Book Review: For Better

If wedding season has resulted in marriage on the brain, pick up For Better: The Science of a Good Marriage; it will tell you everything you never knew you needed to know about the ultimate commitment.

For Better, by Tara Parker-Pope, is a must-read, plain and simple. Even if you’re not planning on getting married any time soon; even if you’re already happily married, even if you’re gay. Yep, it’s that good.

In it, this New York Times health columnist compiled all the research she could find on what makes—and breaks—a fulfilling partnership, even going so far as to tie in personal anecdotes on why her own marriage failed.

Rather than a dry tome that takes conscious focus to interpret, it’s written in laymen’s terms and peppered with insightful quizzes, some of which you can find on her website. (Everyone loves a good quiz.) The book also offers refreshing evidence that suggests that the classic “50 percent of marriages end in divorce” cliché is dead wrong. One word of warning: If you’re in a so-so relationship and you’ve been making efforts to conceal those red flags, this will illuminate them. But have no fear. It will also help you get rid of them.

—MM