In this book, renowned anthropologist Michael Jackson draws on philosophy, biography, ethnography, and literature to explore the meanings and affordances of friendship-a relationship just as significant as, yet somehow different from, kinship and love. Beginning with Aristotle's accounts of friendship as a political virtue and Montaigne's famous essay on friendship as a form of love, Jackson examines the tension between the political and personal resonances of friendship in the philosophy of Hannah Arendt, the biography of the Indian historian Brijen Gupta, and the oral narratives of a Kuranko storyteller, Keti Ferenke Koroma. He offers reflections on childhood friends, imaginary friends, lifelong friendships, and friendships with animals. He ruminates particularly on the complications of friendship in the context of anthropological fieldwork, exploring the contradiction between the egalitarian spirit of friendship on the one hand and, on the other, the power imbalance between ethnographers and their interlocutors. Through these stories, Jackson explores the unpredictable interplay of mutability and mutuality in intimate human relationships, and the critical importance of choice in forming friendship-what it means to be loyal to friends through good times and bad, and even in the face of danger. Through a blend of memoir, theory, ethnography, and fiction, Jackson shows us how the elective affinities of friendship transcend culture, gender, and age, and offer us perennial means of taking stock of our lives and getting a measure of our own self-worth.

A New York City therapist examines the paradoxical relationship between domesticity and sexual desire and explains what it takes to bring lust home.

One of the world’s most respected voices on erotic intelligence, Esther Perel offers a bold, provocative new take on intimacy and sex. Mating in Captivity invites us to explore the paradoxical union of domesticity and sexual desire, and explains what it takes to bring lust home.

Drawing on more than twenty years of experience as a couples therapist, Perel examines the complexities of sustaining desire. Through case studies and lively discussion, Perel demonstrates how more exciting, playful, and even poetic sex is possible in long-term relationships. Wise, witty, and as revelatory as it is straightforward, Mating in Captivity is a sensational book that will transform the way you live and love.

How to Have Meaningful Relationships is an essential guide for anyone who wants to build healthy, happy and sustainable relationships with the people in their lives. Relationships skills are not innate, they are skills to be learned. This pocket guide provides useful tools, ideas, and checklists to help you become the very best team player you can be. By the end of this book you will have all the tools you need to live a life of extraordinary relationships, deep fulfilment, intimacy, connection and meaning. From practising self-love to dealing with conflict in a healthy and productive way, relationships coach Emma Power shows us how we can begin to cultivate meaningful connections with those in our lives, how we can have conversations that really matter, and how we can set healthy boundaries. Through reading, you will begin to discover your unique fundamental needs and learn how to navigate different relationship dynamics, whether that be with your partner, friend, parent or colleague. Throughout the book there are inspirational quotes as well as activities and questions to ponder. How to Have Meaningful Relationships is relatable, inspiring, contemporary and essential for anyone who is craving deep and meaningful connections. The Survive the Modern World series tackles big subjects in a fun and digestible way. The tone is frank and chatty, but the content is comprehensive. Upskill and expand your knowledge with these accessible pocket guides.

AN INSTANT INTERNATIONAL BESTELLER Spiritual writer and Rising Woman founder Sheleana Aiyana takes you on a transformational inner-work journey to heal lifelong relationship patterns and reclaim power over your life. Romantic relationships can infuse our lives with the magic of intimacy and connection. But for many of us, that magic is fleeting--over and over, our relationships don't last, or if they do, they fail to make us happy. We find ourselves chasing unavailable love, sublimating our needs in service to others, or trying to save our partners from themselves, all the while abandoning the ones who need us most--ourselves. If you find yourself struggling to let go after a relationship ends, or you keep hitting the same wall in dating and relationships with emotionally unavailable people, this is not a sign that you are broken. It is a sign that somewhere along the way, you learned to sacrifice yourself in order to be loved. In Becoming the One, spiritual leader and visionary founder of the Rising Woman community Sheleana Aiyana offers a roadmap for transforming your relationship patterns to end the cycle of self-abandonment and move into the light of self-discovery. The desire for love is wired into the very fibers of our being, but before you can create rewarding bonds with others, first you must stand wholeheartedly in self-acceptance. Becoming the One is an invitation to find your way home to yourself. EXPERT ADVICE: Based on wisdom gleaned from the traumas of her past and years of guiding thousands of women around the world in her internationally acclaimed "Becoming the One" program of spiritual and therapeutic healing practices, Sheleana Aiyana's revolutionary lessons teach you to embody the qualities you are seeking in others so that you can become "the one" for yourself. ESSENTIAL LESSONS: Learn to connect with your inner child, challenge your core beliefs about love, set self-affirming boundaries, discover and celebrate your true desires, recognize red and green flags, and build a secure, loving relationship with yourself. By learning how to trust your body and make peace with your past, you'll clear the path for healthy, conscious love--one that returns the authority to you to choose how to live and whom to love. RAVE REVIEWS: "This is a spectacular guide to the inner world and relationships; it dispels myths, grounds you in transformative truth, and reconnects you to your power."--Yung Pueblo, New York Times bestselling author of Clarity Connection "This masterpiece will take you from pain to freedom. Reading Becoming the One will help you understand the process and power of healing."--Nedra Glover Tawwab, New York Times bestselling author of Set Boundaries, Find Peace Perfect for: Anyone navigating a recent breakup or feeling fed up with dating Fans of self-help and self-improvement books Adding to the shelf alongside Women Who Run with the Wolves, Attached, Glennon Doyle's Untamed, or books by Esther Perel

