The Best Advice I Ever Got on Marriage: Transforming Insights from Respected Husbands and Wives

by Jim Daly

More than 20 of today's Christian authors, speakers, and entertainers relay their joys and fears, their triumphs and failures-and the advice that got them through-in this inspiring collection from Focus on the Family and Worthy Publishing. The names of these husbands and wives, like their experiences, will be familiar to anyone who's ever said 'I do.' But the transforming advice these couples received when they needed it most is what will motivate newlyweds as well as golden-years couples to strengthen their ties and keep their lifelong bond growing.

Genres: Marriage, Christian, Nonfiction, Audiobook, Christian Living, Relationships

176 pages, Hardcover

First published October 1, 2012

About the author

Jim Daly (born July 22, 1961) is the head of Focus on the Family, an international Christiancommunications ministry based in Colorado Springs, Colorado. Daly is also the main host of the Focus on the Family radio program.

Daly grew up in Southern California. He was abandoned by his alcoholic father at age 5, and orphaned by his mother's death from cancer when he was 9. He was then placed in a foster home, initially in Morongo Valley California, until he moved in with his older brothers and then with his father, who eventually turned back to alcohol and died. By the time that Daly was a senior in high school, he was living on his own.

Daly experienced a Christian conversion at 15 while attending a camp run by the Fellowship of Christian Athletes. He went on to study at California State University, San Bernardino, and eventually earned his Master of Business Administration from Regis University.

Daly worked in the paper industry until he was recruited to join Focus on the Family, at one-third of his six-figure private sector pay.

He has served at Focus for 16 years in a variety of positions before ascending to the presidency.

Reviews

[Daniel Moholia · Rating 4 out of 5]

Daly provides a compilation of relatively concise writings by various Christian leaders, pastors, artists and authors that give you a reality check on the challenges of marriage and the appropriate attitudes and approaches for tackling them. Though I am not engaged to be married at the moment, I found it helpful for getting a biblical understanding of the challenges and opportunities that the most important human relationship presents. It is tempting to idolize marriage or to believe that when you will be married, you won't make the mistakes others have. Hearing of the struggles of these well-known Christians and how they faced them is sobering yet also encouraging. It reminded me that in the unity of two imperfect people, an attitude of love, desire to follow God together and willingness to communicate can overcome shortcomings that would otherwise rattle any relationship that is this close.

[Tyler Collins · Rating 4 out of 5]

I listened to this book on a car ride to and from Omaha, NE. I really enjoyed it. Each chapter is written by a different person, all of them well-known and respected speakers and authors, and each of them shared the best advice they had ever gotten on marriage. It was easy to listen to but still presented practical and helpful ways for improving one's marriage. I would like to re-read this book with my fiance, Faith, one chapter a week and try to implement the most helpful things we find.

[Kimberly Patton]

I enjoyed the parenting one better. This one wasn’t as interesting and fresh, and didn’t have as many clear and helpful examples. It’s good advice, just advice I’ve heard many times.

[Sandra "Jeanz" · Rating 3 out of 5]

MY REVIEW
I received this book along with another from PRByTheBook in exchange for my honest review. The book is a lovely small sized hardback, an ideal gift book. I love the cover, the play on the "bicycle made for two". The book has a lot of religious references and content. I even learnt the actual source of the one piece of advice my grandparents always gave when anyone married in our family. They always said "Never go to bed on an argument" I didn't realise that the saying was actually derived from something in the bible.
You do learn a lot from this book and I can imagine it being a great tool for couples. One of the most important points given in the book is that you both have to want a marriage to work and you have to work on it together too. For example there is no point at all going to marriage counselling if you aren't both committed to working through your problems.
There are plenty of stories from individual couples on how they found answers to their own marriage problems and relationship issues.
I can certainly say that after reading the book I can see clearly that my marriage would have never worked as I was the only one committed to working on it. A marriage has to be give and take of both parties.
I think this book would be very useful for both male and females to read whilst under going marriage counselling. I think it's also the type of book that could be given to newlyweds as a book to read and go through together and perhaps when problems arise be a book they get out and read again together to overcome their difficulties.

[Natalie Walters · Rating 4 out of 5]

I visited my parents this past week and saw this short book on their table and started to read it. It’s a quick read. Finished in two sittings. Each chapter is written by a different couple or individual, who tell a little story from their marriage and give their best marriage advice. I’m not married and one reason for that is I’ve been scared of marriage because every married couple goes through stale stages when they’re married and they are basically cohabiting. Thinking of becoming like that with the person I love is so sad. This book confirmed for me that even the best couples have long periods of staleness and rough waters throughout their marriage journey. That part was somewhat discouraging. But the advice in the book was sound. These aren’t couples who have been married for 10-20 years. They’re all celebrating 35 to 60 year anniversaries. So the advice is very realistic and practical. And the advice centers on how to work through the tough and stale periods in marriage. It focuses a lot on being selfless in a relationship. Think anyone would gain something from reading it.

