News, Press & Reviews

The Total Marriage Makeover

David Clarke
Barbour Publishing, Inc. (2006)
ISBN 1597894095
Reviewed by Kelli Glesige for Reader Views (8/06)

"The Total Marriage Makeover" is a biblically based resource by Christian psychologist and author, David Clarke. Written in a humorous tone, Clarke shares hands-on advice and inspiring stories of couples who followed his makeover plan and experienced dramatic improvements to their marriages. If improving communication and understanding each other is something your marriage could benefit from, Clarke offers his practical plan for renewal.

Dr. Clarke states his goal as an author, speaker and therapist is to guide people toward healthy lives, marriages and families by relying on his personal faith in God, the truths in the Bible and the science of psychology. Dr. Clarke has done an excellent job of this in "The Total Marriage Makeover". Reading this book together with your spouse is the preferred and recommended method for quickest results, but if your spouse will not participate, go ahead and read it alone. You will still be able to improve your marriage. It will just take longer.

Succinctly stated, "God's Marriage Makeover" is based on meeting your spouse's needs. When needs go unmet, marriages breakdown. To achieve the makeover, a step-by-step strategy with 15 small, manageable and uncomplicated "Marriage Makeover Achievements" are humorously explained. Other topics covered include the five types of marriage (a fun exercise which allows you to choose which one is yours), the truth about infatuation, stepping up as a husband, the actual meaning of submission, husbands as spiritual leaders, being a romancer, and conflict resolution. Each chapter begins with a "Snapshot" of a couple with a problem and how a "Marriage Makeover Achievement" has helped their marriage.

Dr. Clarke's recommendations can definitely help a marriage, and the added bonus is the reader will be entertained and humored at the same time. My only complaint is that on more than a single occasion, I found myself wondering what I, as a wife, could do better to improve my marriage, for Dr. Clarke focuses more strongly on what the husband can do to better understand his wife. He does cover what a wife can do too, just not as often or as thoroughly. Could a counterpart for wives be in the works? "The Total Marriage Makeover" is a great book for all married couples to read and refer back to often. I highly and without reservation recommend it!

Related Authors

• David Clarke

Related Books

• Total Marriage Makeover, The (Trade Paper)