Judy Gaman was so busy making a name for herself that she barely took the time to meet a stranger, enjoy life, or simply stop to breathe. Immersed in her job as the director of business development for a high-profile medical practice-a job that required her to write health and wellness books and host a nationally syndicated radio show-she spent every day going full speed ahead with no looking back. That is, until the day she met Lucille Fleming. While writing a book on longevity, Judy interviewed Lucille, an elegant and spirited woman who had just recently turned 100. Lucille had the fashion and style of old Hollywood, but it was all hidden behind the doors of her assisted living center. What began as a quick meeting became a lasting friendship that transformed into an inseparable bond. Lucille brought incredible wisdom and great stories to the table, while Judy provided an avenue for excitement and new opportunities. Together, the two began living life to the fullest, and meeting the most interesting people along the way (including Suzanne Somers). But then Lucille's life came to an end through unexpected and unfortunate circumstances-and the very first lesson she ever taught Judy proved to be the most important one of all.

The problem by most lights is overwhelming: at least 5,000 children live on the streets of Uganda's capital city of Kampala. Some forget the names of their villages. The youngest may not know the names of their parents. But Gladys Kalibbala--part journalist, part detective, part Good Samaritan--does not hesitate to dive into difficult or even dangerous situations to aid a child. Author of a newspaper column called "Lost and Abandoned," she is a resource that police and others turn to when they stumble across a stranded kid with a hidden history. Jessica Yu delivers an acutely observed story of this hard-nosed and warm-hearted woman, the children she helps, and her precarious dream of providing a home and livelihood for her vulnerable charges. Garden of the Lost and Abandoned chronicles one woman's altruism, both ordinary and extraordinary, in a way that is impossible to forget, and impossible not to take to heart. "This beautiful, unforgettable story will break your heart and then leave you awed by the human capacity for kindness." -- Imbolo Mbue, author of Behold the Dreamers "[Yu] reminds us that it's possible to make the world a better place one child at a time." -- Paul Tough, author of How Children Succeed "This heartfelt book should be on a list of the best uplifting true stories." -- Shelf Awareness "Jessica Yu's compelling writing and her filmmaker's eye paint a vivid picture of urban Kampala and allow us to walk in Gladys's shoes . . . Garden of the Lost and Abandoned renews my faith in humanity." -- Abraham Verghese, author of Cutting for Stone

Combining his signature curmudgeonly humor with, as Newsweek put it, a "silly approach to upsetting topics," Tom Segura presents a series of personal stories packed with the crazy characters and strong opinions fans have come to know and love from his podcasts and standup. The essays in I'd Like to Play Alone, Please feature comedic tales from Tom's time on the road, his marriage, the trials and tribulations of parenting young children and, perhaps most memorably, his dad who, like any good Baby Boomer father, likes to talk about his bowel movements and share graphic Vietnam stories at inappropriate moments. It's enough to make anyone want some peace and quiet. This book will have readers laughing out loud and nodding in agreement with Segura's central message: in a world where everyone is increasingly insane, sometimes you just need to be alone.

