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Summary: It's all a misunderstanding...
Review: I have seen divorce from at last three sides. Child of divorce, divorced woman... and divorce lawyer. I have heard literally hundreds of people's stories. I know the statistics on the likihood of divorce, and on how long people wait to admit they have a problem. (Seven years.) But this book explodes all the myths that run through every divorce i know about-- that marriage is supposed to be_____." (Each person has his or her own unconscious notions of what goes in the blank space, alas.) But this book offers more than a new myth--more than one more initially seductive and ultimately disappointing self-help manual. It offers transformative truth-- and a compelling reason to have courage, to try something new and even scary-- great sex. REALLY intimate deeply satisfying sex. A must read. I am recommending it to clients these days!
Rating:
Summary: Beautiful, respectful and succinct
Review: This is a wonderful book. I yearn to have my marriage back so that I can have such a wonderful arena for self-growth. Through the principles of this book, I can see how I weaken myself in every form of relationship, whether it be love, work or family.
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Summary: If you're in it for the long haul...
Review: then this is an essential book. You and your partner are both going to change, and this book will help you deal with even major bumps. The author recommends that both partners read their own copy... he is right. You will find depth and the challenge of conventional ideas; you will be asked to face yourself in ways you may not have thought of- or not yet had the courage to do. It's not a "read"- it is work. My partner and I did the work and were immeasurably better off for it. We find it very valuable to re-read and discuss some chapters.
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Summary: One of Top Three Marriage Books
Review: Being a marriage counselor, I'm always targeting the most helpful and indepth books to recommend to my clients. The two topping my current list are Schnatch's "Passionate Marriage" and "Loving Vows" by Eklof. "Passionate Marriage" delivers a frank analysis of situations facing most married couples today, then offers recommendation that will benefit many couples if adhered to properly. "Loving Vows: Inspiring Promises for building and Renewing your Marriage" is a new publication with a revolutionary approach to preventing and healing marital disharmony. It segments each traditional and popular personalized wedding vow one-by-one, then invites couples to share and discuss ways to KEEP that promise throughout the day-to-day reality of marriage. In brief, if you care about the longevity and health of your marriage, you have both of these books on hand.
Rating: 
Summary: A Book All Married Couples Will Want To Read!
Review: Passionate Marriage by sex therapist David Schnarch is one book all married couple will want to share reading together.
Rating:
Summary: The Best Marriage Book for Your Money
Review: I have read over 15 marriage and relationship books, and this one gets it right. It is the most honest, frank and in-depth look at marriage you can find without going to a professional therapist level.
I have to warn you that some of the language is rough, and he has no conpunctions about being explicit. No, he's not a pervert. He talks about sex and marriage the way that it is and some times that isn't "nice".
Rating:
Summary: Excellent and insightful
Review: I found this book helped explain a lot of problems currently occurring in my marriage. His definition of differentiation helped explain why we're having having problems and where to look for solutions. Unlike a lot of other books on this subject, it delves deeper into your psyche and doesn't just give some quick fix ideas. This book has helped to make me a much stronger individual while still helping me to focus on our marriage. I really enjoyed his ideas but I did find the book difficult to read at times. Five stars on content and four for presentation.
