TALK EASY, LISTEN HARD
is divided into three sections:
Personalities -- Why We Talk, Thought
Continuums -- Where Our Words Come From, and Love Languages -- How We
Communicate Our Feelings.
The
four personalities have been known since Hippocrates named them
centuries ago. More recently, the LaHayes and the Littauers have written
about these personality qualities. Books on the “Love Languages” have
been published extensively by Gary Chapman, who wrote the foreword for
TALK EASY, LISTEN HARD. So what is new to write about? This book
presents different anecdotes that portray relationships between
conflicting personalities. At the end of each chapter in the Love
Languages section, there is a list of 52 ways to use each of the five
love languages (Touch, Words of Affirmation, Loving Gifts, Acts of
Service, and Quality Time) to show your love. I found these lists very
helpful, both in offering new ideas and by “jump-starting” my own
thought processes to create ideas of my own.
As
I read one passage I was struck with the similarity with my style of
communicating with my husband. The wife was trying to find out what her
husband thought of something by repeating her question, while her
husband remained silent. She finally asked him for the third time what
he thought and he said, “Will you please shut up and LET me think?” So I
learned that I’m an “external thinker” and my husband is an
“internal thinker.”
The
appendices contain a personality questionnaire and “his and her”
personal profiles to fill in after the questionnaires have been
completed. The profiles also contain sections on how the respondent
thinks and loves. I see this as an excellent way for spouses, engaged
couples, or anyone in a serious love relationship to learn more about
the personality and needs of their loved ones. I’m going to try it
myself, if I can just get my husband to answer all the questions!
TALK EASY, LISTEN HARD is written from a Christian perspective and
includes suggested prayers for each personality type, goals and tips for
each type, and quotations from Christians. I can recommend this book to
anyone interested in learning how people think, love, and react.
Reviewed by Marie
Disbrow for The Road to Romance
June 3, 2007
|