Clever, easy-to-follow tips for a fun and sustainable Christmas In the run-up to Christmas, it is all too easy to get overwhelmed by the rush to buy last-minute presents or feel pressurised into buying far more food than you can ever eat. At the same time, you know that tonnes of plastic will be making their way into landfill as a result of unwanted gifts or broken baubles. Not to mention the miles and miles of wrapping paper. If you're ready for a change this December, then Green Christmas is here to help you bring the focus back to happiness and togetherness. So, slow down, take a breath and approach the season as you should: merrily. Every chapter in this book is brimming with tips to help you seek out sustainable but beautiful alternatives for the things you no longer feel you need, and come up with fun things to do with the people you care about. Once you start the journey of creating your own advent calendar, upcycling a novelty jumper or learning the art of furoshiki gift-wrapping, you'll be beaming like a child at, well ... Christmas. It's all about little changes that will bring you joy, year after year. The planet will thank you too!

In Selfish Reasons to Have More Kids , contrarian economist Bryan Caplan argues that we've needlessly turned parenting into an unpleasant chore, and don't know the real plusses and minuses of having kids. Parents today spend more time investing in their kids than ever, but twin and adoption research shows that upbringing is much less important than we imagine, especially in the long-run. Kids aren't like clay that parents mould for life they're more like flexible plastic that pops back to its original shape once you relax your grip. These revelations are wonderful news for anyone with kids. Being a great parent is less work and more fun than you think,so instead of struggling to change your children, you can safely relax and enjoy your journey together. Raise your children in the way that feels right for you they'll still probably turn out just fine. Indeed, as Caplan strikingly argues, modern parents should have more kids. Parents who endure needless toil and sacrifice are overcharging themselves for every child. Once you escape the drudgery and worry that other parents take for granted, bringing another child into the world becomes a much better deal. You might want to stock up.

Along with changes in the workplace and the explosive growth of electronic communications, there has been a skyrocketing rate of infidelity. Today, up to forty percent of American marriages endure the pain of a cheating partner. The media is filled with stories of married politicians finding their "soul mates" and titillating instances of unfaithful celebrities. But in the homes of ordinary people everywhere, infidelity triggers complex emotions and events that affect everyone involved. Many marriage and personal therapists have adopted a "me first" mentality, prompting hurt spouses to end their relationships. Psychiatrist Scott Haltzman, retired Brown University professor, recommends exactly the opposite. The Secrets of Surviving Infidelity teaches both the victim and the perpetrator of infidelity how to acknowledge their feelings, reduce their sense of despair, and begin the difficult task of rebuilding a strong relationship. People who cheat act much like those who have other addictions, and brain scans of love-struck individuals show a dramatic increase in the release of dopamine, the same brain neurochemical associated with cocaine abuse. Haltzman does not excuse infidelity by labeling it a sex addiction; it's not orgasm that drives a partner to cheat. Instead, Haltzman coins the term "flame addiction" to describe how, like a moth drawn to the light, people feel compelled to have extramarital intimacy despite all the negative consequences. People who have been cheated on feel shame, rage, and injured self-esteem. Many of them fear abandonment and find it hard to cope. When both partners have made a commitment to move forward together, however, Dr. Haltzman validates each person's feelings and puts them into perspective, offering sound advice on how to recover their equilibrium and reestablish a committed, trust-filled relationship.

Dr. Phil has been working with families for over 25 years to help them repair the fissures that have fractured their home lives. In "Family First," he provides a proven action plan to help parents determine the strengths and weaknesses of their parenting style.

Shows in simple terms what it takes to be a successful husband and father and to bless those closest to you--your wife and children.

Sure to become a classic on female empowerment, a groundbreaking exploration of the personal, cultural, and global implications of intergenerational trauma created by patriarchy, how it is passed down from mothers to daughters, and how we can break this destructive cycle. Why do women keep themselves small and quiet? Why do they hold back professionally and personally? What fuels the uncertainty and lack of confidence so many women often feel? In this paradigm-shifting book, leading feminist thinker Bethany Webster identifies the source of women's trauma. She calls it the Mother Wound-the systemic disenfranchisement of women by the patriarchy-and reveals how this cycle is perpetuated by wounded mothers who unconsciously pass on damaging beliefs and behaviors to their daughters. In her workshops, online courses, and talks, Webster has helped countless women re-examine their lives and their relationships with their mothers, giving them the vocabulary to voice their pain, and encouraging them to share their experiences. In this manifesto and self-help guide, she offers practical tools for identifying the manifestations of the Mother Wound in our daily life and strategies we can use to heal ourselves and prevent our daughters from enduring the same pain. In addition, she offers step-by-step advice on how to reconnect with our inner child, grieve the mother we didn't have, stop people-pleasing, and, ultimately, transform our heartache and anger into healing and self-love. Revealing how women are affected by the Mother Wound, even if they don't personally identify as survivors, Discovering the Inner Mother revolutionizes how we view mother-daughter relationships and gives us the inspiration and guidance we need to improve our lives and ultimately create a more equitable society for all.

