The Exceptional Seven Percent : The Nine Secrets of the World's Happiest Couples

**How much better could your marriage be? A therapist's "inspiring" guide to the secrets of happy husbands and wives (__Publishers Weekly__).** Only about half of all marriages remain intact—and of those, many are far from ideal. In fact, studies show that a mere 7 percent of marriages are __truly__ good. What do these couples know that brings them much greater than average passion, happiness, longevity, and fulfillment? Marriage therapist Gregory K. Popcak believes these exceptional couples relate to each other in ways that can benefit all marriages. In __The Exceptional Seven Percent__, he examines the basic characteristics and habits of successful couples. Each chapter reveals: - How to develop a "marital imperative" - The deeper meaning of "forsaking all others" that goes beyond sexual fidelity - How to set and achieve emotional goals - The importance of rapport, negotiation, and joy With real-life stories, exercises, quizzes, and guidance supported by marriage research, you'll learn what your weaknesses are and how you can begin to make positive changes. You have the power to turn your marriage into the most precious thing in your life. Why settle for anything less? "Intellectually appealing . . . Like Stephen Covey and Abraham Harold Maslow, Popcak focuses on the refinement of peak performance. Offering engaging exercises and checklists to help readers clarify their aims and progress along his theoretical pathway to self-actualization, he challenges conventional couples to recognize how much better their marriage could be with a few attitude adjustments and priority clarifications. Self-improvement aficionados will find his approach a welcome and refreshing addition to the genre." —__Publishers Weekly__ "What Do Exceptional Couples Know That Others Don't? If roughly fifty percent of marriages fail, what about the other fifty percent--the ones that "succeed"? Are those couples who stay together necessarily happy? No, not necessarily. In fact, many marriages that remain intact are far less than ideal. A mere seven percent are really good--in fact, exceptional. These couples have much greater than average passion, happiness, longevity, and fulfillment. But if less-than-exceptional marriages are made up of men who are supposedly from Mars and women who are supposedly from Venus, what planet do exceptional husbands and wives come from? What are the secrets of exceptional couples...and what can they teach us?Marriage therapist Gregory K. Popcak believes that ways of relating employed by exceptional couples can benefit all marriages. In The Exceptional Seven Percent, he looks at the most successful couples and exposes their secrets. Each chapter examines in detail the basic characteristics of exceptional couples, including: *Developing a marital imperative *Setting and achieving emotional goals *Cultivating exceptional levels of fidelity, loving, service, rapport, negotiation, gratitude, joy, and sexualityThrough anecdotes, analyses, exercises, and quizzes, you'll learn what your weaknesses are and how you can begin to make positive changes. You have the power to turn your marriage into the most precious thing in your life. Why settle for anything less? Gregory K. Popcak, MSW, is a licensed psychotherapist who developed and now runs marriage preparation and enrichment seminars. He also writes regular marriage and family columns for popular and professional journals and runs a private practice. He lives outside Pittsburgh."-- Provided by publisher What Do Exceptional Couples Know That Others Don't' If roughly fifty percent of marriages fail, what about the other fifty percent--the ones that "succeed"' Are those couples who stay together necessarily happy' No, not necessarily. In fact, many marriages that remain intact are far less than ideal. A mere seven percent are really good--in fact, exceptional. These couples have much greater than average passion, happiness, longevity, and fulfillment. But if less-than-exceptional marriages are made up of men who are supposedly from Mars and women who are supposedly from Venus, what planet do exceptional husbands and wives come from' What are the secrets of exceptional couples. . .and what can they teach us' Marriage therapist Gregory K. Popcak believes that ways of relating employed by exceptional couples can benefit all marriages. In The Exceptional Seven Percent, he looks at the most successful couples and exposes their secrets. Each chapter examines in detail the basic characteristics of exceptional couples, including: -Developing a marital imperative -Setting and achieving emotional goals -Cultivating exceptional levels of fidelity, loving, service, rapport, negotiation, gratitude, joy, and sexuality Through anecdotes, analyses, exercises, and quizzes, you'll learn what your weaknesses are and how you can begin to make positive changes. You have the power to turn your marriage into the most precious thing in your life. Why settle for anything less' Gregory K. Popcak, MSW, is a licensed psychotherapist who developed and now runs marriage preparation and enrichment seminars. He also writes regular marriage and family columns for popular and professional journals and runs a private practice. He lives outside Pittsburgh WHAT DO EXCEPTIONAL COUPLES KNOW THAT OTHERS DON'T? If roughly fifty percent of marriages fail, what about the other fifty percent—the ones that "succeed"? Are those couples who stay together necessarily happy? No, not necessarily. In fact, many marriages that remain intact are far less than ideal. A mere seven percent are really good—in fact, exceptional. These couples have much greater than average passion, happiness, longevity, and fulfillment. And the good news is, luck has nothing to do with it. But if less-than-exceptional marriages are made up of men who are supposedly from Mars and women who are supposedly from Venus, what planet do exceptional husbands and wives come from? What are the secrets of exceptional couples . . . and what can they teach us? Marriage therapist Gregory K. Popcak believes that ways of relating employed by exceptional couples can benefit all marriages. In The Exceptional Seven Percent, he looks at the most successful couples and exposes their secrets. Each chapter examines in detail the basic characteristics of exceptional couples, including: · Developing a marital imperative—the key to unlocking all the other Exceptional Couple qualities · Setting and achieving emotional goals · Cultivating exceptional levels of fidelity, loving, service, rapport, negotiation, gratitude, joy, and sexuality Through anecdotes, analyses, exercises, quizzes, and guidance that is consistently supported by marriage research, you'll learn what your weaknesses are and how you can begin to make positive changes. You have the power to turn your marriage into the most precious thing in your life. Why settle for anything less?