What you've read on: relationships, spirituality, identity?

[Linna Heartbooger]

So this thread is for: "What have you been reading lately on..." relationships, spirituality, marriage, family, identity, what it means to be human, etc.

Please tell us what you think of the book/books, too!

For me, I recently read Dr. Laura Schlessinger's book, "The Proper Care & Feeding of Husbands." It was insightful and rather personally challenging! I definitely felt insufficient for the task upon reading it, but could see alot of wisdom. I have only begun to apply a fraction of what I read. (though I've been blessed by the results) I think it really helped me to view my husband and his needs with more compassion.

Also, I've read most of the book "Boundaries: When to say YES. When to say NO. To take control of your life." by Cloud and Townsend. What an eye-opener! It's basically about FREEDOM in ones daily life, and about how one can be MORE loving to others by drawing lines, saying "NO," setting consequences, etc. It's also alot about the spiritual aspects of owning our decisions, and about identity, freeing oneself from control, manipulation, childhood patterns, etc. I have REALLY been finding freedom in my daily life through this.

Other people don't have to write as much as I did about their books, but I'd love to hear a little of what you think.

[rusmeister]

Practically anything by Anthony Bloom, Alexander Schmemann or Alexander Men.
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Metropolitan_Anthony_(Bloom)_of_Sourozh
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Men%27
en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Alexander_Schmemann
But since they admit to being Orthodox, I imagine people here would turn away from them quickly, which is too bad, because the stuff they write is so deep. The reason they are especially valuable is because they combine native intelligence and the wisdom of personal experience with the Tradition of their faith - the wisdom comes from the Church, really, so there's no need to go around groping outside of it looking for advice.

GK Chesterton and CS Lewis also have lots to say on those subjects. I've learned (or been trying to learn) from them how to identify root assumptions of thought, which has really been helpful in seeing the bases of popular modern fallacies, especially around topics like human nature, the family, etc.

[Linna Heartbooger]

That's okay - tell what YOU got out of it for YOUR own personal life. What are the specific subjects those authors deal with?

(For example, C.S. Lewis covers alot of ground in his various works - from the psychology behind choosing unpleasant things while being blind to good - to loving friends, neighbors, and God - to probing into the depths of self-pity. What specifically have you been reading lately and finding useful?)