It Takes One to Tango: How I Rescued My Marriage with (Almost) No Help from My Spouse--And How You Can, Too - Winifred M. Reilly

\nWith a focus on self-empowerment and resilience, this refreshing and witty relationship guide has a reassuring counterintuitive message for unhappy spouses: you only need one partner to initiate far-reaching positive change in a marriage. \nConventional wisdom says that it takes two to turn a troubled marriage around and that both partners must have a shared commitment to change. So when couples can't agree on how--or whether--to make their marriage better, many give up or settle for a less-than-satisfying marriage (or think the only way out is divorce). \n \nFortunately, there is an alternative. What distinguishes Reilly's book is that she says a warring couple don't have to agree on the goal of staying together; it takes one person changing, not both, to make a marriage work (The New York Times). \n \nMarriage and family therapist Winifred Reilly has this message for struggling partners: Take the lead. Doing so is effective--and powerful. Through Reilly's own story of reclaiming her now nearly forty-year marriage, along with anecdotes from many clients she's worked with, you'll learn how to: \n \n-Focus on your own behaviors and change them in ways that make you feel good about yourself and your marriage \n -Take a firm stand for what truly matters to you without arguing, cajoling, or resorting to threats \n -Identify the big picture issues at the basis of your repetitive fights--and learn how to unhook from them \n -Be less reactive, especially in the face of your spouse's provocations \n -Develop the strength and stamina to be the sole agent of change \n \nCombining psychological theory, practical advice, and personal narrative, It Takes One to Tango is a wise and uplifting (Dr. Ellyn Bader, Director of The Couples Institute) guide that will empower those who choose to take a bold, proactive approach to creating a loving and lasting marriage.\n