Summary:
This book provides practical advice on how to have a successful marriage by understanding the needs and desires of husbands.
Book Genre:
Non-fiction self-help and relationship book.
Main Topic:
The main topic of the book is how to nurture and effectively communicate with husbands to create a happy and fulfilling marriage.
Key Ideas:
- Husbands crave admiration and respect from their wives.
- Women should avoid criticizing, belittling, or emasculating their husbands.
- Clear communication and setting boundaries is essential for a healthy marriage.
- Husbands need emotional and physical intimacy from their wives.
- Women should prioritize their husbands and make their marriage a top concern.
Main Parts of the Book:
- Part One: The Basic Needs of Men – Discusses the basic emotional and physical needs of men and how women can fulfill them.
- Part Two: The Myths and Truths About Marriage – Debunks common misconceptions about marriage and discusses the importance of accepting and appreciating your spouse.
- Part Three: The Cart Before the Horse – Explains why women should prioritize their husband and marriage over themselves and other relationships.
- Part Four: Speak The Language of Marriage – Discusses effective communication techniques and how women can use them to strengthen their marriage.
- Part Five: The Proper Care and Feeding of Marriages – Provides practical advice on how to nurture and maintain a happy and fulfilling marriage.
Key Takeaways:
- Husbands need admiration and respect from their wives.
- Critical and belittling behaviors can harm a marriage.
- Effective communication and setting boundaries is crucial for a healthy marriage.
- Husbands need emotional and physical intimacy from their wives.
- Marriage should be a top priority for both spouses.
Author’s Background and Qualifications:
Laura Schlessinger is a licensed marriage and family therapist, radio host, and author. She has a Ph.D. in physiology and has been providing relationship advice for over 30 years through her radio show and books. She has also been a guest on numerous news shows and has been featured in various publications.
Target Audience:
The target audience for this book is primarily married or engaged women who want to improve their relationship with their husbands and have a fulfilling marriage. However, the advice provided can also benefit any woman in a committed relationship.
Publisher and First Publication Date:
The Proper Care and Feeding of Husbands was published by HarperCollins in 2004.