The Marriage Benefit

“Shows us a way of looking at marriage that instills joy and enthusiasm, while subduing the nagging doubts marriage so often secretly spawns.” —Edward Hallowell, MD, author of Driven to Distraction

At a certain stage of life, separation or divorce can feel tempting—children may be grown, our interests may have changed, and the reality of a long-term relationship doesn’t match our romantic dreams. But if we can get through the rough spots, staying married can actually keep us happier.

The Marriage Benefit isn’t so much a book on how to make our relationships better—it’s about how our relationships can make us better, if we work on our expectations and improve communications. Harvard Medical School clinical instructor and psychotherapist Mark O’Connell offers a peek behind the door of a marriage therapist, where readers can see that their problems are not unique.

Through wonderfully revealing anecdotes of couples with problems many of us face—long-held bitterness, diminished sexuality, the scars of infidelity, the search for authentic meaning—O’Connell shows how by respecting each other’s individuality, looking for “real” sex, and learning how to play with each other again, we can reap the benefits of the emotional investment we’ve made.