Rock the Boat

RockTheBoat150x207Rock the Boat: How to Use Conflict to Heal and Deepen Your Relationship    

By Resmaa Menakem     

Hazelden Publishing     

Menakem writes, “We look to our partner for harmony and safety and familiarity. A long relationship provides these some of the time. But it also provides friction. Friction-not harmony or safety-is an engine of growth.” Drawing on his 25 years of experience as a licensed social worker, mediating families, including military and civilian couples, he gets right to the point describing the reality of relationships, “This book is about choosing to grow up.”

He uses stories from actual clients and composites of events to provide examples of conflict and resolution to help the reader and their partner create their “own strongest partnership…to become the person you most want to be. This happens whether the relationship survives or not.” At the end of each chapter, he provides Compass Points which are key ideas and advice to help the reader form deeper bonds with loved ones. For example, “When your partner makes you crazy, nothing is going wrong. You’re feeling exactly what you need to. You’re experiencing an internal call for change.” This process may not be easy, and it may be messy, but it is vital. Whether in a committed relationship with another or just yourself, Rock the Boat can help with developing better partnership skills.


Book reviews by Barb Kummer. If you have written or read a book you’d like to share with our readers, write to Barbara.kummerreviews@gmail.com

Last Updated on September 4, 2015