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Relationships: An Open and Honest Guide to Making Bad Relationships Better and Good Relationships Great
Today more than ever, people long for connection. In an age marked by isolation and loneliness, they measure riches in terms of belonging, acceptance, vulnerability, honesty, closeness, and commitment. And what they most want to know is how to make bad relationships better and good relationships great. Drs. Les and Leslie Parrott understand firsthand our deep need for relationships; and as relationship experts, they know what it takes to build strong, lasting bonds. In Relationships , the Parrotts take us below the surface to the depths of human interactions--to the nitty-gritty realities, the ups-and-downs of building vital, satisfying connections. They provide the tools needed to handle tough times and to really succeed at forging strong, rewarding relationships with friends, with the opposite sex, with family, and with God. This cutting-edge book is full of the latest findings and contemporary relationship-building strategies. In a high-tech world, it offers a high-touch solution to a better life. The Parrotts share not just from their knowledge, but from their hearts and lives to help us all Filled with insightful, true-life stories and thought-provoking questions, Relationships is an honest and timely guide to forming the rich relationships that are life's greatest treasure.
202 pages, Kindle Edition
First published January 1, 1998
18 people are currently reading
266 people want to read
About the author
Les Parrott III
151 books132 followers#1 New York Times best-selling authors, Les and Leslie. A husband-and-wife team who not only share the same name, but the same passion for helping others build healthy relationships. In 1991, the Parrotts founded the Center for Relationship Development on the campus of Seattle Pacific University - a groundbreaking program dedicated to teaching the basics of good relationships.
Married in 1984, the Parrotts bring real-life examples to their speaking platform. Their professional training - Leslie as a marriage and family therapist, and Les as a clinical psychologist - ensures a presentation that is grounded, insightful and cutting-edge.
The Parrotts are New York Times #1 Best Selling Authors. Their books include the award-winning Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, Love Talk, Real Relationships, The Parent You Want to Be, The Hour That Matters Most and Crazy Good Sex.
Each year Les and Leslie speak in over 40 cities. Their audiences include a wide array of venues, from churches to Fortune 500 company board rooms. Their books have sold over two million copies in more than two dozen languages.
The Parrotts have been guests on many national TV and radio programs such as CNN, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, The View with Barbara Walters, NBC Nightly News, and Oprah. Their work has been featured in USA Today and The New York Times.
Visit their website for lots of free resources at www.LesandLeslie.com
Married in 1984, the Parrotts bring real-life examples to their speaking platform. Their professional training - Leslie as a marriage and family therapist, and Les as a clinical psychologist - ensures a presentation that is grounded, insightful and cutting-edge.
The Parrotts are New York Times #1 Best Selling Authors. Their books include the award-winning Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts, Love Talk, Real Relationships, The Parent You Want to Be, The Hour That Matters Most and Crazy Good Sex.
Each year Les and Leslie speak in over 40 cities. Their audiences include a wide array of venues, from churches to Fortune 500 company board rooms. Their books have sold over two million copies in more than two dozen languages.
The Parrotts have been guests on many national TV and radio programs such as CNN, Good Morning America, CBS This Morning, The View with Barbara Walters, NBC Nightly News, and Oprah. Their work has been featured in USA Today and The New York Times.
Visit their website for lots of free resources at www.LesandLeslie.com
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Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews
April 30, 2013
"Love is not static. Love is not something you fall into and fall out of. Love is fluid. It rises and falls like the tide. 'When you love someone...you do not love them all the time, in exactly the same way, from moment to moment.' It's impossible. Yet this is what dumb love demands. Smart love, on the other hand, has faith in the ebb and flow of love, knowing that it is fluid and free. Smart love works day to day at being in love. It doesn't sit back and get sucked under the happily-ever-after myth. Smart love practices loving ways of being."
March 30, 2020
Some really good points in this novel.
If you try to find intimacy with another person before achieving a sense of identity on your own, all your relationships become an attempt to complete yourself.
If you try to find intimacy with another person before achieving a sense of identity on your own, all your relationships become an attempt to complete yourself.
March 2, 2009
I'm only on page 25 and I already feel like this book has taught me SO much! Definitely am loving this!
December 3, 2008
I love all the questions this book comes up with when considering relationships with a spouse, or anyone really. Its amazing how many things don't get talked about before marraige...even for the analyst in the engagement! I still reference back to this and give it to other couples to highlight areas that maybe were NEVER talked about ever. Its just such good information to have around so you know you're normal and that marraige is not a secret formula but something everyone can do with God in the picture and mutual love and respect.
How to fight fair, gender gaps in communication, love, respect, and so much more vital info.
How to fight fair, gender gaps in communication, love, respect, and so much more vital info.
November 15, 2022
Relationships: How to Make Bad Relationships Better and Good Relationships Great is a book that is unsurprisingly about relationships. It is a very general book about relationships though, so how much you get out of it may depend on where you are in terms of being able to develop and maintain relationships. Another thing to note is that both of the authors are Christians, and while they keep the religious parts rather low-key it is there and is worth being up front about since the title doesn't inform the reader about this.
