A wise, witty and helpful guide for couples wishing to improve and enliven their romantic connections.
A licensed marriage and family therapist offers his advice on improving intimate relationships.
In his debut book, Rosenthal draws on his experience as a licensed marriage and family therapist and a relationship-advice columnist for the Denver Post. As a nationally recognized expert on intimacy, he provides valuable insights about finding harmony, contentment and passion. He addresses dozens of topics, including how to romance a woman, handle criticism and discover one’s own hidden issues. Other subjects include how to let down one’s guard, communicate when one is angry or hurt, and keep things together during a crisis. He also looks at how to add spark to one’s sex life, even addressing the fine art of erotic talk. Each chapter ends with quotations and quips about relationships, adding sage advice and a lighthearted feel. The author’s selection of quotes reveals the wisdom he’s accumulated over 25 years, such as this example, credited to the late Canadian novelist Robertson Davies: “As a general thing, people marry most happily with their own kind. The trouble lies in the fact that people usually marry at an age when they do not really know what their own kind is.” Rosenthal also quotes from comedian Bob Hope (“People who throw kisses are hopelessly lazy”), helpfully reminding couples that they should also keep their senses of humor. There are quizzes to help readers determine whether they are empathetic, good listeners, walled-off, controlling or possibly sabotaging their relationships. There’s also a concluding “Notes” section, with citations of other publications, indexed by chapter and topic. Overall, the guide is informative and entertaining, and the writing, devoid of jargon. Unlike other books in this genre, there’s no attempt here to fit men and women into predetermined categories––just down-to-earth advice. Like a sort of car manual for couples, this is a useful book to consult before (or after) the “check engine” light flickers on a relationship’s dashboard.
A wise, witty and helpful guide for couples wishing to improve and enliven their romantic connections.Pub Date: June 13, 2014
ISBN: 978-1460235423
Page Count: 264
Publisher: FriesenPress
Review Posted Online: Sept. 9, 2014
Review Program: Kirkus Indie
This is not the Nutcracker sweet, as passed on by Tchaikovsky and Marius Petipa. No, this is the original Hoffmann tale of 1816, in which the froth of Christmas revelry occasionally parts to let the dark underside of childhood fantasies and fears peek through. The boundaries between dream and reality fade, just as Godfather Drosselmeier, the Nutcracker's creator, is seen as alternately sinister and jolly. And Italian artist Roberto Innocenti gives an errily realistic air to Marie's dreams, in richly detailed illustrations touched by a mysterious light. A beautiful version of this classic tale, which will captivate adults and children alike. (Nutcracker; $35.00; Oct. 28, 1996; 136 pp.; 0-15-100227-4)
Pub Date: Oct. 28, 1996
ISBN: 0-15-100227-4
Page Count: 136
Publisher: Harcourt
Review Posted Online: May 19, 2010
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Aug. 15, 1996
BOOK REVIEW
BOOK REVIEW
An extravaganza in Bemelmans' inimitable vein, but written almost dead pan, with sly, amusing, sometimes biting undertones, breaking through. For Bemelmans was "the man who came to cocktails". And his hostess was Lady Mendl (Elsie de Wolfe), arbiter of American decorating taste over a generation. Lady Mendl was an incredible person,- self-made in proper American tradition on the one hand, for she had been haunted by the poverty of her childhood, and the years of struggle up from its ugliness,- until she became synonymous with the exotic, exquisite, worshipper at beauty's whrine. Bemelmans draws a portrait in extremes, through apt descriptions, through hilarious anecdote, through surprisingly sympathetic and understanding bits of appreciation. The scene shifts from Hollywood to the home she loved the best in Versailles. One meets in passing a vast roster of famous figures of the international and artistic set. And always one feels Bemelmans, slightly offstage, observing, recording, commenting, illustrated.
Pub Date: Feb. 23, 1955
ISBN: 0670717797
Page Count: -
Publisher: Viking
Review Posted Online: Oct. 25, 2011
Kirkus Reviews Issue: Feb. 1, 1955
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