Hearts That We Broke Long Ago

by Merle Shain

A study of loving relationships between men and women explains how to overcome harmful and destructive patterns of behavior that undermine the ability to love

Genres: Self Help, Nonfiction, Relationships, Psychology

144 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1983

Reviews

[Jenny Lasala · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is an all time favorite of mine. I must have purchased at least a dozen copies and given as gifts. Everyone raves about this book which is great to keep on your night stand. Merle Shain writes as though she is talking directly to you as a friend with beautiful insight and reflections.

[Asli · Rating 5 out of 5]

a flowing read on different types of difficulties when we experience romantic love. i see myself picking up this book at varying times in my life.

[Chloe Moon · Rating 5 out of 5]

A poetic and heartfelt look at how we often sabotage our own efforts to find love and live out negative patterns. It's sympathetic but doesn't coddle - it's a loving nudge from the nest of self-pity and self-sabotage.

It has a focus on negative patterns and how we feed them. Patterns like seeking out unavailable people, falling in love with people who will hurt us like we've been hurt before, becoming frightened and running away when exactly what we want finally presents itself, etc.

I like this more than other books about the same subject because this is less clinical and abstract, and more sympathetic. It speaks to the heart more than the mind, and it almost reads like a sequence of miniature essays/poems and stories.

There isn't much explicitly on "here's how to change." It's mostly about what doesn't work, but like parables, the answers and steps for growth are there if you give it your attention.

[Mikaela · Rating 5 out of 5]

Forever one of my favourite reads.

[Nicole · Rating 3 out of 5]

Still beautiful poetry but I didn’t love this one as much as the others

I think it’s because I’m lucky to not have any childhood or divorce trauma

[James · Rating 5 out of 5]

A touching and wise little book about the ways our emotional wounds reinflict themselves on ourselves and others in love, and ways to see what's happening and change it.

[Cerese · Rating 5 out of 5]

I haven't read this book in years, since it was stolen actually.
Anyway, it is a book about healing relationships and it's prose reads like poetry.

I need to buy another copy.

[Debi · Rating 5 out of 5]

my ALL TIME fave book!! a MAJOR turning point in my life!!!!

[Diana Petty-stone · Rating 5 out of 5]

Merle Shain helps us understand why and how we keep making the same mistakes over and over.

[Janice Nelson · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book is a masterpiece.