationships book, the real relationships workbook digs below the surface to the depths of human interactions, helping you make your bad relationships better and your good relationships great, taking your life to a whole new level. – the real relationships book–which includes a free interactive online assessment and vital information on virtual friendships and online dating–and real relationships workbook reveal the secrets for healthy, authentic, and meaningful connections. – your relationships will never be the same.