[Diana Nagy · Rating 3 out of 5]

Change your marriage for the better with The Best Advice I Ever Got on Marriage. Jim Daly is the president of Focus on the Family. His books are always good and he always has the best advice to offer. You always learn something new and get a better perspective when you pick up one of his books. I like this book because it shows what he does to ensure his successful marriage stays great! I have a great marriage and I have used a lot of the advice in this book without reading this book. But reading this book only reminds me of the other things that are required for a successful marriage and now I have even better things to do to make it even better than it already is! :)

[Becca Brandner · Rating 1 out of 5]

Boring. Nothing spectacular about this book.

[Stephen · Rating 3 out of 5]

Pretty good marriage book. Lots of advice from a lot of different sources. Most of the books I'm finding on marriage have a religious aspect to them. This is from Christian authors and speakers and a lot of bible verses are used to make points and I think it resonated well. The marital issues of today's times are the same ones that people have been dealing with for the last 2000 years. This book has something that will benefit any reader. I don't know which piece of advice I like the best but they were all pretty good.

[Shayla Paige · Rating 2 out of 5]

Took me a while to get through this book. Overall, I felt there was actually some good advice I took away, but for the most part It felt like this advice was aimed towards couples who barely knew each other or who lacked common sense... 2.5/5 stars

[Monica McCracken · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought this book had some good advice! Lots of good reminders. It would have been nice for the audiobook version to have a female reader for the parts where women are speaking and sharing their perspectives.

Appreciated the wisdom from a variety of authors. Pretty short little book!

[Heidi · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's a great summary of advice from some of the greatest authors and speakers. I like this book because it introduces me to authors and even more books to read about relationships.

[Skye Croom · Rating 3 out of 5]

2.5

[Anna Smith · Rating 3 out of 5]

note: I'm not having marriage problems, I'm just learning.

This felt a little repetitive of itself, but it had a few gems.

[Michael Lynch · Rating 5 out of 5]

As a person who listened to Focus on the Family for many years of my life. It is nice to have a book with many examples from several different minister on marriage and family.

[Sharaun · Rating 5 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this compilation of marriage advice and stories.

[Josh Morris · Rating 5 out of 5]

Eighteen short, practical chapters with advice from Christian authors. This book avoids being too long or repeating itself by selecting nuggets of wisdom from a wide range of people.

[HF]

audiobook via libby app

[Mandi · Rating 5 out of 5]

So encouraging & I loved that it was advice from many different people ☺️💝

[Taka Sande · Rating 5 out of 5]

Compiled by Jim Daly, this is indeed the ‘collection of the best advice I ever got on marriage.’

The contributors are reputable Christian leaders from different organisations. They range from church leaders, a musician, management gurus and even the disabled. Each of them brings in new ideas to make a Christian marriage work. This made the chapters to be unique and independent.

We read a chapter of this book with my wife in the evenings. The common threat with each contributor is serving and putting God at the centre.

I recommend this book for any one and for any stage in marriage.

[JLynn · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book is short, which is nice. It wasn't a big commitment or investment of time. I felt like it dealt in a lot of stereotypes about men and women and felt like it didn't really have anything new or interesting to say. Because it had multiple contributors, some of the advice was repeated from chapter to chapter.

Maybe it was the narrator (or the particular contributors), but it just had a churchy feel that bothers me in Christian books. I wish I had looked at the contributors ahead of time. I think I would've had better expectations about the "feel" of the book.

[Barbara Mahoney · Rating 4 out of 5]

An inspirational book about how to nurture one another in marriage. Each chapter contains insights from a different expert. The contributors include motivational speakers, psychologists, family therapists, etc. They all have been happily married for a long time! It's an enjoyable book to read and contains lots of good advice for keeping a marriage strong, healthy and happy!

[Kara of BookishBytes · Rating 3 out of 5]

Although the author is Jim Daly, the book is actually a collection of advice from other people. Because the advice comes from a selection of people, some of the advice fit my style and some didn't. But the book was short (always a plus!) and it was a good reminder of several ways I can be kinder and more supportive of my husband.

[Kelli · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is a really good book to read about marriage: single, engaged, or married. It's a compilation so it doesn't feel stale. Each perspective is wise and intuitive. It's knowledge that we all need.

[James Holt · Rating 1 out of 5]

This is exactly the kind of thing I wanted to read when I got engaged: Varied pieces of marriage advice from diverse Christian minds, well organized and easily digestible.

Totally recommend to anyone interested in getting married soon - or improving the marriage they already have.

[Rachel · Rating 4 out of 5]

Each chapter is written by a different well known christian author (Like Andy Stanley, Ken Blanchard, Gary Smalley etc.). Much of it is wise words for all relationships. Rented the audio book from the library and really enjoyed it's content.

[Brooke (i blog 4 books) · Rating 5 out of 5]

Absolutely fabulous! Tons of practical advice on building a strong marriage from some of the leading Christian marriage and family experts. I want to go back and read this book slowly (with my husband!), discuss the chapters, and evaluate how I'm doing in each of these areas. I highly recommend!

[Kim Birum · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some good advice. Would I want to be married to me?

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

A bit uneven, as most anthologies are, but some solid advice for married couples (whether Christian or not).

[Jordan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Love getting fresh perspectives. This is in great bite size chunks and easy for a couple to read together.

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

Great book - a lot of fantastic and applicable advice.