WHY MARRIAGES SUCCEED OR FAIL And How You Can Make Yours Last

Even listeners in painful, incompatible marriages can change the tone with this step-by-step guide to resolving--or living with--conflicts. Working from decades of research he's conducted, the author says couples settle into three healthy styles of resolving conflicts--validating, volatile, and avoidant. He offers specific strategies for using more affirming communication in all three styles and for avoiding destructive patterns like criticism, condemnation, defensiveness, or withdrawal. Narrator Paul Costanzo doesn't add much excitement to the often dry specifics of this ongoing research, which is optimistic but offers more to-do's than inspiration. But his vocal tone is reliably enjoyable, he never misses a phrase, and he adds an academic sort of energy that makes the entire work sound worthy of respect and consideration. T.W. © AudioFile 2013, Portland, Maine [Published: APRIL 2013]