Not too many years ago, I would not even walk through the self-help section of a bookstore, let alone read or recommend a book I found there. I envisioned readers of these books to be self-absorbed, insecure people who needed guidance on everything.
Hmm… I was pretty judgey back then, huh?
Nowadays, the majority of the books I read would be categorized as self-help. At some point, I came to realize that there was nothing wrong with someone devoting time and effort to learning and improving on the areas of their life that are most important. Sure, that can be taken to the extreme, blinding people to the world and others around them, but the majority of us are just trying to educate ourselves on the best way to live and love well.
With that thought in mind, I’m offering a list of the 12 best marriage books I’ve read so far, ones that I think can make any marriage better (if you take their advice, that is 😉 ). Regardless of whether your marriage is in an upswing or a downswing, every marriage needs work. With two imperfect people trying to create one life together, there are always going to be challenges.
Marriage is like a second language. If you don’t work at it a little each day, eventually, you’ll lose it.
Here are 12 books that will help you be the spouse you want to be and have the marriage you always wanted. (Full disclosure, there are multiple Gary Thomas and Gary Chapman books on this list because they cover various topics and provide a lot of worthwhile insights.)
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- Sacred Marriage by Gary Thomas
- The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman
- The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands by Dr. Laura Schlessinger
- Cherish by Gary Thomas
- Boundaries in Marriage by Dr. Henry Cloud and Dr. John Townsend
- When Sorry Isn’t Enough by Gary Chapman and Jennifer Thomas
- Love & Respect by Dr. Emerson Eggerichs
- Sacred Influence by Gary Thomas
- The 4 Seasons of Marriage by Gary Chapman
- I Love You, But I Don’t Trust You by Mira Kirshenbaum
- The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman and Nan Silver
- 47 Little Love Boosters For a Happy Marriage by Marko Petkovic
For some people, these books are good reminders of how to take care of their marriages, while for others, they can be life-changing. Marriages don’t always experiences problems because of one traumatic event, but often, it’s a slow erosion of trust, of expectations, and of effort.
I find that reading books about marriage is a good reality check, and a chance to see things from a different perspective. Think of them as the friend who can give objective advice and tell you the truth if you’re wrong.
I hope that these books uplift and encourage you and your spouse, and provide a game-plan for making your union that much happier and more satisfying.
What are your favorite books on marriage? Have you read any of the titles above? Let me know in the comments!
[Disclaimer: I am a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for me to earn fees by linking to Amazon.com and affiliated sites. This post contains affiliate links, which means that if you click on one of the product links, I’ll receive a commission, at no additional cost to you. All opinions are my own and I never recommend anything I haven’t used myself and loved.]
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