A Couple's Guide to Communication

by John M. Gottman

Although this book was written to be used primarily by couples, it has become a bestselling text for college counseling courses. The skills and techniques introduced are based on the way distressed and nondistressed couples differ when solving problems. Each chapter includes practice exercises to help couples master the problem-solving techniques presented. Appendices contain problem inventories for husband and wife, a knowledge assessment self-test, and a trouble-shooting guide.

Genres: Relationships, Psychology, Marriage, Self Help, Nonfiction, Communication, Love

220 pages, Paperback

First published June 1, 1976

About the author

Dr. Gottman was one of the Top 10 Most Influential Therapists of the past quarter-century by the Psychotherapy Networker. He is the author or co-author of over 200 published academic articles and more than 40 books, including the bestselling The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work; What Makes Love Last; Eight Dates: Essential Conversations for a Lifetime of Love; The Relationship Cure; Why Marriages Succeed or Fail; and Raising An Emotionally Intelligent Child — among many others. Dr. Gottman’s media appearances include Good Morning America, Today, CBS Morning News, and Oprah, as well articles in The New York Times, Ladies Home Journal, Redbook, Glamour, Woman’s Day, People, Self, Reader’s Digest, and Psychology Today.

Co-founder of The Gottman Institute and co-founder of Affective Software, Inc. with his wife, Dr. Julie Schwartz Gottman, John was also the Executive Director of the Relationship Research Institute. He is Professor Emeritus of Psychology at the University of Washington, where he founded “The Love Lab” at which much of his research on couples’ interactions was conducted.

Reviews

[Leslie]

I really didn't learn anything new from this book. It did have a lot of exercises to do if you are interested in that kind of thing.

[Trevor Parker]

When I was studying Interpersonal Communication in College I loved Gottman. I was excited to read his books together with my wife. While the content was good, the presentation and writing style was very dated and hokey. We just couldn't get into.

[Mahesh Naidu]

Nice suggestions

[Brandon]

Basically, it amounts to how to not be a jerk. Just like, be nice. Bring things up. Stop things before they escalate.

[Karla Renee Goforth Abreu]

Very good book that will help marriages if both spouses will read it and follow the suggestions.