How to Speak Your Spouse's Language

by: H. Norman Wright

Published by: Center Street, a division of Hachette

Reviewed By Michele E. Davis

Subtitle: Ten Easy Steps to Great Communication from One of American's Foremost Counselors.

This book is easy to read and understand, with each chapter broken down into several small segments like: Understanding Each Other, Details: Too Many or Too Few?, Learn the Other Person's Rules of Communication and other subheads. Each chapter ends with a series of thought-provoking questions called Energy Builders, which help you identify what you could have misunderstood from your spouse, how you could have spoken differently, or, what you can do now with the information you learned in this chapter.

Wright states that the two most critical times for communication between a husband and wife are the first four minutes in the day and the last four minutes when you're reunited at the end of day. His primary methods are getting to learn his clients' language, just as he encourages us to understand our spouse's language in his book.

Wright also quotes numerous reputable sources, including some very famous books on communicating. He uses Deborah Tannen, PhD's You Just Don't Understand Me, John Gray's, What Your Mother Couldn't Tell You and Your Father Didn't Know, and Michele Weiner-Davis', Divorce Busting. With Wright's understandable, down-to-earth style, and the other professionals he quotes, this book is a great read whether you're dating, engaged, married five years, or forty. He addresses all aspects of communication, from the beginnings of being in love to the comfort of a long-term marriage.

Armchair Interviews says: An excellent communication book. Wright's style and candidness should have you and your spouse working on your communication problems in no time!