The Truth About Relationships, Second Edition

Rating:
Summary: Common-sense book about Real Love
Review: Some reader wrote a strange review of this book, because it hasn't anything thing to do with that person's "Buddhism, saints or sages". Refreshingly, Dr. Baer steers well clear of that stuff - it isn't mentioned or used even once.

This is an extremely common-sense, straightforward, down-to-earth book about what love is and is not; how Real Love "looks" in various relationships; how and why people keep themselves from having it; why people do the crazy stuff they do (that we read about in the papers, experience in our own lives, etc.) because of its lack; and how you and I can go about finding it.

The answer is hard and not to be avoided, but at the same time, simple and easy: We have to start telling the truth about ourselves (ceasing to hide our mistakes, and acknowledging our shortcomings with others) so that others will have a chance to see & accept us as we really are, and so we can sooner or later find the people who will.

I've been reading relationship books for a couple decades now, and though I may not think all of Dr. Baer's answers and methods are perfect, this is the clearest, most profound and useful explanation and discussion of Real Love I have ever come across.

Rating:
Summary: The truth at last
Review: This book is for those willing to open their minds to the possibility that happiness or the lack of it is up to them. It speaks clearly and openly about our faults in relationships and how to rid ourself of behaviors that result in our own unhappiness and lack of love.
It requires a very open mind. I found it to be accurate in my life. The reasons for emptiness and fear are right on the money. The Getting and Protecting Behaviors are also correct.
Manipulation, clinging, lying, extracting what you need from others that result in temporary feelings of joy but ultimately result in feeling empty are all parts of what is wrong with how we look at what a relationship is.
I am excited about what I read.

Rating:
Summary: This book is a gift.
Review: This book resonated with me very strongly. It answered so many of my questions about why I act the way I do. It is truly the most useful self-help book I've encountered. Anyone who is honestly looking for healthy ways of looking at life and relationships has found a big chunk of answers.