The 4 Seasons of Marriage

If you're looking for a book packed full of ideas for strengthening your marriage, I recommend Gary Chapman's "The 4 Seasons of Marriage" to you. In this book, Chapman uses the seasons of nature as an analogy for the possible states of a marriage. If a marriage is strong and thriving, it is a summer marriage. If a couple is on the brink of divorce, their marriage is deep in the cold of winter. Chapman's purpose in writing the book is to help couples move toward or maintain the blessings of spring and summer. Chapman starts by defining each season of marriage and identifying the emotions and actions that go with each. Then he provides a questionnaire couples can fill out to discover, if they haven't already figured it out, what season their marriage is in. He follows that with seven strategies for improving one's marriage. He closes with a question and answer section and a group or couple's discussion guide. The seven strategies were the heart of the book. No matter what season your marriage is in, implementing these ideas will be a benefit. One of them, of course, is learning your spouse's love language. That chapter gives a brief synopsis of Chapman's brilliant book about this. Throughout the book, Chapman is very conscious of all possible reader circumstances. He often writes to the spouse who is struggling to save a marriage though the other spouse has given up. He provides concrete examples of how such a spouse can adopt his ideas and, hopefully, reach the other's wounded heart. And, though marriage is a team sport, Chapman puts the burden for positive action on the individual. We don't manipulate our spouses into changing for our good; we initiate positive change within ourselves for our marriage's good. I enjoyed reading this book and highly recommend it to you!

Using the characteristics of the four seasons as a lens, Mr. Chapman invites readers to focus on their own marriages and identify what is good and what needs improvement. The book offers special hope to readers who find their marriages in the cold fall or winter climates because seasons can change. Unashamedly in support of marriage and Christian values, he offers concrete steps that can improve the relationship no matter what season it is in. While he insists that individuals accept responsibility for their actions, he in understanding of emotional needs and the natural flow of love from dating to marriage. Readers who don't understand how their marriage became cold will find comfort in realizing that they are not alone, and neither are they helpless. Even for those who have read some of Mr. Chapman's other popular works (and if you haven't you will want to after this book!), "The 4 Seasons" offers a good framework for reflection and action.

It is a very lovely book to read and is helpful to me.

Initially what drew me to this book was the overall comparison of the seasons to different stages in marriage. The comparison worked really well for me, and Chapman provides a lot of examples of real-life couples that he has come across in each of the different "seasons." I think the biggest comfort was knowing that it is okay to not always be in spring or summer seasons - the dark winters will come but there is a way to get out of them. Along with examples, he providing clear guidelines for how to get out of the winter or fall seasons, and also how to stay in spring or summer, which, for me, was the best part - how important it is to be aware when your marriage may be slipping slowly into fall or winter, and how to be proactive in keeping it in summer or spring. Overall, I found this very insightful, and although I read it individually, I can see how it would be very helpful read together as a couple too.

I really like this book. It was the first book I read by this author and I’ve since read two others and I found all of them to be just really full of great advice. Yes the book is written by a Christian pastor so it of course has biblical references and that sort of lean and even though I’m not particularly religious I still found many of the suggestions to be quite helpful and the entire book I found to be just overall very good read and beneficial to my marriage. One of his other books — the five love languages of teenagers is fantastic and I think every parent of a teen or preteen should read it!

This book has great information on how to save your marriage and keep it going strong! I love that every point in this book is biblically based.

My wife and I have been married for 33+ years. This book is something that I recommend all married couples to read. It talks about the 4 seasons of marriage and how it affects all aspects of where you are at. Highly recommend it. You can even do a small group with your church.

This book is practical and deal real life challenges in marriage. Nevertheless, there is hope for broken marriage this book can navigate you through the storm once you put in the work. Shalom

This is excellent stuff. As Brits it took us a little time to get used to the American drawl, but the topic and the analogy of the seasons we found to be very helpful. We thoroughly recommend this cd verion of the book. My wife and I listened to it while we were on a journey; pauseing and discussing it as we travelled. There was so much in it the first time, we can't wait to listen to it again. Lots of wisdom about the marriage relationship, backed up with plenty of illustrations. Doesn't matter how long you've been married, you'll find this CD version of the book very useful. We've been married for over 30 years and we found the insights very useful.

This book goes hand-in-hand with The 5 Love Languages. The steps/strategies are very 'doable' for anyone wanting to work through and strengthen their relationship. Though its intention is for married couples, I feel it can also be applied to people who find themselves in long-term relationships that are no longer in the 'honeymoon phase'. It was an easy read and extremely encouraging

What a book, capturing the seasons applicable to marriages. Easy to understand and apply.

Awesome book. Useful tools to use in your relationship and real-life testimonies that are relatable. Keeps you interested while getting straight to the point.

A very interesting book...only partway through it but it’s very helpful. We already have the 5 Love Languages by the same author & actually give one to newly marrieds as a valuable aid because it helps you to recognise your partner’s needs & aim to supply. Time changes our attitudes & it’s great to return to for fresh ideas.