The Two Sides of Love: with Study Guide

by Gary Smalley, John Trent

Not many understand how to communicate in a way that is both loving and effective. The Two Sides of Love will change that! Best-selling authors Gary Smalley and John Trent explain how to balance love's hard and soft sides to help readers develop strong relationships with their spouse, children, friends . . . Anyone!

Genres: Marriage, Christian, Nonfiction, Relationships, Christian Living, Counselling, Religion

288 pages, Paperback

First published August 1, 1993

About the author

Gary Smalley was one of the country's best-known authors and speakers on family relationships. He was the award-winning, best-selling author or coauthor of sixteen books, as well as several popular films and videos. The Blessing and The Two Sides of Love have won Gold Medallions, The Language of Love won the Angel Award as the best contribution to family life, and his other titles have received Silver Medallions. His national infomercial Hidden Keys to Loving Relationships has been viewed by television audiences all over the world.

Dr. Greg Smalley graduated with his doctorate degree in clinical psychology from Rosemead School of Psychology at Biola University in Southern California. He also holds master's degrees in counseling psychology (Denver Seminary) and clinical psychology (Rosemead). Dr. Smalley is the director of research and development at Smalley Relationship Center in Branson, Missouri. He lives in Ozark, Missouri with his wife, Erin, and their two daughters, Taylor and Madalyn.

Reviews

[David Dalton · Rating 4 out of 5]

A good look into how we get along, not just as couples, but in the world at large. Based on our personalities and our relationship with God. My Pastor recommended this for us (as a newly married older couple).

[Monta · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is still a good book to help with figuring out different personalities within your family and dealing with coworkers. This book helped me tremendously with seeing how my husband loves differently than I love him. Expectations are built up during our dating years and nothing turn out the way you plan. I would love to have had this as a part of our premarital counseling!

[Williams Adamu · Rating 3 out of 5]

I'm yet to marry but when I first lay my hands on this book THE TWO SIDE OF LOVE (The soft and hard side of love), in 2010 I realised the side of love I belong to. I got to know my personality. It really made me have self appraisal. Its a book to read especially the single as it equip one with the right knowledge of a balanced love. God bless you

[Catherine Hirsch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good presentation of DISC personality characteristics. I liked the questions for determining if you are too hard side or too soft side on love and the concrete steps for adding either hardness or softness to your relationships.
For me, sometimes the real life examples were too extreme and could have been balanced with more subtle examples. I think adding less dramatic examples would further illustrate how the content is applicable to everyday life. However, the examples given served the purpose and made the point.

[Daniel Warne · Rating 4 out of 5]

Really enjoyed this one - examining "hardside/softside" love and the strengths and weaknesses of different personalities can be greatly beneficial in relationship building and understanding. This certainly can be a great tool for counseling and pastoral purposes. Easy to read, plenty of great examples. It's a recommendation from me!

[Heather · Rating 4 out of 5]

I normally hate personality type books but this one was very interesting and focused more on becoming more Christ like and overcoming our personality flaws than the more traditional “I’m type ____, that’s just how I am” mentality.

[Susie]

I thought this was a great book to help you analyze your personality and the ways you tend to love. It quickly identifies the different personality types according to different animals. Then they look at how those personality types tend to love and how each group can make their love more two-sided. None of us need to love just on the hard side or soft side of love. We need to be like Jesus and have both sides of love. This book gives practical steps each person can take to give a more whole-hearted love no matter which side you tend to lean toward.

[Olawale]

An eye-opener!