SOCIOLOGY: FAMILY & RELATIONSHIPS. NO MORE GAMES. IT'S TIME FOR THE TRUTH. Neil Strauss made a name for himself advocating freedom, sex and opportunity as the author of The Game. Then he met the woman who forced him to question everything. Neil's search for answers took him from Viagra-laden free-love orgies to sex addiction clinics, from cutting-edge science labs to modern-day harems, and, most terrifying of all, to his own mother. What he discovered changed everything he knew about love, sex, relationships and, ultimately, himself. The Truth may have the same effect on you.
When a parent singles out a child for special privileges and attention, that child is often unaware that the relationship is unhealthy—even incestuous. As adults, these children struggle to feel validated, because while they have not been directly abused, they feel a sense of violation and crossed boundaries—usually done in the name of 'love' and 'caring.' The parent's love feels more confining than freeing, more demanding than giving, more intrusive than nurturing. Yet these children suffer from what psychologist Kenneth Adams calls The Silent Seduction—because there is nothing loving or caring about a close parent-child relationship that services the needs of the parent rather than the child. In this revised and updated 20th anniversary edition of his groundbreaking book Silently Seduced, Dr. Adams explains how 'feeling close,' especially with the opposite-sex parent, is not the source of comfort the image suggests, especially when that child is cheated out of a childhood by being a parent's surrogate partner. He offers a framework to understand this covert incest and its effect on sexuality, intimacy, and relationships, and how victims can begin the process of recovery.
For years, Christians have argued, debated, and fought one another while "speaking the truth in love," yet we are no closer to the grace-filled life Jesus modeled. Biblical scholar and popular podcast host of The Bible for Normal People, Jared Byas casts a new vision for the Christian life that's built not on certainty, but on the risk of love. A biblically-based Christian life is not grounded in having all the answers but in a living relationship. This ultimately shifts our focus from collecting the "right" answers to loving others deeply and authentically. With stories and insights drawn from his years as a pastor, professor, and podcast host, Jared Byas calls us back to the heart of the Bible: that truth is only true when it's lived out in love. In a refreshing voice that's both witty and profoundly revelatory, Jared unpacks the concept of truth, its meaning, and why we so often fight over it. He makes a compelling case for how what we believe is less important than how we believe it and that, more than anything else, telling the truth in love is about following Jesus. For anyone who has ever felt forced to choose between truth and love, acceptance and rightness, this book offers a path forward beyond truth wars and legalistic religion to a love that matters more.
Relationships are incredibly rewarding, but the truth is that they require a lot of hard work. If you want lasting love, you absolutely have to put some effort in. This book, which explores the more practical aspects of building a life with the person you love, will resonate with couples ready to embrace honesty in the name of strengthening their bond and anyone else committed to understanding intimacy for what it really is.
This basic and engaging theology of God, human relationships and service assists readers in reflecting more faithfully and more theologically on their own lives, particularly if they are involved in pastoral ministry or service projects.
Most of us don't understand what a relationship is. Instead of having a real relationship, we spend our lives trying to get people to give us what we want, and that always leads to unhappiness this book teaches us how to have delightful relationships where Real Love is freely given and received.
Millions of single people — whether never married or divorced — put a lot of energy into meeting and dating new people, but because they don't invest their true selves, their efforts often go nowhere. To counter this trend, Susan M. Campbell presents an approach to dating that many consider radical: Be honest about yourself and ask for what you want, up front. Campbell shows people how to have fun by flirting truthfully; date without getting ahead of the relationship; enjoy the freedom of being themselves; relate to their dates with honesty; realistically examine what a romantic partner can — and can't — offer in the way of fulfillment and happiness; and move forward when the time is right, or say goodbye if it's not working. On the way to finding the love of their lives, readers gain the tools they need to successfully manage the entire process.
NATIONAL BESTSELLER • Soon to be a Hulu Original series • The internationally acclaimed author of Wild collects the best of The Rumpus's Dear Sugar advice columns plus never-before-published pieces. Rich with humor and insight—and absolute honesty—this "wise and compassionate" (New York Times Book Review) book is a balm for everything life throws our way. Life can be hard: your lover cheats on you; you lose a family member; you can’t pay the bills—and it can be great: you’ve had the hottest sex of your life; you get that plum job; you muster the courage to write your novel. Sugar—the once-anonymous online columnist at The Rumpus, now revealed as Cheryl Strayed, author of the bestselling memoir Wild—is the person thousands turn to for advice.
WINNER OF THE 2014 INDIE EXCELLENCE AWARD IN THE MARRIAGE CATEGORY! Why do strong women struggle with marriage problems even though they are so successful in other areas of their lives? How do you stop feeling trapped, resentful, and alone in your relationship? Is it really possible for a woman to be strong and have a happy marriage too? In Strong Women, Strong Love: The Missing Manual for the Modern Marriage, licensed psychologist, Dr. Poonam Sharma, reveals how to effectively navigate the marriage problems you may have encountered...all while maintaining your self-confidence and strength as a woman. Use the practical and straightforward advice in this marriage manual to help you learn how to: Avoid the common triggers that will instantly make your husband feel defensive. Eliminate the dangerous behaviors research confirms will ruin your marriage. Practice the essential habits necessary for creating deep intimacy and passion that last. Be honest in a way that draws your husband closer. Build a lifestyle that protects and nurtures your relationship for years to come. A successful marriage is one of the most important, meaningful, and loving bonds you can experience in a lifetime. Don't settle for less. Stay true to yourself, and use the insights you gain from this powerful relationship manual to create the relationship of your dreams.
This is not a journey that was undertaken for journalistic purposes. It is a painfully honest account of a life crisis that was forced on me by my own behavior and its consequences. "As such, it requires sharing a lot of things I'm not proud of—and a few things I feel like I should regret a whole lot more than I actually do. Because, unfortunately, I am not the hero in this tale. I am the villain." So begins Neil Strauss's long-awaited follow-up to The Game, the funny and slyly instructive work of immersive journalism that jump-started the international "seduction community" and made Strauss a household name—revered or notorious—among single men and women alike. In The Truth, Strauss takes on his greatest challenge yet: Relationships. And in this wild and highly entertaining ride, he explores the questions that men and women are asking themselves every day: Is it natural to be faithful to one person for life? Do alternatives to monogamy lead to better relationships and greater happiness? What draws us to the partners we choose? Can we keep passion and romance from fading over time? His quest for answers takes him from Viagra-laden free-love orgies to sex addiction clinics, from cutting-edge science labs to modern-day harems, and, most terrifying of all, to his own mother. What he discovered changed everything he knew about love, sex, relationships, and, ultimately, himself. Searingly honest and compulsively readable, The Truth just may have the same effect on you. If The Game taught you how to meet members of the opposite sex, The Truth will teach you how to keep them.
