Title: Paradigms of Marriage With Companion Workbook
Author: Robert O. A. Samms, PhD
Publisher: PageTurner Press and Media LLC
ISBN: 9798891745759
Pages: 227
Genre: Self-Help
Reviewed by: Ephantus M.
Pacific Book Review
Paradigms of Marriage with Companion Workbook by author Robert O. A. Samms, PhD is a practical marriage manual which seeks to foster healthy relationships by identifying the critical aspects that influence marital success or failure.
Dr. Samms’ observations over the years have revealed that much of the younger generation lacks an understanding of what genuine love is like, making it impossible for them to supply it with the care and nourishment it needs to develop. In chapter one, he discusses the elements of true love, emphasizing that, contrary to popular belief, ardent appetites, physical beauty, and hormones are not highly indicative of true love.
He has identified ten critical elements in marriage which form the basis of the book’s chapters. These are: Love: Pleasure and Pain; Commitment; Conflict; Control; Accommodation; Communication; Children and Family Finance; Sex and Intimacy; and Spirituality and Service. Dr. Samms draws upon his past marriage to his late former wife Pamela and his present wife, Petula, as well as reviewing the findings of various well-known relationship specialists. These aspects are explicit and will certainly have an impact on the success or failure of any marriage.
Along with many other invaluable insights, people are encouraged to read this book to learn why security, while predominantly a feminine need, is also important for men, how commitment provides the right framework, especially on difficult and unpleasant days, and how to dissolve disagreements and conflicts rather than just resolve them. This well-researched marriage manual’s overarching message is that after an exciting beginning, couples can quickly determine what will either lead to their partnership to ascend toward happiness, joy, and pleasure – or fall into grief, pressure, and never-ending problems.
Throughout the read, the author does not hesitate to expose Christians who use spirituality as a cover for their unwillingness to fulfill their spousal responsibilities. As a reader, his explanation of how intimacy might be absent from environments that foster love opened my eyes and took center stage in my meditation. Paradigms of Marriage with Companion Workbook is appropriate for both non-religious and religious couples and groups. It is well-structured and will undoubtedly help marriages flourish rather than merely get by.
