Rating: 
Summary: Absolutely Incredible
Review: Alan Lay McGinnis is a genius! In this book he gives 5 ways to deepen relationships, 5 ways to cultivate intimacy, 2 ways to handle negative emotions, and much more. He also discusses in great detail what one should do if a relationship goes bad. Each of his points are supported by expert opinions and previous cases he has had as a shrink. This book is extremely helpful!
Rating:
Summary: A Little Gem of A Book
Review: Do you want to be more lovable? Do you want your relationships to be deeper and more meaningful? If you are ready and willing to take a look at yourself and the way you interact with people with the intention of strengthening and deepening your relationships, I haven't found a better book one could start with. Alan McGinnis must be a fantastic counselor. If he were nearby, I would pay whatever it would cost to spend hours discussing relationships and life decisions with him, just for the benefit of his insight. There is great wisdom and practical advice to be found in the pages of this little book. It's written in a warm, friendly tone and not filled with psycho-babble, but with real-life examples from McGinnis' experience as a counselor. Read it. Then read it again. And don't stop reading it. As you do this, make a conscious effort to put the clearly stated principles into action. The result: You WILL see your relationships with people grow in depth and warmth, and you WILL become a more lovable person.
Rating:
Summary: This is one of those books that can change your life!
Review: Dr. McGinnis has crafted a beautiful book that is loaded with inspirational stories and practical wisdom that will help anyone appreciate how wonderful relationships can be. The foundation to your success and happiness in any area of life is other people. This book will help you be more happy!
Rating:
Summary: A MUST read to strengthen friendships!!!
Review: I believe that if the entire world read this book we would be a happier, healthier, friendlier, more supportive, more understanding and a more tolerant planet. I think this book should be required reading in schools! This book is as applicable today as it was when it was written over 20 years ago. Maybe even more so. Even if you think you have the right approach to people and relationships and even if you feel all your relationships are healthy... you could learn from this book. I guarantee there are things in this book that you have not thought of. I love this book and I highly recommend it because I believe it will benefit you and make you a better person. It had a great impact on me. I intend to read it annually. The author gives ideas on how to deepen friendships. These include: 1) Assign top priority to your relationships 2)Dare to talk about affection 3)Learn the gesturs of love (i.e appreciating someone offering help and graciously accepting this help) AND 4) CREATE SPACE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP (in other words don't CONTROL, don't strangle ~ let them grow and breathe!!! The author also gives pointers on cultivating intimacy. He suggests that you 1) Be liberal with praise 2) Learn to LISTEN (such as asking questions the other will enjoy answering, get the other to talk about themselves and dispensing advice SPARINGLY) 3) Use your body to demonstrate warmth AND 4) Talk freely about your feelings (Dare to need the other person and let them feel that and benefit from it) A quote from the book that I especially like is: "Don't stop expressing needs because of occasional disappointment - you'll end up bedding down with disappointment as your constant companion." You will also find ideas on how to handle negative feelings w/o destroying the relationship; how to disagree and understand at the same time and alternative methods of ventilating your anger. Another quote I appreciate: "If you dish it out - you have to take it" !!!!! Other interesting subjects in this book are: 1) The art of creative forgiveness 2) Eros - It's power and problems and 3) Loyalty, an essential ingredient. The author writes in an easy to read fashion and backs up his suggestions and ideas with many quotes from people far and near, young and old and from other books. If you have not read this book yet... do so now. I suspect that you will find it as wonderful and helpful as I did. You and your relationships will be the better for it. What is better in this world than people and healthy relationships with them. These are the things that matter. All else is dust in the wind.
Rating:
Summary: A MUST read to strengthen friendships!!!