Simple Ways to Nurture and Strengthen Your Relationships While Avoiding the Habits That Break Down Your Loving Connection

Now available in paperback! The New York Times bestselling authors show readers how to feel like newlyweds every day.

He's helped 12 million people reduce the stress at home and at work. Now the #1 New York Times bestselling author of Don't Sweat the Small Stuff, Richard Carlson -- with Kristine, his wife of 14 years bring us a simple, stress-free approach to love. While depression, heartache, and anger are associated with love relationships, stress is rarely identified as a problem. Yet we all have concerns about our most important relationships. In one hundred brief, beautifully written essays, the authors show readers how not to overreact to a loved one's criticism, how to appreciate your spouse in new ways, how to get past old angers, and many other ways to improve and increase the joy and pleasure that can and should be part of any relationship.

From Dr. Martha Stout's influential work The Sociopath Next Door, we learned how to identify a sociopath. Now she tells us what to actually do about it. While the best way to deal with a sociopath is to avoid them entirely, sometimes circumstance doesn't allow for that. What happens when the time comes to defend yourself against your own child, a boss, or ruthless ex-spouse? Inspired by the many chilling and often heartbreaking emails and letters she has received over the years, from her work with the victims of sociopathy, Dr. Martha Stout uncovers the psychology behind the sociopath's methods and provides concrete guidelines to help navigate these dangerous interactions. Organized around categories such as destructive narcissism, violent sociopaths, sociopathic coworkers, and the sociopath in your family, Outsmarting the Sociopath Next Door contains detailed explanation and commentary on how best to react in these situations to keep the sociopath at bay. Uniting these categories is a discussion of changing psychological theories of personality and sociopathy and the enduring triumph of conscience over those who operate without empathy or concern for others. By understanding the person you're dealing with and changing the rules of the game, you'll be able to gain the upper hand and escape the sociopath's influence. Whether you're fighting a custody battle against a sociopathic ex or being gaslighted by a boss or coworker, you'll find hope and help within these pages. With this guide to disarming the conscienceless, Dr. Stout aims to give readers the tools to protect themselves while conducting a broader examination of human behavior and conceptions of normality.

Build your second marriage on more than a hope and a prayer. Sixty percent of second marriages fail, but yours can be among the ones that succeed. Relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott show how you can beat the odds and make remarriage the best thing that's ever happened to you. More than a million couples have used the award-winning Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts to prepare for life-long love. And now, with Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts, Les and Leslie have added material for couples where one or both individuals are entering marriage for the second time. Uncover and understand the unique shaping factors you bring into your marriage as a man. Prepare for some surprising and helpful insights, for honest, intimate, and enjoyable relationship-strengthening conversations with you and your fiancee, and for engaging discussions with a small group. Over the course of twenty-eight exercises, this workbook will help couples identify and meld your love styles. You'll shed amazing new light on the way you're made, how that affects the way you and your loved one relate, and how you can improve those areas to build a better relationship. You will gain unprecedented insights into topics such as: facing the myths of remarriage honestly exploring unfinished business your personal "Ten Commandments" making your roles conscious assessing your self-image getting your sex life off to a great start cultivating intimacy listening to your self-talk avoiding the blame game how well do you communicate? your top ten needs mind reading how to listen identifying your "hot topics" money talks your spiritual journey becoming soul mates The personal exercises portion is followed by a discussion section: 9 Questions to Ask Before-and After-You Marry. Les and Leslie will help you enjoy lively and eye-opening interaction with each other and with a small group through nine sessions on the DVD (sold separately). The discussion guide, included in this workbook, guides you through an opening exercise, note-taking as you watch the video, linking to the workbook exercises, and group discussion, concluding with an exercise each couple can do together over the next week. Designed for use with Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts Workbook for Women Updated (9780310875710) and Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts Video Study (9780310885436), both sold separately.

