THE DNA OF RELATIONSHIPS

A religious teacher and author of more than forty books uses social science methods to understand what helps married couples handle conflict effectively. He notes that unproductive communication has a pattern that married couples repeat as a matter of habit. Once individuals recognize their contribution to the pattern, they can choose to communicate at a higher level and with more love and commitment. The author’s insights show how faulty values, needs, and communication styles repeat themselves in our relationships, disappointing us with the same unsatisfying results again and again. The smugness in this writing--found too often in Christian relationship advice--is almost imperceptible in Chris Fabry’s upbeat reading. T.W. © AudioFile 2005, Portland, Maine [Published: OCT/NOV 05]