Notes to Each Other

by Hugh Prather, Gayle Prather

The authors reveal the challenges of their twenty-five-year marriage in a personal memoir of married life that explores values, child-rearing, sexuality, and other conjugal concerns

Genres: Poetry, Spirituality, Nonfiction, Marriage, Self Help

172 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1990

About the author

Hugh Prather, Jr. was a writer, minister, and counselor, most famous for his first book, Notes to Myself. , which was first published in 1970 by Real People Press. It has sold over 5 million copies, and has been translated into ten languages.
Together with his second wife, Gayle Prather, whom he married in 1965, he wrote other books, including The Little Book of Letting Go; "I Touch the Earth, The Earth Touches Me"; How to Live in the World and Still Be Happy; I Will Never Leave You: How Couples Can Achieve The Power Of Lasting Love; Spiritual Notes to Myself: Essential Wisdom for the 21st Century; Shining Through: Switch on Your Life and Ground Yourself in Happiness; Spiritual Parenting: A Guide to Understanding and Nurturing the Heart of Your Child; Standing on My Head: Life Lessons in Contradictions; A Book of Games: A Course in Spiritual Play; Love and Courage; Notes to Each Other; A Book for Couples; The Quiet Answer; and There is a Place Where You Are Not Alone.
Born in Dallas, the younger Hugh Prather earned a bachelor's degree at Southern Methodist University in 1966 after study at Principia College and Columbia University. He studied at the University of Texas at the graduate level without taking a degree. While he could be categorized as a New Age writer, he drew on Christian language and themes and seemed comfortable conceiving of God in personal terms. His work underscored the importance of gentleness, forgiveness, and loyalty; declined to endorse dramatic claims about the power of the individual mind to effect unilateral transformations of external material circumstances; and stressed the need for the mind to let go of destructive cognitions in a manner not unlike that encouraged by the cognitive-behavioral therapy of Aaron T. Beck and the rational emotive behavior therapy commended by Albert Ellis.

Reviews

[Stephanie "Jedigal"]

Like "Notes to Myself" its not really poetry, not a diary as such, but thoughts and reflections - again, in the intent for self improvement.

[wulvz · Rating 5 out of 5]

Simply impossible to give these two any less than 5 stars every time.

I’ll say my enjoyment of this particular edition was not a 10/10, or as high as usual when it comes to Prather, but I think it’s ridiculous to rank such a simple read centered in nothing other than self love, self improvement, and incredibly insightful/helpful reflections to unpack and practice oneself, any less than a 5/5.

Hugh and Gayle went through some traumatizing stuff, seemingly mostly caused by Hugh, which was triggering yet healing for me to read through. Whether it be a past relationship, a friend or family members relationship, or a current relationship, there are things to take away and find peace in within this read.

I love you Prathers 🫶

[Nightingale · Rating 3 out of 5]

There's definitely some wisdom to it but it gets kinda preachy

[Enrique Valdivia · Rating 3 out of 5]

I read this a long time ago, sometime after graduating from college. I liked hearing Gayle's story. The way she chose to respond to Hugh's infidelity and other challenges in their marriage showed me a way of loving that was completely unfamiliar to me at the time. My parents' marriage was similarly troubled. My mother's response had none of Gayle's dignified acceptance. She was full of anger and jealousy. To this day I don't blame her. My father was a cheater with none of Hugh's redeeming qualities. But I'm thankful to Gayle for showing me there are other ways to deal with disappointment.

[Jennifer · Rating 4 out of 5]

A book for people in REAL relationships. Prather is open about his own faults (including infidelity) and about his wife's very real responses to them. A simply-written yet touching portrayal of true love with all its difficulties, doubts, precious moments, and promises.

[Tina · Rating 5 out of 5]

Prather makes no secret of the struggles he's endured to obtain his wisdom, which he communicates simply and effectively. This is a wonderful book for those in relationship.

[Gina · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some insight but I disagree with his attitude.