This is NOT a marriage book, but it is an excellent and compelling read.  A perfect summer or beach reader.  While not about marriage, it is a book that may help you appreciate your own marital life.  This is a memoir of a young lady who survives a family that is extremely dysfunctional and yet at the same time full of grace and hope.  Jeannette's father is an alcoholic and delusional, and her mother suffers from dependency and mood swings.  Jeannette and her two siblings grow up in poverty and benign neglect, however they see their parents who are commited to one another despite their serious sins, short-comings and failings.  The children who are virtually self-raised, in turn exhibit fortitude and commitment in their own lives.

Read this and be amazed what others (in Jeannette's case) now successful have had to go through.  Read this and realize that your marriage/family probably isn't as bad.  Read this and realize that no matter what your circumstance, things can be better.

John Rosemond is a traditionist.  His views on child rearing are throw-back.  He believes in discipline.  He also makes a lot of common sense.  As you know we are big fans of Robert G. Barnes and all of his marriage and parenting books.  I always recommend Rock Solid Mariage and Confident Kids - two of his best books.  If you ever wonder who Bob Barnes reads, its John Rosemond.

What I like about Rosemond is that he believes in priorities such as, "your marriage comes first".  The parents should be the parents and the kids should be the kids.  There is a hierachy to life because God designed it that way..  If you are looking for parenting ideas, take a long look at John Rosemond.  This book is a classic and should be on your shelf.

I'm into transformation.  I feel that is what my counseling ministry is all about.  The Search for Significance by Robert McGee played a role in transforming my life and has played that role for many others.  What better recommendation can you give a book other than "it helped change my life"?

Lots of self help books promise change or claim to have "the secret", but the real secret is has always been the gospel of Jesus Christ.  Robert McGee applies the gospel to the problem of self-esteem.  Perhaps there are some theological flaws, perhaps he is too obviously psychological, but many people deal with self esteem issues, and this is an honest and real approach to letting our self-worth come from our heavenly Father.

You really should give this book a read.