Living Together: Myths, Risks & Answers

by Mike McManus, Harriett McManus, Chuck Colson (Foreword)

The founders of such marriage counseling organizations as Mentor Couples and Community Marriage Policies argue that cohabitation without marriage is not an appropriate test of a relationship, explaining how such living environments result in ill-preparedness for long-term commitment and higher divorce rates. 50,000 first printing.

Genres: Marriage, Relationships

256 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2008

Reviews

[Annie · Rating 3 out of 5]

The book starts out unpromising, with some alarmist and dated data about the higher rates of domestic violence among unmarried. It takes a few chapters for it to sink in that the author is more interested in helping than condemning cohabitating couples. Come to think of it, the domestic violence rates probably have not improved in the past ten years.
There are two cohorts of people who tend not to marry, and McManus does not address their issues. People with mental illness and with chronic pain have significantly higher divorce rates than the rest of the population. The divorce rates for people with a chronic illness may be as high as seventy-five percent. When reading about the lives of people with mental illness and/or chronic pain, I have had a hard time finding people who are settled in a satisfactory marriage.
So this is marriage prep for the able. Perhaps in 20 years something will developed for the rest of us.

[Zack · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good analysis of the current trends in cohabiting. They give good answers to rebut common reasons for cohabiting. I am not convinced their high standards for premarital counseling are realistic in my context. I am more pragmatic in meeting with couples and meet them where they're at. The writing style is a bit repetative. Probably could have edited out 3 chapters.

[Elise]

This is yet another sterling example of how the misrepresentation of sociological data can serve as the cornerstone of unsound arguments waged by the those engaged in a war-on-the-unwed. The conclusions reached by this couple are startling, ungrounded, and often hysterically funny.

[Ta`Mara Hanscom · Rating 5 out of 5]

Excellent look at the results of "practicing" marriage before it happens. Heart breaking commentary of those individuals who choose to live together before marriage, or never marry anyone.