#12 - The Complete Husband

I just finished The Complete Husband by Lou Priolo.

The introduction begins, "The book you're holding in your hands is probably going to hit you right between the eyes! It may disturb you greatly. It will, no doubt, convict you of things you had no idea were wrong in your life...Reading it, you might be tempted to say, 'This is impossible! Nobody can consistently do the things written in this book!'"

That introduction pretty much sums up what will happen to you if you read this book. It is probably the most direct and challenging book I have ever read about being a husband. It's hard to read this book and simply say that was interesting and leave it at that. Priolo gives explanations from God's Word as to how husbands should be and what they should do. But he doesn't let it end there. He then exhorts and challenges husbands to live it out, to talk with their wives, to be that husband and to do those things with practical lists, questions and exercises that FORCE you to follow through.

Reader be warned - don't pick up this book unless you are willing to change your marriage. This is a good book too for husbands and wives to read together for two reasons. First, it is helpful if wives understand what husbands are trying to be and do according to God's Word. It will help husbands to have the understanding and support of their wives. Second, there are a lot of exercises that husbands and wives are to do together. They will be more fruitful if wives know why they are doing these things.

However, I do think it is best for those who have some marriage experience - that is, who have gone through some struggles as husband and wife - probably for those who have been married at least 5 years. If you have not been married for that long, you can still benefit from this book, but it will make the most sense for marriages that are more seasoned.

This is also a good resource to return to. You can't read through it once and feel like you've got it all figured out now. I plan to return to this book and re-read it every 2-3 years.

This book was encouraging to me because it exhorted me to do a lot of the things that Sandy and I do regularly on our annual Lee Family Retreat. It was gratifying to read a "famous" pastor / author / counselor who encourages others to do the same things I am trying to do. Also, it was good to read about new things that I am not doing that I can try out too.

We read through this book in my men's small group and everyone (married 10 years to 50 years) really enjoyed and benefited from this book.