At home, on the job, in a personal relationship, it's often not what you say but how you say it that counts.

Deborah Tannen revolutionized our thinking about relationships between women and men in her #1 bestseller You Just Don't Understand. In That's Not What I Meant , the internationally renowned sociolinguist and expert on communication demonstrates how our conversational signals--voice level, pitch and intonation, rhythm and timing, even the simple turns of phrase we choose--are powerful factors in the success or failure of any relationship. Regional speech characteristics, ethnic and class backgrounds, age, and individual personality all contribute to diverse conversational styles that can lead to frustration and misplaced blame if ignored--but provide tools to improve relationships if they are understood.

At once eye-opening, astute, and vastly entertaining, Tannen's classic work on interpersonal communication will help you to hear what isn't said and to recognize how your personal conversational style meshes or clashes with others. It will give you a new understanding of communication that will enable you to make the adjustments that can save a conversation . . . or a relationship.

Build your second marriage on more than a hope and a prayer. Sixty percent of second marriages fail, but yours can be among the ones that succeed. Relationship experts Les and Leslie Parrott show how you can beat the odds and make remarriage the best thing that's ever happened to you. More than a million couples have used the award-winning Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts to prepare for life-long love. And now, with Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts, Les and Leslie have added material for couples where one or both individuals are entering marriage for the second time. Uncover and understand the unique shaping factors you bring into your marriage as a woman. Prepare for some surprising and helpful insights, for honest, intimate, and enjoyable relationship-strengthening conversations with you and your fiance, and for engaging discussions with a small group. Over the course of twenty-eight exercises, this workbook will help couples identify and meld your love styles. You'll shed amazing new light on the way you're made, how that affects the way you and your loved one relate, and how you can improve those areas to build a better relationship. You will gain unprecedented insights into topics such as: facing the myths of remarriage honestly exploring unfinished business your personal "Ten Commandments" making your roles conscious assessing your self-image getting your sex life off to a great start cultivating intimacy listening to your self-talk avoiding the blame game how well do you communicate? your top ten needs mind reading how to listen identifying your "hot topics" money talks your spiritual journey becoming soul mates The personal exercises portion is followed by a discussion section: 9 Questions to Ask Before-and After-You Marry. Les and Leslie will help you enjoy lively and eye-opening interaction with each other and with a small group through nine sessions on the DVD (sold separately). The discussion guide, included in this workbook, guides you through an opening exercise, note-taking as you watch the video, linking to the workbook exercises, and group discussion, concluding with an exercise each couple can do together over the next week. Designed for use with Saving Your Marriage Before It Starts Workbook for Men Updated (9780310875710) and Saving Your Second Marriage Before It Starts Video Study (9780310885436), both sold separately.

Preparing for the wedding day requires a lot of hard work: booking the reception place, choosing the flowers, and a million and one other practical tasks. But spending some time preparing for married life itself is even more important. This short, user-friendly manual is designed to encourage engaged couples to discuss their views and expectations of what marriage is all about, and to come to a better understanding of each other's way of seeing things. It also looks at key issues - including attitudes to money, work, having children, relationships with the in-laws - and helps couples to begin to work through some of these issues in advance of the big day, to identify potential areas of tension and to set in place good principles for their married life together.

If You Love Your Mate but Your Marriage Seems to Be Off Track, Then This Book Is for You

Psychologist John Gottman has spent 20 years studying what makes a marriage last. Now you can use his tested methods to evaluate, strengthen, and maintain your own long-term relationship. This breakthrough book guides you through a series of self-tests designed to help you determine what kind of marriage you have, where your strengths and weaknesses are, and what specific actions you can take to help your marriage.

You'll also learn:

* More sex doesn't necessarily improve a marriage
* Frequent arguing will not lead to divorce
* Financial problems do not always spell trouble in a relationship
* Wives who make sour facial expressions when their husbands talk are likely to be separated within four years
* There is a reason husbands withdraw from arguments -- and there's a way around it

Dr. Gottman tells you how to recognize attitudes that doom a marriage -- contempt, criticism, defensiveness, and stonewalling -- and provides practical exercises, quizzes, tips, and techniques that will help you understand and make the most of your relationship. You can avoid patterns that lead to divorce, and -- Why Marriages Succeed or Fail will show you how.