Marriage: Dead or Alive

by Adolf Guggenbühl-Craig

Revised Edition Divorce and children, sexuality and well-being, perversions and affairs, sacrifice and individuation-these are only some of the emotional and psychological issues that Adolf Guggenbuhl-Craig examines with his customary vigor and deceptively easy prose style. This brilliant Swiss psychiatrist (famous for his book Power in the Helping Professions and his expertise on psychopathy) examines marriage against the background of individuals and their search for soul, thereby questioning and radicalizing our controversial notions of what constitutes a "happy marriage," or even if happiness in a marriage is necessary to be successful.

Genres: Psychology, Relationships

147 pages, Paperback

First published December 12, 1977

Reviews

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book BLEW MY HAIR BACK. It has a radical view of marriage, singleness, and salvation, and I'm still thinking about it. It is out of print, but my analyst lent it to me - I feel lucky to have gotten to read it. I'm not sure yet, but I think this has changed my perspective on a number of things forever.

[Elaheh · Rating 3 out of 5]

دیدگاهش رو در مجموع پسندیدم. و نوع نگاهی که به ازدواج داشت. از اسمش انتظار کتاب روانشناسی داشتم ولی بعد از خوندن احساس کردم بیشتر روانشناسی مذهبی بود. مشکلی که باهاش داشتم این بود که جاهایی رو نمی‌فهمیدم. فکر می‌کنم توضیحی که داده بود بعضی جاها کافی نبود. مطلب مفصلی رو می‌خواسته خیلی کوتاه بیان کنه و نتونسته.

[Reece · Rating 4 out of 5]

Get ready for a weeked tour bus into the whacky world of paradox. Dont expect definitive answers to the perks and problems of marriage. You will find no general recommendations and statistics of what works for most people.

This book really hammers home that growth/individualtion ≠ wellness. I know not much of the history of this so-called 'wellness epidemic' in Western Psychology, but it appears to have made some waves in the late 70s when this book was published. Jungians do not see much initial utility in wellness.

Guggenbühl-Craig makes some novel insights. One main theme is that marriage serves as the surface in which the unrefined parts of the personality meet the grindstone. The more sparks, the more growth. A 'safe' stable marriage may not have the richness and depth of one where each partner's neurosis (and by extention, their families' neurosis) is on full display.

A caution made frequently in the book: Marriage is not for everyone. At least not if one is to fully imbue the alchemical coniunctio.

The book was a fluid and enjoyable read. It's missing a star as I feel it was a little brief in many sections, particularly the final chapters.

[Alice · Rating 4 out of 5]

Of course it is both. If you love confrontation and contingencies, you'll love this book.

[Abu Alizada · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading this marriage seemed to me so ordinary (and stupid).

[Elnaz · Rating 3 out of 5]

کتابی محتوای مناسب و آموزنده‌ای داره و کمک می‌کنه نگاه وسیع‌تر و عمیق‌تری نسبت به ازدواج پیدا کنیم. بنظر من ترجمه خیلی مناسب نبود و متن جاهایی روان نیست.