Marriage is a beautiful union, but it can also be challenging.
In Nigeria, many couples seek guidance and support to strengthen their relationship.
Fortunately, there are numerous books on marriage that offer practical tips, inspiring stories, and insightful advice.
Whether you’re just starting your journey together or seeking to rekindle the spark, these books provide valuable lessons on communication, conflict resolution, and building a lasting bond.
Read on to discover our top picks for the best books on marriage that can help you cultivate a strong and loving relationship.
Books on Marriage
1. The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work by John Gottman is a relationship guidebook that aims to help couples build and maintain a strong, healthy and fulfilling marriage.
The seven principles outlined in the book are:
- Enhance your love maps
- Nurture fondness and admiration
- Turn towards each other instead of away
- The positive perspective
- Manage conflicts effectively
- Make life dreams come true
- Create shared meaning
Expect to learn practical tools and techniques for improving communication, managing conflict, and building a strong emotional connection with your partner.
The book is based on decades of research and clinical experience and provides a roadmap for creating a strong and lasting relationship.
The author’s approach is supportive and solution-focused, making the book a valuable resource for couples looking to improve their marriage.
2. The 5 Love Languages
The 5 Love Languages by Gary Chapman explores the idea that individuals have different love languages, or ways of expressing and receiving love.
The five love languages are:
- Words of Affirmation
- Acts of Service
- Receiving Gifts
- Quality Time
- Physical Touch
Expect to learn how to identify your own love language, as well as your partner’s love language, in order to build a stronger emotional connection.
The book is written in a straightforward and accessible style, and includes practical tips and exercises to help readers put the love languages into practice in their own relationships.
Whether you’re in a romantic relationship, or looking to strengthen a bond with family or friends, this book provides a valuable framework for understanding and improving the way you give and receive love.
3. Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love
Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love by Dr. Sue Johnson is a relationship guidebook that focuses on creating strong, intimate bonds through emotional connection.
The book introduces seven conversations that the author believes are essential for building a healthy, lasting relationship.
These conversations are:
- Recognizing the demon dialogues
- Finding the raw spots
- Revisiting a rocky moment
- Hold me tight: Forgiving insecurities
- Forgiving Injuries
- Bonding through sex and touch
- Keeping your love alive
Expect to learn how to recognize and overcome negative patterns of communication, create deeper emotional intimacy, and build a stronger, more secure bond with your partner.
The book draws on the author’s extensive experience as a couples therapist and is filled with practical tips, exercises, and real-life examples to help you apply the concepts to your own relationship.
Whether you’re looking to improve a long-term relationship or just starting one, “Hold Me Tight” offers valuable insights and guidance for building a lifelong love.
4. The Meaning of Marriage
The Meaning of Marriage by Timothy Keller is a book that explores the biblical foundations of marriage and its significance in modern society.
The author draws on both the Christian tradition and contemporary research to offer a comprehensive understanding of what it means to be married.
Expect to gain a deeper appreciation of the role of marriage in God’s plan and its purpose in our lives.
The book addresses common challenges and obstacles faced by married couples and provides practical wisdom and guidance for building a strong, loving relationship.
Keller’s approach is both insightful and accessible, making the book an ideal resource for both those looking to get married and those seeking to strengthen an existing marriage.
The author’s focus on the spiritual and emotional dimensions of marriage make this book a valuable resource for anyone seeking a deeper understanding of this institution.
5. The Art of Marriage: A Guide for Couples
The Art of Marriage: A Guide for Couples by Wilferd A. Peterson is a self-help book aimed at improving relationships and marriages.
The book is divided into two parts: the first part provides a theoretical background on the nature of marriage, while the second part offers practical advice and exercises to improve communication and intimacy.
Expect to learn how to cultivate a strong and healthy relationship by developing a shared vision, learning effective communication techniques, and deepening emotional and physical intimacy.
Peterson’s approach is supportive and practical, and the book is filled with real-life examples and exercises to help readers put the concepts into practice.
Whether you are just starting a relationship or looking to strengthen a long-term one, “The Art of Marriage” provides valuable insights and guidance for building a loving and fulfilling union.
6. The Argument-Free Marriage: 28 Days to Creating the Relationship You’ve Always Wanted
The Argument-Free Marriage: 28 Days to Creating the Relationship You’ve Always Wanted by Fawn Weaver is a self-help book that aims to help couples build a relationship free from conflict and arguments.
The book is structured as a 28-day challenge, with each day focused on a specific aspect of relationship building.
Expect to learn how to identify and overcome common roadblocks to a harmonious relationship, and develop effective communication skills to resolve conflicts peacefully.
The author draws on her own experience and research to provide practical, actionable advice for couples.
Whether you are just starting a relationship or seeking to strengthen a long-term one, “The Argument-Free Marriage” provides valuable insights and guidance for creating a loving and supportive partnership.
7. The Conscious Marriage: A Guide to Creating a Love That Lasts
The Conscious Marriage: A Guide to Creating a Love That Lasts by Jim Ryan is a self-help book that focuses on the idea of creating a conscious, intentional relationship.
The author argues that the key to a successful marriage is to cultivate a deep, intentional awareness of both self and partner, and to approach the relationship with a spirit of openness, vulnerability, and love.
Expect to learn how to deepen your emotional connection with your partner and improve communication and intimacy through a process of self-discovery and intentional relationship building.
The book is structured around practical exercises and strategies for couples, and draws on a range of spiritual and psychological perspectives to offer a holistic approach to relationship improvement.
Whether you’re just starting a relationship or looking to strengthen a long-term one, “The Conscious Marriage” provides valuable insights and guidance for creating a deep and lasting love.
8. The Power of Two: Secrets to a Strong and Loving Marriage
The Power of Two: Secrets to a Strong and Loving Marriage” by Susan Heitler is a self-help book that provides practical strategies for improving communication and intimacy in relationships. The author argues that the key to a strong and lasting marriage is effective communication and the ability to resolve conflicts in a healthy and productive manner.
Expect to learn how to improve communication skills, develop emotional intimacy, and resolve conflicts through the use of effective communication strategies and practical exercises. The book provides a step-by-step approach to relationship improvement, drawing on the author’s extensive experience as a therapist to provide practical, actionable advice. Whether you’re just starting a relationship or seeking to strengthen a long-term one, “The Power of Two” provides valuable insights and guidance for building a strong and loving marriage.
9. How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It
“How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It” by Patricia Love and Steven Stosny is a self-help book that provides a unique approach to improving relationships and marriages. The authors argue that traditional methods of relationship improvement, such as talking through problems and verbal communication, are often ineffective and can even make things worse. Instead, they focus on the idea of “emotional metabolism,” which refers to the unconscious and automatic processes that govern how we respond to our partners and the world around us.
Expect to learn how to improve your relationship by changing the unconscious patterns of behavior and thought that are holding you back, rather than through traditional methods of talking and communication. The book provides practical exercises and strategies for cultivating emotional intelligence and developing a more positive, supportive relationship with your partner. Whether you’re just starting a relationship or looking to strengthen a long-term one, “How to Improve Your Marriage Without Talking About It” provides a unique and valuable perspective on relationship improvement.