I found the book to be full of good insights and general advice. It starts out with talking about the need to know yourself and understand how your family upbringing has affected who you are and how you react to things. It then talks about friendships and eventually moves into romantic relationships, sexuality, and even how to deal with breakups. It then ends with a somewhat tacked on feeling chapter on having a relationship with God. It does have some good insights as well, but felt a bit different than the rest of the book.
That said the book mainly deals with forming new relationships or dealing with certain aspects of relationships like sexuality or breaking up. It doesn't really talk about what to do with strong established friendships, or more serious relationships like long term dating relationships or marriage. This makes me think that this is a book geared towards a younger audience of like late teens to early twenties. I could be wrong on that, but with the absence of a chapter on marriage it really felt like that was a big relationship to miss in the spectrum.
Also while I did enjoy the insights of the book, the chapters are pretty easy to get through and with the wide amount of relationships they hit on it all feels very introductory. There have been books written about what they try to cover in a chapter or two. It's well done, but you may find yourself wanting to go a little deeper on certain subjects that the Parrotts just weren't able to do.
So yeah, Relationships is a good general book on relationships, but if you're hoping for it to cover a specific area in depth you're probably going to be slightly disappointed. You'll also be out of luck if you're looking for a lot of insight on marriage and how to build a successful marriage. Due to this it feels like a book that will have a limited impact and a limited audience, but it's good for what it is.
I found the book to be full of good insights and general advice. It starts out with talking about the need to know yourself and understand how your family upbringing has affected who you are and how you react to things. It then talks about friendships and eventually moves into romantic relationships, sexuality, and even how to deal with breakups. It then ends with a somewhat tacked on feeling chapter on having a relationship with God. It does have some good insights as well, but felt a bit different than the rest of the book.
That said the book mainly deals with forming new relationships or dealing with certain aspects of relationships like sexuality or breaking up. It doesn't really talk about what to do with strong established friendships, or more serious relationships like long term dating relationships or marriage. This makes me think that this is a book geared towards a younger audience of like late teens to early twenties. I could be wrong on that, but with the absence of a chapter on marriage it really felt like that was a big relationship to miss in the spectrum.
Also while I did enjoy the insights of the book, the chapters are pretty easy to get through and with the wide amount of relationships they hit on it all feels very introductory. There have been books written about what they try to cover in a chapter or two. It's well done, but you may find yourself wanting to go a little deeper on certain subjects that the Parrotts just weren't able to do.
So yeah, Relationships is a good general book on relationships, but if you're hoping for it to cover a specific area in depth you're probably going to be slightly disappointed. You'll also be out of luck if you're looking for a lot of insight on marriage and how to build a successful marriage. Due to this it feels like a book that will have a limited impact and a limited audience, but it's good for what it is.
May 4, 2023
I really enjoyed this book even though I wasn't reading it for a relationship advice. I just love the psychology of it. They did have great relationship advice and I loved the exercises. The chapters on the intimacy and importance of friendship was also a great read. Very on point.
April 4, 2018
I thought this was a good book for those that are starting out in relationships (friendships and romantic). However, it didn’t really cover anything helpful for established friendships or marriages.
February 8, 2019
"If you try to find intimacy with another person before achieving a sense of identity in your own, all your relationships become an attempt to complete yourself."
April 13, 2022
Good insight I mostly hadn’t heard before.
Lots of good questions in the workbook section.
Lots of good questions in the workbook section.
March 14, 2021
You have to read this book every now and then. In a digital age of fast friendships, the line between a good relationship and a great relationship is very blurred. Are you my "friend" because we are connected on Facebook? Are you still my "friend" if we haven't talked in ages? And what about men and women?
Chapter 9 is perhaps the capstone: you and God. Is God real? Or is he imaginary or a collective force as Freud and Durkheim argue? Or is He relational, loving, and real as Christians say He is?
Husband and wife team helps the reader navigate relationships and how to become the friend or spouse that you want to be. And if you are a Christian, it helps to remember God is the ultimate Friend you'll ever need.
Chapter 9 is perhaps the capstone: you and God. Is God real? Or is he imaginary or a collective force as Freud and Durkheim argue? Or is He relational, loving, and real as Christians say He is?
Husband and wife team helps the reader navigate relationships and how to become the friend or spouse that you want to be. And if you are a Christian, it helps to remember God is the ultimate Friend you'll ever need.
August 11, 2010
Very insightful book. Even just reading this book, I learned a lot about relationships and what they should be like. This book will not help you understand relationships like an actual relationship will, but it sure will help you learn what one should be like.
May 19, 2015
The book started out slowly but eventually picked up. The most helpful portion was the section on friendships. The last chapter about a relationship with God was a bit abrupt & could have been expanded. Overall, the book was solid & well worth the read.
May 13, 2013
Even though this is an older book I enjoyed reading it and learned some things.
November 14, 2015
This books was a great reference in opening conversations between my fiancé and I. If you want a guidepost to having healthy relationships, this is a great starting point.
October 17, 2008
Great idea for a small group or a book club!
Displaying 1 - 15 of 15 reviews