5 Essentials for Lifelong Intimacy

by James C. Dobson

In 5 Essentials for Lifelong Intimacy, Dr. Dobson speaks directly to the greatest concerns and questions of modern Will we grow together or apart? What can we do to keep romance fresh? With marriages crumbling all around us, how can we cultivate an intimate relationship? Principles understood by previous generations often seem foreign to today’s husbands and wives, yet they are the essential ingredients for building a close, long-term relationship in any

• A home founded on Jesus Christ and the practice of persistent prayer

• Unswerving commitment to one another

• Mutual respect and trust

• A sense of romance

• Effective communication

For the young couple just starting out or in the early years of marriage, 5 Essentials will combine a concise message of hope with practical tools for developing a thriving, intimate union, and more mature husbands and wives will discover a fresh look at marriage, pointing the way to renewed closeness and a fulfilling, lifelong love.

When we said “I do,” did we really mean “till death do us part”? What can we do to keep our romance alive? With so many marriages ending in divorce, how can ours be different? How can we have a fulfilling relationship that goes the distance?

Dr. James Dobson, America ’s most trusted authority on marriage and family, equips you and your spouse to build a firm foundation for a love that endures the test of time. Biblically sound teaching in five key areas, from persistent prayer to passionate romance, will help you build a strong and steadfast union—today, tomorrow, and always!

Story Behind the Book

For every ten marriages in America today, five will end in bitter conflict and divorce. The other five will stay together for a lifetime, but in varying degrees of harmony. Incredibly, only one or two couples in ten will reach deep levels of intimacy in their marriages. Yet with a little wise counsel—and a burning desire to succeed—husbands and wives can achieve that mystical bond of friendship, understanding, and commitment that almost defies explanation. 5 Essentials is designed to help them do just that.

Genres: Marriage

128 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 2005

About the author

A licensed psychologist and marriage, family, and child counselor, Dr. James Dobson was a clinical member of the American Association for Marriage and Family Therapy. For 14 years Dr. Dobson was an associate clinical professor of pediatrics at the University of Southern California School of Medicine, and he served for 17 years on the attending staff of Children's Hospital Los Angeles in the Division of Child Development and Medical Genetics. He earned a Ph.D. from the University of Southern California (1967) in the field of child development.

He was the author of more than 50 books, including The New Dare to Discipline, The New Strong-Willed Child, When God Doesn't Make Sense, Night Light: A Devotional for Couples, Bringing Up Boys, and the New York Times bestseller Bringing Up Girls .

Heavily involved in influencing governmental policies related to the family, Dr. Dobson was appointed by President Ronald Reagan to the National Advisory Commission to the Office of Juvenile Justice and Delinquency Prevention. He also served on the Attorney General's Advisory Board on Missing and Exploited Children, the Department of Health and Human Services' Panel on Teen Pregnancy Prevention, and the Commission on Child and Family Welfare. He was elected in 2008 to the National Radio Hall of Fame, and in 2009 received the Ronald Reagan Lifetime Achievement Award.

Reviews

[Vincent Tsui]

Essential #1: A Christ-Centered Home
Essential #2: A Lifelong Commitment
Essential #3: A Deep and Abiding Trust
Essential #4: A Willingness to Communicate
Essential #5: An Understanding of Love

A nice little book containing much kernel of truth. All these are dead obvious but it is good to review them and see what I am lacking.

[John]

This short book is a no way comprehensive guide on how to have a lifelong marriage, but it has a few good points in the listed five. Dobson has experience in his marriage and he shares from it. This book is a good starting point for having some important pointers in where to take your marriage.

[Cristina]

Me lo prestó Ingrid.

[Travis]

There were some good nuggets in here, so I took some notes!
RIP Dr. D!

[Rafeek]

كتاب مهم جدا للمخطوبين يناقشوه في الخطوبة .. هايفرق جدا في حياتهم .. كمان الازواج اللي حياتهم مش افضل حال مهم يقروه برضه هايغير في حياتهم كتير

[J]

Short little book - easy & quick to read. Other books and authors were referenced/paraphrased, so you can look to those works for additional information in the areas that interest you specifically.

I love Dr. Dobson! I’ve been reading his books since college and they always help me with whatever struggle I’m facing. This book provided a beautiful and inspiring view of marriage. It was personally challenging to me because I see how I can love my husband more fully. It is also saddening because it illuminates how wonderful marriage can be, which conversely illuminates where my own is lacking. I want the marriage Dr. Dobson talks about!

I love hearing Dr. Dobson's wise and measured advice. I trust his insight. There is a deep comfort that is provided by just talking about issues and laying out a game plan to address them. It is comforting to hear that struggle is normal, that you aren’t the only one with certain issues and that things can get better. I may never have the perfect marriage until we are both in heaven (God willing!), but that is okay. Each day I have the ability to make it a little better. And, success builds upon itself. And, we have a lifetime to build together. Regardless of where you are, there is great comfort in knowing you are on a journey toward something good, especially when you have the assistance of a trusted travel guide.

[Joy]

Great, short read, providing the wisdom and insight I have come to expect from Dr. James Dobson. The text is a little dated and geared toward older marriages, but still gave me tools I will use for years to come.

[Mena]

الكتاب جيد جدا. و يعرض خبرة واقعية من واقع حياة المؤلف و خبرته العملية. و لكن الكتاب لا يعرض حلول عملية للمشاكل التي طرحها بل يدعوا القارئ الي محاولة التصالح مع هذه المشكلات.