Finally in paperback, the New York Times bestseller that has fundamentally changed the way children of divorce see themselves as adults — updated with a new preface by the author.
Divorce is at once a widespread reality and a painful decision, so it is no surprise that this landmark study of its long-term effects should both spark debate and find a large audience.
In this compelling, thought-provoking book, Judith Wallerstein explains that, while children do learn to cope with divorce, it in fact takes its greatest toll in adulthood, when the sons and daughters of divorced parents embark on romantic relationships of their own. Wallerstein sensitively illustrates how children of divorce often feel that their relationships are doomed, seek to avoid conflict, and fear commitment. Failure in their loving relationships often seems to them preordained, even when things are going smoothly. As Wallerstein checks in on the adults she first encountered as youngsters more than twenty-five years ago, she finds that their experiences mesh with those of the millions of other children of divorce, who will find themselves on every page.
With more than 100,000 copies in print, The Unexpected Legacy of Divorce spent three weeks on the New York Times, San Francisco Chronicle, and Denver Post bestseller lists. The book was also featured on two episodes of Oprah as well as on the front cover of Time and the New York Times Book Review.
Anonymous
Posted February 13, 2008
An excellent book. I have been in a relationship for ten years afraid to take it to the next level. But I thought the reason for this was because I was simply confortable with the way things were. It wasn't until he told me that my avoidance of conflicts, fear of marriage, anger against my immediate family and my other personality traits were due to my parent's divorce 15 years earlier. Reading this book along with Generation Ex by Jen Abba opened my eyes and cleared my thinking. It helped me to understand me and these two books helped me work through the issues. I'm still working through them, but it has made my relationships better (I'm now happily married for two years) and my life more happier. These books gave me HOPE where I couldn't find it.
Was this review helpful? Yes NoThank you for your feedback. Report this reviewThank you, this review has been flagged.Anonymous
Posted July 8, 2002
I loved it. There should be a class designed around it. Until reading this book (16 years after the divorce), I realized that I have never discussed the effects of my parents divorce with my family or my friends. This book made that dialog happen. It reads like a novel and has made a huge impact on my life. I learned that I held classic behavioral patterns of a child of divorce. I reccommend it to couples thinking of marriage, going through a divorce, and/or children of divorce.
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Posted October 29, 2011
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Overview
Finally in paperback, the New York Times bestseller that has fundamentally changed the way children of divorce see themselves as adults — updated with a new preface by the author.
Divorce is at once a widespread reality and a painful decision, so it is no surprise that this landmark study of its long-term effects should both spark debate and find a large audience.
In this compelling, thought-provoking book, Judith Wallerstein explains that, ...