Rating: 
Summary: Toward A Happy Medium
Review: Often, when a movement develops and takes hold in a society--to correct a social malady-that movement has a tendency to swing too far in the other direction. In my opinion, such is the case with feminism. Developed to prioritize the unmet needs of women at large, its principles and its programs served to meet those needs. This was (and is) a praiseworthy goal. However, something happened on the way to that goal: the needs of men at large often went unheeded or even denigrated. Just as in the case of the opposite, both parties were unsatisfied. Alison Armstrong's "Keys to the Kingdom" is part of a new movement: a laudable attempt to swing the pendulum back the other way, toward a happy middle ground. How does the twenty-first century American woman live in peace with her husband? By accepting three things that many of our foremothers realized almost instinctively: 1) men and women develop in ways that are fundamentally different from each other, 2) stemming from those differences, men and women have different expectations from each other, and 3) neither is happy living life with each other unless those expectations are met to a reasonable degree. In her novel, Armstrong ably demonstrates these facts of life. Her protagonist, Karen, has been married to Mike for several years but is becoming distressed by the lack of ability to communicate between the two. An older woman, Claudia, comes into her life and helps her to understand the "secrets" about men; those that have been handed down matrilineally in Claudia's family. Claudia teaches Karen that her husband's needs are just as important as her own, that they change as a man ages. The most enlightening part of the novel (for me) had Claudia explaining to Karen of the stages of develop for men. After reading these parts, I began to apply the characteristics of the stages to the men in my own life and found that they fit nearly to a tee. Behavior that I had previously found inexplicably--viewed through my female sensibilities--began to make sense. Armstrong is to be commended. She has done a great service for both men and women: increased their chances of being happy.
Rating:
Summary: A new insight into Men
Review: This book has really changed how I see the men in my life. I'd read the Mars/Venus books and they didn't make any difference - this does! Apply these lessons, and men will find you the most wonderful woman they've ever met. My fiance feels like he's won the lottery!
Rating:
Summary: Keys to the Kingdom belongs on every night stand
Review: This book was SUCH a pleasure to read that I have decided to personally translate in another language so that other women might benefit from reading it.
A dear friend of mine is newly married to a very nice guy and the first year of their marriage their happiness was bright enough to light up an entire town! Lately things have changed and the bright in their eyes had gone. During the workshop I took with Alison I kept thinking 'if my friend could hear this information'. And when I finished Keys to the Kingdom the first thought was "If only I had met a Claudia in my life!" (Claudia is the lead character in Keys to the Kingdom). This book is absolutely fabulous, moving and enriching; I would like all my friends to read it. As a result, I am now in the midst of translating Keys to the Kindgom as a personal gift to my friends.
Sweet Alison Armstrong is a gift to the world, through her writing and her teaching : everyone who can listen to her with their heart will love this book. She spreads love and around the world and shares in such moving words how to reach partnership between men and women. I hope Alison will always have the energy to keep going!
Rating:
Summary: FABULOUS work by Alison
Review: This book will stay in my collection of books forever and I will read it again and again. I have taken the Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women workshop and will take the graduate courses shortly. I am one of the women who "woke up in a different world" after participating in the Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women workshop. While reading Keys to the Kingdom, I laughed and cried and felt so connected to the characters. I cannot put into words (as I'm limited to the amount of words I can use here) what the information that I have received from reading this book and hearing the information from Alison has done for me and the relationships with the important men in my life. It has also transformed how I see myself and given me even more (and I already had a lot) self confidence. A must read for all women who want to transform their relationships with the men in their lives and transform their relationship with themselves.
Rating:
Summary: FABULOUS work by Alison
Review: This book will stay in my collection of books forever and I will read it again and again. I have taken the Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women workshop and will take the graduate courses shortly. I am one of the women who "woke up in a different world" after participating in the Celebrating Men, Satisfying Women workshop. While reading Keys to the Kingdom, I laughed and cried and felt so connected to the characters. I cannot put into words (as I'm limited to the amount of words I can use here) what the information that I have received from reading this book and hearing the information from Alison has done for me and the relationships with the important men in my life. It has also transformed how I see myself and given me even more (and I already had a lot) self confidence. A must read for all women who want to transform their relationships with the men in their lives and transform their relationship with themselves.
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