Book excerpt: This highly readable research-based book provides surprising answers to this simple question in plain language. Successfully married spouses have a realistic understanding of marriage and demonstrate effective marriage skills when compared to those in troubled marriages. The authors tell the reader those “secret” understandings of marriage, but more importantly, describe the skills needed to be successful and how to learn those skills. The book is a practical roadmap for married people to realize their dreams of a life-long marriage worth lasting. The book explodes myths about marriage, explains why the challenges and struggles of marriage are normal, how to get through them and reassures us that when a marriage is successful, the effort is worthwhile. The book treats marriage as a “game” and describes how to play it well and have fun playing it. The skills are presented as practical behaviours that can be learned and applied as soon as the next day. The skills turn many ideas about marriage, and even some expert advice, on their head, and while acknowledging that a successful marriage can seem magical, the book exposes the secrets and tricks behind the magic. This is a book for people starting out in a marriage, for people struggling in a troubled marriage, and even for people heading for divorce who would like to turn around their marriage. The book makes clear that reaching a successful marriage is not easy, but that most marriages can be successful. More importantly, the book offers hope and a practical “we can do it” and “here is how” approach. Finally, the book offers a roadmap to mental health counsellors (psychologists, marriage, child and family counsellors, social workers and other licensed counsellors), when working with clients who need help regarding their marital situation.