Marriage, a History

How Love Conquered Marriage

By: Stephanie Coontz

Narrated by: Callie Beaulieu

Just when the clamor over "traditional" marriage couldn't get any louder, along comes this groundbreaking book to ask, "What tradition?"

In Marriage, a History, historian and marriage expert Stephanie Coontz takes listeners from the marital intrigues of ancient Babylon to the torments of Victorian lovers to demonstrate how recent the idea of marrying for love is - and how absurd it would have seemed to most of our ancestors. It was when marriage moved into the emotional sphere in the 19th century, she argues, that it suffered as an institution just as it began to thrive as a personal relationship. This enlightening and hugely entertaining book brings intelligence, perspective, and wit to today's marital debate.

©2005 SJ Coontz Company (P)2016 Tantor

Solid History Narrative Centered Around West

This book is great because it gives an expansive review of the institution of marriage across thousands of years and many cultures. However when we get to modern(ish) time around 1700 and onward, it fixates on the United States and western Europe rather than continuing to provide a holistic review of marriage across the globe. I think I heard about West Asian traditions a handful of times and legitimately never when the time period became modern. This is no fault of Ms. Coontz as I know she was proving her argument that 'western' societies are experiencing unprecedented marriage evolution. I did learn a lot. I will turn my attention to other authors to get a better handle on other global regions' marital history into the modern age.

Marriage

I am not a proponent for the institution of marriage and I found this book both informative and illuminating. The depth of history and use of current/past demographical/statical information is amazing. A very worthwhile listen. I highly recommend it!

Educational heading into wedding season

The story was good. A bit long in places and a little repetitive. I thought the history would include where modern traditions (something blue, something borrowed) would include more of. But overall a good listen.

Coontz is so good!

Coontz is great! I felt like the narration was a little drier than I would have liked but I got over it quickly because I was captivated by the writing.

"Traditional Marriage" invented in 1950

A fascinating read that explains just how much of what people think of as "traditional Marriage" was a recent, short-lived invention. Full of fascinating tidbits and interesting themes that aim to summarize sweeping historic trends.

A must-read, even if a bit slow.

About halfway through I was a little bored with a lot of redundancies, and had to put it down for a while. later on I became a little overwhelmed with what seem to be several chapters of satistics. However the rest of the book is incredible, and is worth waiting through the slow parts to read or listen to. in the end I would recommend this to everybody.

Awesome Book

This audiobook was great. I would recommend to anyone especially to young people. Great job!

Harsh delivery, interesting material

I find the delivery quite stiff and staccato. Given the short sentences and factual material this often comes off as a long bullet list.

Fascinating exploration of an ancient institution

This book is fascinating. I did find that last third or so less interesting, as it moved into theorizing about modern marriage. The narration was excellent, except for the narrator's irritating tendency to say "newkiller family".

I wish l had heard this book before I married!

Finally, a researched explanation of what most take for granted. Should be read by high school students.