Charles D. Schmitz & Elizabeth A. Schmitz 
Building a Love that Lasts 
The Seven Surprising Secrets of Successful Marriage

The ‘Best Relationship Book of 2008’ is now in paperback



Drs. Charles and Elizabeth Schmitz’s award-winning book reveals
how to sustain a long-term loving marriage. In addition to
exploring the seven key ingredients that define a successful
marriage–togetherness, truthfulness, respect and kindness,
staying fit, joint finances, tactile communication, and surprise
and unpredictability–the authors have included hundreds of
insightful and practical interviews with happy couples.

* Focuses on what’s right about a successful relationship, rather
than what’s wrong

* Written by a popular and very active couple known as ‘the
marriage doctors, ‘ who lead lectures, training, workshops, and
other events every week all over the country

* Contains candid interviews with a diverse collection of happily
married couples from around the world

This book offers a positive, upbeat approach to living happily
ever after.

Mục lục

Foreword by Scott M. Stanley v

Special Thanks vii

Introduction ix

The Marriage Quiz xi

Chapter 1 How Will I Know I Am in Love? 1

Chapter 2 Learning to Dance 5

Chapter 3 Character in Love and Marriage 9

Chapter 4 It’s the Little Things That Matter 13

Chapter 5 Nicknames: The Private Code for Love 17

Chapter 6 And Then . . . Along Came Kids 19

Chapter 7 Seven Surprising Secrets #1: It Takes Two to Tango 33

Chapter 8 Seven Surprising Secrets #2: No Sacred Cows 65

Chapter 9 Seven Surprising Secrets #3: The Golden Rule 105

Chapter 10 Seven Surprising Secrets #4: Your Body is Your Castle 135

Chapter 11 Seven Surprising Secrets #5: Filing a Joint Return 167

Chapter 12 Seven Surprising Secrets #6: The Loving Touch 187

Chapter 13 Seven Surprising Secrets #7: Beyond Boring 205

Chapter 14 Seven Secrets to Avoiding the Seven-Year Itch 223

Chapter 15 The Stress Test 227

Chapter 16 Marriage as a Torch Red Convertible 245

Chapter 17 A Tribute to Lasting Love 259

Chapter 18 Failure is an Option 263

Chapter 19 Reflections on Love and Marriage 273

Appendix 277

The Benefits of Marriage 278

A Seven-Week Program for Developing Ongoing Sharing in Your Marriage 282

Salad Recipes from ‘America’s #1 Love and Marriage Experts’ 288

Filing a Joint Return Activity 297

Marriage as a Torch Red Convertible Activity 299

About the Authors 301

Index 302

Giới thiệu về tác giả

Dr. Charles D. Schmitz is dean and professor of counseling and family therapy, University of Missouri-St. Louis, and his wife, Dr. Elizabeth A. Schmitz, is president of their joint enterprise, Successful Marriage Reflections, LLC. Married for 43-plus years, they live in St. Louis, Missouri.