Review: I believe that if the entire world read this book we would be a happier, healthier, friendlier, more supportive, more understanding and a more tolerant planet. I think this book should be required reading in schools! This book is as applicable today as it was when it was written over 20 years ago. Maybe even more so. Even if you think you have the right approach to people and relationships and even if you feel all your relationships are healthy... you could learn from this book. I guarantee there are things in this book that you have not thought of. I love this book and I highly recommend it because I believe it will benefit you and make you a better person. It had a great impact on me. I intend to read it annually. The author gives ideas on how to deepen friendships. These include: 1) Assign top priority to your relationships 2)Dare to talk about affection 3)Learn the gesturs of love (i.e appreciating someone offering help and graciously accepting this help) AND 4) CREATE SPACE IN YOUR RELATIONSHIP (in other words don't CONTROL, don't strangle ~ let them grow and breathe!!! The author also gives pointers on cultivating intimacy. He suggests that you 1) Be liberal with praise 2) Learn to LISTEN (such as asking questions the other will enjoy answering, get the other to talk about themselves and dispensing advice SPARINGLY) 3) Use your body to demonstrate warmth AND 4) Talk freely about your feelings (Dare to need the other person and let them feel that and benefit from it) A quote from the book that I especially like is: "Don't stop expressing needs because of occasional disappointment - you'll end up bedding down with disappointment as your constant companion." You will also find ideas on how to handle negative feelings w/o destroying the relationship; how to disagree and understand at the same time and alternative methods of ventilating your anger. Another quote I appreciate: "If you dish it out - you have to take it" !!!!! Other interesting subjects in this book are: 1) The art of creative forgiveness 2) Eros - It's power and problems and 3) Loyalty, an essential ingredient. The author writes in an easy to read fashion and backs up his suggestions and ideas with many quotes from people far and near, young and old and from other books. If you have not read this book yet... do so now. I suspect that you will find it as wonderful and helpful as I did. You and your relationships will be the better for it. What is better in this world than people and healthy relationships with them. These are the things that matter. All else is dust in the wind.
Rating: 
Summary: This Book Can Change Your Life
Review: I found this book on a friend's bookshelf and I thought it was a joke! Who needs to read a book and learn to be agreat friend? Well, you will regret if you don't! This is not some bogus self-pitious help-yourself remedial series; but points out some practicals that we always feel embarrassed to do. For example, it's OK for a guy to tell a male friend that he loves him and cares for him. It's absolutely acceptable to give hugs, shake hands, and touch. Many people oversee the very important fact that friends are always there to suffer with and to cry with. I guess this book doesn't teach you just to be a better friend, it helps you to be more vulnerable and open wth your friend. Remember that you've got to be a great friend in order to have yourself a great friend.
Rating:
Summary: A manual for living.
Review: I've read this book twice and given it to several people, including my mother who said, "Everyone should have this as a reference book in their home." The author, who doesn't conceal his Christian background, does the best job of anyone I've read at putting core human ethics and etiquette into a package without a hint of religious language or preachiness. There are stories in "The Friendship Factor" that have stayed with me for 15 years and are as powerful as any lecture, advice or sermon I've heard.
Rating:
Summary: What if You Really Were Listened To ?
Review: Reading this book, once again, I was very touched in so many areas. But I was especially touched by his analogy of how many people set goals to accomplish material landmarks, people who continue to work towards those goals, until they have surpassed those goals. But, who have you ever met who sets a goal to have one confidant to tell everything to, who also tells everything to that person? Who sets a goal to have friends on various levels, besides that one confidant? Not many of us do this, because this means exposing parts of ourselves that we have spent our lives running away from, and filling up with material possessions. But if you will just visualize yourself setting this goal, and all that this will mean to you, you will get more than you expect, and all that you can handle. Read this book because you are a human being, worthy of being listened to, while you experience your soul connecting to another's soul, as you feel safe to be who you are, right now. You will grow beyond your wildest dreams.
Rating:
Summary: Common sense stuff, religious overtone
Review: The author is a therapist and discusses cultivating and maintaining intimate relationships for both friendships and straight marriages. The book's religious overtones (references to the Bible, Jesus, and God) increase as one gets further into the book. The book was written in 1979 and does not discuss alternative lifestyles when it comes to intimacy. However most of the principles are applicable. The contents is good common sense stuff, spelled out in a compassionate constructive manner. Sometimes it's good to see the obvious spelled out to make it obvious and fully benefit from it. I feel the book was useful.
Rating:
Summary: Joys of Friendship
Review: This book makes one a warmer and a more loving, caring and understanding person.Difference of opinions always occur but a friendly encounter makes a better communicative efforts to bond together in unity. Whether it is a son, hubby, family, friend or even aquaintance, this book provides essential tips with anecdotes to resolve tension in relationships. It has a clear message flow that Friendship is the intensity of the love that leaves behind trails of sweet memories to cherish the core of life giving a whole new meaning to it. The enigma of friendship strengthens with the bonds of relationships so unique which is unselfish, intimate, pure and beautiful. Learning to appreciate, speak out on issues, Listening, confide and sharing secrets, meeting of wavelengths and such deeper corners are focused for a caring friendly relationship with the people you love most. The Art of Forgiveness is one chapter which is very thought oriented that helps change Attitude to bring about a difference to be friendly. Friendship hurts as of many reasons but the author 'Allan' reveals the tact and provide clues for enjoying joys of Friendship.
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