Pepper Schwartz

Everyone agrees parents must talk to their children about sex, but the questions always arise: How do I start? What should I cover? Ten Talks offers advice on exactly how to begin and what to say -- not just about sex, but about safety, character, peer pressure, ethics, meeting people on the internet, and mixed messages from TV. Ten Talks is based on innovative and proven approaches that the authors are using in parent workshops across the country. The talks can be adapted for all kinds of families and offer immeasurable rewards, strengthening the relationships of parents and children. This innovative and illustrated book helps prepare kids for the complex world of relationships, sex, and growing up. Selected Reading Questionnaire.… (more)

Even though it's talking about the statistical norm, there's something about the title of this book that's deeply objectionable. It's not pop psychology; it's barely even Anthropology Lite. It's crowdsourced opinions about relationship satisfaction, which might be interesting as a listicle, but not so much as a full book. I was looking forward to some good infographics or otherwise easily digestible statistics, and what I got was anecdata and superficially extrapolated advice with a side of percentages. A lot of it is of the "no duh" variety: happy people communicate well, make each other feel wanted and appreciated, and work on being good partners. Unhappy people tend not to do those so well.… (more)

This good book on relationships is a refreshing view of many of the pathos that impede so much happiness and fulfillment. Some of her chapters (debunked myths) do not go to the logical extreme because that would require an even more shocking view of human sexuality. In a few instances her focus on the importance of selfish interests seems a bit overdrawn but her conclusions and points are well made. I just wish she would have focused on the selfishness of the partner more rather than using one's own selfish interests as a basis for a judgment. I recommend this for anyone struggling with a relationship issue. It will help clear your thinking and have better insight to what is realistic, truly meaningful and how to get more joy from life and sex.… (more)