The Secrets of Happy Families: Eight Keys to Building a Lifetime of Connection and Contentment

by Scott Haltzman, Theresa Foy DiGeronimo (Primary Contributor)

Proven ways to create a more loving family Research proves that happy families are good for health, longevity, peace of mind, productivity, and success. In The Secrets of Happy Families, Scott Haltzman offers an original approach to building family contentment that works for families of all ethnicities and make-ups–two-parent, single-parent, blended, childless, or same-sex couple. He provides a "positive psychology" way of solving family problems through strategy and leadership, including knowing and accepting who you are, taking a leadership role in loving and united relationships, building a network of support in extended families and communities, and making quality time for fun, adventures, holidays, and rituals.

Genres: Parenting, Nonfiction

272 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2009

Reviews

[Cami · Rating 2 out of 5]

There aren't really any 'secrets' here. This book really just states the obvious. The author uses a whole chapter to say that families come in all shapes and sizes. Another chapter says people who stayed married longer have adjusted their expectations of romantic love. No one needs a book to tell them that.

[Lizabeth · Rating 1 out of 5]

Terrible book. There are a few good thoughts but it's been reduced to a feel good book by trying to be politically correct and defining all family variants as "family". I'd much rather study and ponder the Proclamation on the Family given by our modern day prophet and apostles and if you truly follow what you learn, along with Sister Beck's talk "Mothers Who Know" you'll be set and won't even need to pick this up. Same stuff just watered down. Go to the source, uphold the family unit - single parents included, and you will naturally be doing the things a family needs (and they're no secret!).

[Damien O'Brien · Rating 4 out of 5]

I found this book very insightful for me, I'm one of those guys that isn't quite sure how to be a family man, or what it takes to even be a good one.
This book offered a wealth of information to me of what it takes and how you should look at being apart of a family.

The middle of the book gets a little boring, but it's worth sticking with it if you are a hopeless family man like myself that wants to be better.

[Anna · Rating 3 out of 5]

I’ve had this book sitting on my shelf since it came out - in 2009. I finally started reading it. It’s a good basic parenting book that reminded me of many things I’ve already read. It’s really 3.5 stars. Unfortunately because it was written in 2009 it’s missing a section on social media - unless it’s been updated - however I think the rules on families needing to ‘breathe’ would apply to how social media has affected families. Interesting read.

[Kendel Christensen · Rating 2 out of 5]

Not bad advice

Happy Families
. . . Stick Together
. . . Commit and Communicate
. . . Lean
. . . Teach to and Learn from Children
. . . Blend
. . . Handle Conflict
. . . Bounce
. . . Breathe

but kinda fluffy

[Lgordo · Rating 2 out of 5]

I came across this book by accident -- I was looking for the Bruce Feiler book. I managed to read the first chapter and then lost interest. I guess his apologizing for having defined a family as mother-father-child just got boring after 15 pages. I feel like one, maybe five pages would have sufficed. Anyway, after that I just didn't feel like picking it up again, which is probably my loss.

[Megan · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really enjoyed this book. I especially loved the idea about sitting down with your family and deciding which family values are going to drive your life. It is a great way to give direction and priority into your family's course. He also talks about the importance of resiliency and other family secrets. Overall I thought he had some great points. I guess he is also the author of “secrets for happy wives”, and “secrets for happy husbands” and people were upset with him for his definition of family being strictly heterosexual. So he pulled a 180 and I found him overly defensive about defining the family in this book. "Everyone is family" was his final assessment, which he said over and over and over again. I guess he didn't like the abuse he got on the road for his other books.

[Suzanne · Rating 3 out of 5]

An interesting read for the most part, but definitely not from a christian view point. Most of the principles seem to be pretty much commonsense things that my family does anyway, so it wasn't life changing. It was good to see that the things we do on a daily basis without much thought matter in the long run.

[Kit · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was a little gimmicky trying to sell what works for them. I also had the misfortune of having a hardcopy from the library. These days I can only fit in reading those late at night. It was worth it while reading some other baby books, but not really this one. I may pick it up again when he's a little older.

[Lisa Williams · Rating 3 out of 5]

Worth reading if you have the time, but it's not a "must-read." I think it could've been shorter, the first chapter especially seemed drawn out and almost pointless. Good tips but nothing groundbreaking.

[Whitney Archibald · Rating 4 out of 5]

I got some good ideas from this book, and felt validated that it's ok that we have dinner at 4:00 without Dad. I liked the approach of looking at happiness in a family as a whole, including grandparents, and not just focusing on the kids.

[Amy · Rating 2 out of 5]

Basically common sense ideas. Nothing new or exciting. Good reminder that you need to communicate and plan to be a happy family, it doesn't just happen.

[Malerie · Rating 3 out of 5]

Way, way over due and had to take back before I finished. It was a little basic, but I hadn't gotten super far in it, may check it out again.

[Jennifer · Rating 2 out of 5]

As far as family related books go, and I have read a ton for school and on my own, just ok.

[Kim St Martin · Rating 1 out of 5]

This book seemed to have pretty obvious pointers. Called it good after a few chapters.

[Kisty Powell · Rating 2 out of 5]

Did not finish the book. I listened to it and felt like there really wasn't much that I already didn't know. I didn't like how he kept saying anyone in the business of family therapy didn't know what they were talking about.