“Bierman, a licensed clinical psychologist, offers advice for couples considering marriage. He begins with a discussion of the concept of love and how it affects the minds and actions of couples, then explores potential conflicts and issues that should be discussed and skills and strategies to work out differences. He covers marriage success theories, expectations, the language of the marriage contract, how marriage changes people, the effects of having kids, in-laws, and divorce. He also covers premarital counseling and self- counseling.”–SciTech Book News
“All couples prepare for their wedding but few for their marriage. For those couples who want to insure their marriage endures, this book is an excellent and essential guide. I recommend it without reservation.”–Harville Hendrix, Ph. D. author, Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples
“Jim Bierman's book is packed with enlightening and practical advice for any couple planning for marriage. He shows them how to deal directly with every important aspect of their relationship ahead of time and in a sensitive, loving way. I highly recommend it both to anyone planning to be married and to professionals who work with couples.”–Linda Adams President and CEO, Gordon Training International
“Of Sound Mind to Marry offers a well-informed overview of the journey into marriage. Not just another book filled with advice, Bierman's understanding of the psychological nuances of premarital and marriage relationships is presented in a clear and useful format. Add this one to your premarital reading list. A fresh treatment of the journey into marriage; Of Sound Mind to Marry is a sophisticated psychological look at forming a life-long relationship. Bierman is not afraid to tackle the difficult topics such as prenuptial agreements and deciding not to marry.”–Peter J. Larson, Ph.D. LP Vice President, Life Innovations, Inc.
“I haven't seen anything quite like this before. In my work I have several hundred clients, most of whom do some pre-marital counseling. If couples just read this book, they wouldn't need anything else. That's how good the book is. A great deal of thought that someone should give to getting married is really in asking the right questions. And those questions are clearly spelled out.”–Richard Geller, Founder of CapitalCounselors.com and Clients4Therapists.com
Professional Reviews
Harville Hendrix
“All couples prepare for their wedding but few for their marriage. For those couples who want to insure their marriage endures, this book is an excellent and essential guide. I recommend it without reservation.”–Harville Hendrix, Ph. D. author, Getting the Love You Want: A Guide for Couples
The best manual for a couple thinking of getting married,
January 8, 2008
By R. B. Geller (Fairfax, VA USA) -
So much of life should come with an owner's manual, but doesn't.
Jim's book comes awfully close to being an owner's manual for people who are thinking of marrying.
I run a service that matches counselors and therapists with couples and individuals. So I was eager to read Jim's book and hoping it would serve for many couples who may want to read rather than see someone, or want to supplement what their religious or secular counseling provides them.
I haven't seen anything quite like this before.
In my work I have several hundred clients, most of whom do some pre-marital counseling.
If couples just read this book, they wouldn't need anything else. That's how good the book is.
A great deal of thought that someone should give to getting married is really in asking the right questions. And those questions are clearly spelled out.
The first few chapters talk about how we need to ask honest questions about how we feel about our partner -- questions that are difficult to ask in the "altered state of being in love" as Jim puts it.
Then the book explores what most of us don't know to ask, and think about, with respect to children, and in-laws and a host of other issues that often cause problems in a marriage because we don't expect them.
The last part talks about specific issues and methods. This is worth the price of the book because a lot of problems can be avoided by good communication -- and Jim distills wisdom of how to communicate in easy clear language and exercises that couples can learn.
I don't expect anything will truly replace in-person counseling, but Jim's book is almost as good. Buy a copy today for yourself or for a friend or family member who is going to get married.
How to Be Happy Partners is the perfect tool for designing and creating a relationship unique to your individual personalities and situation. Written by the authors of How to Be a Couple and Still Be Free, this is a clear and concise handbook on how
Hundreds of excerpts from the archives of the Narcissistic Abuse Study List regarding Pathological Narcissism, relationships with abusive narcissists, and the Narcissistic Personality Disorder (NPD).
