Love and Respect is an excellent book to learn how to love your spouse better. The problem is not that there is not love present, but men especially do not know how to express that love. I first heard of this book when my pastor gave a series of sermons on this topic, using Love and Respect as his background text. He brought out so many insights from the book that I figured it was worth a read for its own sake. Everything the pastor said was truly an expression of the author’s ideas, drawn from Scripture. Ephesians 5:33 issues the command for the husband to love the wife, and the wife to respect the husband. Love is self-sacrificing commitment, and respect is a similar commitment, but to positive esteem and evaluation. Granted, these are not always easy even in the best of relationships, but the key is the commitment. By holding firm and fast to that, at times when I find love on the wane, I can remember to act according to that commitment, and not how I feel. I suppose, though you’d have to ask my wife, the woman faces an equal task in her calling to respect.

Love and Respect is a fantastic work that provides deep insight into what makes a marriage tick. When I started reading this book, I was wary, not wanting to be fed a bunch of nonsense that would only hurt, rather than help, my marriage. After reading a few pages, I was hooked! Dr. Eggerichs hits the nail on the head each and every time. The focus of this book is love (being the main need of the woman) and respect (being the main need of the man). Dr. Eggerichs goes even further to examine the fears of each gender that shape our beliefs and needs. I was amazed that each and every chapter seemed to be written specifically for me, yet it applies to every marriage on the face of the earth. I did not pick up this book because my marriage was experiencing rocky times, but I know that the knowledge I gained by reading Love and Respect will help me in every situation my husband and I will face in the future - good times or bad. This book is perfect for anyone, from newlyweds to those celebrating their 60th+ wedding anniversaries. The information found in Love and Respect is certain to provide help and encouragement to anyone who reads it.