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First Person • NonFiction • Narrative Style • 248 Pages

About the Book (Backcover Blurb):

The five love languages work for everyone (they’re not just for married couples)… In this world we’re surrounded by more people than ever–yet we often still feel alone. Being single or married has nothing to do with whether you need to feel loved! Everyone has a God-given yearning for complete and unconditional love in the context of all relationships. If you want to give and receive love most effectively, you’ve got to learn to speak the right love language. Different people with different personalities express love in different ways. In fact, there are five very specific languages of love: Words of affirmation, gifts, acts of service, quality time, and physical touch. Dr. Gary Chapman’s original bestseller was first crafted with married couples in mind, but the love languages have proven themselves to be universal. The message of this audiobook is now tailored to meet the unique and real desires of single adults.

Why I Choose this Book:

I was first introduced to the 5 Love Languages about six or seven years ago when I was in my late teens, and my world was literally changed. Around that time I read one of the 5 Love Languages books, but I’m not sure what edition. I figured it was time to do a refresher course, hence the reason for requesting this book.

What I Thought about this Book:

If I hadn’t already known about the 5 Love Languages and a lot of the material in this book, I think I would have had millions of light bulb moments going off. This book is a treasury of so much helpful information and explanations and logic that it’s crazy.

For those of you who don’t know, the 5 Love Languages are 1) Words of Affirmation 2) Physical Touch 3) Quality Time 4) Acts of Service and 5) Gifts. These are the five primary way that people give and receive love. It’s amazing how much sense this makes after you’ve studied it for a bit. Then pieces start falling into place, and the relationships you have can be greatly enhanced just by learning how to speak other people’s primary love languages.

I was a bit surprised how much of the book focused on the romantic side of the love languages (how to treat someone you’re dating, etc…), but I’m not saying that’s a bad thing. I’ve just found the love languages work incredible well for everyone – including family, friends, and even somewhat distant friendships such as co-workers. The book does go into how to apply the love languages to all the above situations, just not to the extreme that I had imagined it would.

If you ever feel like you’re not connecting with people well – especially those who you should have a good relationship with, such as family members, then this book will most likely revolutionize your relationships. It is so eye opening and practical. I’m incredibly thankful to have learned how to relate to people better.

Conclusion:

There were a few places with a bit of content that I wouldn’t be okay giving to children, but that’s perfectly fine, because it wasn’t written for children. (For instance on the chapter about physical touch being one of the love languages, they talk briefly about abuse. But, they handle everything in a way that I found very appropriate.)

I don’t agree with everything that’s in the book, but for the most part the information is incredibly helpful and totally spot-on. I highly recommend the book.

Rating: 

I’m giving The Five Love Languages: Singles Edition 5 out of 5 stars, and 10 out of 10.

*I received this book from Moody Press

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About the Book (Backcover Blurb):

Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became Parents has one goal: prepare you to raise young children.

Dr. Gary Chapman—longtime relationship expert and author of the #1 New York Times bestseller The 5 Love Languages—teams up with Dr. Shannon Warden—professor of counseling, wife, and mother of three—to give young parents a book that is practical, informed, and enjoyable.

Together they share what they wished they had known beforehaving kids. For example: children affect your time, your money, and your marriage—and that’s just the beginning. With warmth and humor they offer practical advice on everything from potty training to scheduling, apologizing to your child, and keeping your marriage strong… all the while celebrating the great joy that children bring.

Why I Choose this Book:

I had several reasons for choosing this book. 1) I like the author. 2) I find it intriguing to find out why people – particularly parents – do the things they do. 3) I figured that since I’m not a parent yet, this would be the perfect time to read the book.

What I Thought about this Book:

My first thoughts were that I should have payed closer attention to the “We” in the title – because I’m fairy certain this book was written mainly for couples who haven’t had children yet; not single people who haven’t had children yet. Still, I enjoyed reading through the book, and I’m glad I got it.

My second thoughts were that I have been extremely blessed to grow up around a bunch of younger siblings, nieces, nephews, and cousins. This book contained a lot of helpful information, but in reality I knew basically all of it. (Hopefully that doesn’t sound stuck up, because that’s not what I mean at all!) When I finished the book I realized there were probably only a couple of sentences that contained information that was new to me. Therefore, the book wasn’t extremely interesting to read. But! I can only imagine how helpful and interesting and enlightening it would be for people who haven’t been surrounded by children all of their lives.

The book goes through important things like how having children changes your entire life, how children are expensive, unique, need boundaries, are influenced by their parents, etc… The book also talks about how important it is to help your children grow emotionally, socially, and mentally. Overall the book is very practical and easy to read.

Conclusion:

I would recommend this book to couples who are wanting to have children, and yet haven’t spent a lot of time around kids. I have a feeling it would be very enlightening for them.

Rating: 

I’m giving Things I Wish I’d Known Before We Became Parents 4 out of 5 stars, and 7 out of 10.

*I received this book from Moody Press