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Summary: REVOLUTIONARY THEORY: Sex & Intimate Communication
Review: This book represents a milestone in both the fields of marital therapy and sex therapy. While it is not known or generally realized by most people, sex therapy and marital therapy have developed as separate disciplines with a totally different set of theoretical concepts and methods. In this book, which is based on Schnarch's first book, "The Sexual Crucible", Schnarch dares to suggest that in fact, one's sex life might actually improve if one's marital life improves. And, further, he notes that this improvement in both the marital life and the sex life is not dependent on either one, but is in fact, a function of the "self-differentiation" of the individual person himself. This does not belie the present day concepts of both marital therapy and sex therapy totally, but it does mostly. Schnarch beautifully demonstrates to the reader, in a "lingo" that is very vernacular in nature, suitable for any enlightened reader to grasp his meaning, how the search for personal self-definition and identity, in fact allows one to relate in a deeper and more meaningful way to the one to whom you have made a lifetime commitment. In fact, most of the concepts in Schnarch's book may be able to be generalized to most any relationship. That is to say, that people who are more self-assured, self-developed, and/or "self-differentiated", to use Schnarch's term, can communicate in more effective and meaningful manners. If one sees sexual intimacy as a manner of intimate communication, more than just a process of procreation, then it only follows logically that a more "self-differentiated" person, or better yet, two of them together, can communicate in a manner not heretofore experienced in the sexual forum. Schnarch takes this to its conceptual limits by outright stating that two people who are deeply committed to one another can reach a state, almost bordering Nirvana, if not there itself, through sexuality. In a sense, I felt the book represented a reading of D.H. Lawrence for the unititiated, in that Lawrence preached and wrote about physical, spiritual, emotional and intellectual renewal through sexual intimacy. In his book, Dr. Schnarch takes "Lady Chatterley's Lover" from the ephemeral to the mundane, and then back again. While a true reading of this book can create a window upon oneself that is not always pretty, the point of Schnarch's concept is to promote growth. Any person who has experienced intense personal growth realizes that it comes with a price, and the price is often highly emotional. I would highly recommend the book to anyone looking to find a more meaningful balance to their lives, particularly people who believe they have a good marriage, as this book will only serve to enhance that feeling and bring that communication to new pinnacles of intimacy.
Rating: 
Summary: Barking up the wrong tree ... Woof!
Review: There were some interesting ideas presented in this book so it was not a complete loss, but I have to say that if your marriage is far enough down the tubes sexually to read a book like this, I would highly recommend counseling. I thought by reading it that I would be more enlightened sexually, but because my wife was not going through the experience at the same time, asking her to read several chapters didn't go over very well and likely added to the sexual tension. I have been married for 13 years and have noticed a significant lull in sexual activity over the last few years since we had our second child. But then I've also noticed a decrease in our financial situation, an increase in home and job stress and a number of the other factors that are not conducive to foreplay which usually begins about 30 minutes after my wife goes to sleep from exhaustion. The very thing I learned from this book is exactly NOT what the writer would have intended. In our sexually driven society, you have to ask yourself a question, "What was life like before sex was shoved at us from nearly all possible directions?" I have found time and time again, that delaying sexual gratification in marriage is what really gets the sparks going in bed. Believe it or not, less is more when it comes to sex. Most men do not understand that fantasizing, individual sexual activity, staring at other women, surfing for porn etc., all add up to problems with trust in a relationship, and whether you realize it or not, women sense these animosities at a higher degree than you realize (don't you women?). Sexual deviance whether you like it or not, subtracts directly from your marriage and places the blame for marital problems, right back in your own lap. The longer you delay sexual gratification (i.e., 2-3 weeks) and the less sexual activity you engage in, the more powerful your relationship will become and although I can't explain it here in words, but things happen in bed that far exceed any fantasy you could ever conjure up. It's not easy to do and requires a great deal of self-discipline, but if you have tried all the other phony sex books out there and still find yourself coming up empty handed, this method will light your fire every time and bring with it a new sense of love and trust in your marriage. Don't worry, the withdrawal symptoms won't kill you and you'll be thankful you tried.
Rating:
Summary: Excellent guide for any marriage
Review: Better sex through a better marriage, and a better marriage through better sex. Snarch approaches it from all angles, providing just enough theory that you know where he's coming from, coupled with plenty of practical advice to make it work in your own relationship (exercises, tips, techniques, etc.). It's not something that's going to spice up your marriage tonite, but is rather an approach to committed relationships that will make them much more satisfying. I have found this book to be extremely helpful in my own growth as a person, and as a husband. I am better able to identify unhealthy dependencies that can drag down, rather than enhance, a marriage.
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