"Why Do I Love These People?": Understanding, Surviving, and Creating Your Own Family

One of the most meaningful books I have ever read. The interviews are deep and deeply meaningful. I can say I truly didn't understand my prior marriage until I read this book, it's that deep.

Insight, wisdom, and/or knowledge come from unexpected places sometimes. I'm used to my colleagues putting me on the "right path" whenever I reach out to them, and this year was no different. I asked for recommendations for a book that would "push the growing edges" for the chief executives in my group, and I was given many suggestions. Two books stood out in the list and this book was one. I found myself nodding in agreement, shaking my head in wonder, and shedding tears of compassion as I read through this wonderful compendium of stories of real people with real challenges and messy outcomes in their struggles at managing relationships. Bronson definitely pushes on my growing edges."Why Do I Love These People" is a thoroughly enjoyable book about "understanding, surviving, and creating your own family." These are not special people with storybook lives. These are ordinary people who have found extraordinary ways to manage the messiness of relationships. Compelling stories, told in a way that reaches through the fog of our own experiences and touches that neglected subconscious mind which has recorded all our loves, fears, and joys.Bronson has laid out his book in a logical and thoughtful manner, including an "intermission" in the middle that transitions from the more or less successful negotiations in relationships to those which did not end in such a straightforward way. He never misses a beat in providing the real issues at hand, from the several valid views of those involved in the relationships. Writing in clear and engaging prose, Bronson keeps our interests, shares many insights, and deftly avoids the twin traps of preaching and judgments.This is must reading for all your close friends and relatives. Find a way to get it to them!

I loved reading this book as bedtime reading. Each chapter is about a different person or family so I could read one chapter a night and find it relaxing and self-contained. I found it fascinating getting outside myself and having this opportunity to learn more about other people and their struggles and challenges. There were two chapters which I found amazing. The first story, about the oriental American born daughter and her old country born father was one. It was extraordinarily well written, complex and poignant. Another story which knocked my socks off was the relationship between a "cheating husband" and his wife in terms of how the wife manifested her true love to him. I may remember these two stories for the rest of my life. To me, the rest of the book was not memorable but thoroughly relaxing. If I knew how to fill it out, I probably would have given the book 3 1/2 and not 4 stars. That is, to me the book is largely not memorable or Tolstoy but truly I did adore just reading it and learning about people as relaxing bedtime reading. It also functioned well to take me away from my own concerns for a half hour each night before turning off the light.

I really enjoyed this book. I enjoyed it so much I have purchased it twice. The first time I purchased this book I loaned it out for others to read but never received it back. So, I recently re-purchased the book so I have it to read again and over and over. I want this book in my library. I won't be loaning this copy out. If someone wants to read my copy, they will to do it on site. Good read. Encouraging for those of us who have less than perfect situations.

Good to see how families eventually get through hard times. Different families, different problems, but they all make it through. I have given this as a gift many times now, and every recipient found stories they could relate to.

Why do I love this book? Because it held my interest from page one to the final chapter. Perfect for people who don't have 'time' to get involved in a novel or other boring 'how to' book about families. The book is set up in small installments and each one makes you realize that every family is dysfunctional - not just yours. The best news is that despite the dysfunction, people who care can make lemonade from the worst sort of lemons. I highly recommend this book.

This is not a psychology book or a self-help book. These are real stories from people whose relationships with their family brought them a lot of pain and how they lived/are living through it. The book makes no judgements about what they did or what they should have done. If you read the title and it strikes a cord in you, read the book.

Excellent survival book because the stories inspire readers to keep trying! Entertaining and insightful in its selection of family stories that span America and reflect the tough choices we all face at one time or another. I brought this book into my book club and everyone loved it. I encourage those who enjoy thought-provoking non-fiction (but aren't looking for a self-help book) to read this book.

インターネット・バブルの時代にRed Herring (アメリカのハイテク・ビジネス雑誌)で著者の記事を良く読んだ。その後3年程前にWhat Should I Do With My Life?がベストセラーになったが、今回の著書では、特に有名でも何でもない多数の「普通の人々」へのインタビューをベースに、彼らが経験した人生の試練を再現し、それを通じて、家族とは何なのか?愛情とは、絆とは何のか？幸せとはどういうことなのか？を間接的に問うている。個々のストーリーは試練を乗り越えた末に必ずしもハッピーエンドな結末が待っているものばかりではないし、そこから、著者自身が明示的に何を学ぶべきかを説いているわけでもない。しかし、ストーリーに描かれている人々が境遇する様々な試練を苦しみもがきながら乗り越えていく過程で、家族の意味や絆・愛情といったものを捜し求めることを決して諦めない姿勢から、それがどんな意味を持つのかを読み手に考えさせる。仕事の忙殺から少し離れて時間のあるときなどに読むのがお勧め。