Rescue Your Love Life: Changing Those Dumb Attitudes & Behaviors That Will Sink Your Marriage

by Henry Cloud, John Townsend

The best-selling author duo of Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend comes to the aid of readers who are drowning in a sea of good intentions and misplaced priorities with "Rescue Your Love Life," a simultaneous trade book and workbook release.

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

260 pages, Hardcover

First published February 29, 2000

About the author

Dr. Cloud has written or co-written twenty-five books, including the two million-seller Boundaries. His most recent books are Boundaries for Leaders and Necessary Endings. He has earned three Gold Medallion awards, and was awarded the distinguished Retailers Choice award for God Will Make A Way.

As president of Cloud-Townsend Resources, Dr. Cloud has produced and conducted hundreds of public seminars around the country. He speaks on relationships—marriage, parenting, dating, personal growth, and spirituality. His seminars are often broadcast live to over two thousand venues at a time.

Reviews

[Chris Walker]

Many people would dismiss this book because of its Christian perspective but these guys (there are two authors) are clinical psychologists first and work from a perspective that a marriage is worth fighting for and can be strengthened with will on both sides, despite the problems that inevitably creep up in life.

[Mom2triplets04]

Listened to this on on audio for #NonFicNov. It's a great book that has a positive message. It suggests that you need to change yourself in order for things to change around you. You cannot change your spouse. It is very helpful book for communicating with your spouse in a positive manner. Highly recommend this book to anyone who is struggling with your marriage. It's a book you can refer back to many times.

[Donna]

I read this book off and on in the past eight or so months. I learned a great deal about myself, my marriage, and the complexities of relationships. I saw myself from another perspective, which was interesting and a growing experience. My husband didn't read it and probably never will considering how I needed to take many breaks to digest and regroup. It would be ideal if we both read it. However, I am confident I can put much in place and reap the rewards, regardless. It was well written and practical.

[Grace Tolman]

This was a really good read. It had a lot of great advice and the examples are very relatable.
It is interesting that even with almost 20 years of marriage, I can still learn something new or see things from a different perspective because of this book. I appreciated the different "dumb attitudes" relayed in this book and how to reverse such attitudes. I also like that they added "lifelines" at the end of every discussion. If a certain attitude is hard to change right away, then you can use the lifelines to at least start the change.
I can definitely recommend this book.

[Michelle]

I am a huge fan of Cloud and Townsend. I bought the audio and paperback versions of Rescue Your Love Life: Changing Those Dumb Attitudes & Behaviors That Will Sink Your Marriage and love the practical information provided. It helped me identify some beliefs that were not serving me well. I have given this book to several couples and I highly recommend it.

[Natalyn Arevalo]

I found the book a little dull and vague in my opinion. I did pull some valuable aspects from the book concerning validating feelings in the relationship doesn't mean you have to agree with the feelings and learning how to fight well. I also thought the last chapter on sex was very eye-opening and helpful.

[Dave]

As a relationship coach, I found many of the insights here very familiar. However ,this book is staggeringly valuable for those folks whose beliefs about the perfect marriage come from judgements and fantasies - not from a willingness to create and celebrate vulnerability and intimacy.

[Mike]

Easy to read and although the author definitely presents a Christian perspective, I felt as though most traditional Non-participants and seekers would not be threatened by it and would really enjoy the beneficial quality of the relationship advice.

[Laurene Klassen]

Love the important reminders that marriage is about serving, validating, loving and giving. It’s not about blaming or playing the victim. As a marriage partner, I should be looking at what issues I need to change.

I thought this was an encouraging read. Lots of practical
tips and insight. After all, every marriage needs rescuing from time to time!

So powerful that a few weeks after listening, I went beck ti the library to check out the book to write down highlights!!!

[Adrienna]

Maybe I should not read this until I have such issues; yet, I'm proactive. However, there are couple's stories that I guess I'm least interested since I'm not in such a relationship at this time. Skimming through...to the good parts.

So far, this is the best part of the book:
"James tells us that we sin because we are carried away by our own desires: 'Each one is tempted when, by his own desire, he is dragged away and enticed. Then, after desire has conceived, it gives birth to sin; and sin, when it is full-grown, gives birth to death" (James 1:14-15). So temptation is not about deprivation in a relationship, nor is it about our own stress, hurt, or need. Those are real and valid needs that call for help and healing; these needs cannot be met by giving in to things that cause death. That is what infidelity does--it causes the death of marriages, children, churches, and many other things." p. 122-23, Rescue your Love Life by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend. (chapter "My Lover Should Never Hurt Me).

[Walker]

I really like what Henry Cloud writes. I had been reading this book for over 6 months here and there! I found alot of the information helpful. Alot of information in this book has a spiritual aspect to it. I found alot of the story sinerios interesting and I could relate to alot of them at times.

[Lisa]

Marriage

[Chee Keong]

Relationship and emotional book.

[Becky]

I read this book and used the workbook as I went through it. I've learned a lot. Hopefully I'll be able to put these positive attitudes and behaviors into my daily life and make my marriage better.

[Jeannette]

This book is a great read and you don't have to be married to appreciate it. We all have relationships that would benefit from the attitudes and information in this book.

[Michael]

Great stuff that will help any marriage become stronger.

[Martha Childers]

Anyone wanting to improve their marriage will benefit from Cloud and Townsend's book.

[Jess]

Audiobook version

[Maria]

Listened to the audio book.