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A review by alannajane
The Five Love Languages for Singles by Gary Chapman
2.0
I am extremely disappointed! I am only giving this book 2 stars for the actual/original 5 love languages concept.
I remember reading The 5 Love Languages (original) several years ago and just loving the concept. I STILL love the concept. And I can absolutely see how using the 5 love languages within all different kinds of relationships and friendships can be very helpful in bringing people closer together and feeling loved.
That said, I expected FAR MORE from this 2019 updated edition. Dr. Chapman should absolutely have stuck with his original concept, and left his outdated, condemning, delusional and even dangerous devotional ideas in his church. Plus, he could use a VERY STRONG dose of social justice.
Let's start here. Repairing fractured relationships with people who are drug addicts, and have fallen back into their addictive behaviours, cannot simply be "fixed" by loving them harder. This is a very complex issue in which both parties need professional assistance, and should ultimately be done within the context of strict boundaries that provide safety above all else. Not acknowledging this within this topic is highly negligent. Further, suggesting that addicts will happily leave their addictions behind and become responsible, healed people simply by being loved by a family member may make those in these troubled relationships think that they are simply failing to love the other hard enough for them to heal. Gross.
Now the topic of sex: teaching that there are only two extremes: wanton, untethered, unsafe sluttyness with a vast number of unknown partners or waiting until you get married. Not only is this preposterous, it does not allow for discussion of healthy sexuality and/or healthy sexual behaviours. Further, Dr. Chapman twice mentions that sex before marriage is actually illegal (what?!?). It actually makes me sick that so many younger people are being taught this sort of nonsense, rather than being given ALL of their available options and allowing them to make their own decisions. In today's world, there is a wide range of sexual behaviour undertaken by all different sorts of people, much of it extremely loving and safe but outside the bounds of marriage. Get real!
Bringing up sexual assault and violence within relationships, the author actually recommends "fixing" these relationships and marriages too - instead of first insisting that the victim of these horrible crimes make themselves safe (or make an action plan to make themselves safe asap). One might think that the #metoo movement and more than 30 years of councelling would have enlightened this man into taking care of those that suffer the violence of power-desperate, narcissistic, manipulative perpetrators. Apparently not. He writes that this is simply the result of men not being able to control their urges.
Also, forcing a cis-gendered, hetero-normative viewpoint is extremely damaging to all of those who identify as someone other. Again, Dr. Chapman goes even further to note that arranged marriages within other cultures lead to long-lasting, happy spouses. He doesn't even grasp the culture within which he is living, so going out of his way to say things like this is so outlandish that I don't even know where to begin.
Yes, the concept of the 5 love languages is something that people of all kinds can use to better their relationships. Yes, there are all kinds of workplace, school, university, roommate, family, friend and dating relationships that could use more deep understanding. Yes, talking about things instead of assuming is great advice. Yes, the concept of considering the solidity of the foundation of any dating/intimate relationship prior to marriage is amazing advice.
BUT.... if you are not deeply Christian, male, affluent, cis-gendered, hetero-sexual and remaining a virgin until marriage, and possibly white, this book is at minimum insulting - and more realistically - dangerously lacking reasonable advice in so many cases. The author obviously writes from a place of extreme privilege as a white man in America with means, as well as dogged, blind faith to Christianity.
I picked this audiobook up because I was going to go and see Dr. Chapman talk on the 5 Love Languages at a local event this week. I thought that I would refresh my understanding of the fundamental concepts behind his work before going. Now, all that I want to do is get a refund on my ticket!!!
UPDATE: I didn’t refund my ticket and did attend Dr. Chapman’s speaking gig. He was funny, charming and delightful - and also everything that I called out above. He has done the world and so many people a great service by inventing both the 5 Love Languages, and the 5 Languages of Apology. That said, his public expression of these is one of deep faith that love can override ANY negative situation, completely ignoring the aspects of personal safety from violence/assault/verbal abuse, cultural hierarchy, the marginalization of so many people, his own privilege, and the completely outdated views on sexuality and the dating world. Read with a grain of salt!!!
I remember reading The 5 Love Languages (original) several years ago and just loving the concept. I STILL love the concept. And I can absolutely see how using the 5 love languages within all different kinds of relationships and friendships can be very helpful in bringing people closer together and feeling loved.
That said, I expected FAR MORE from this 2019 updated edition. Dr. Chapman should absolutely have stuck with his original concept, and left his outdated, condemning, delusional and even dangerous devotional ideas in his church. Plus, he could use a VERY STRONG dose of social justice.
Let's start here. Repairing fractured relationships with people who are drug addicts, and have fallen back into their addictive behaviours, cannot simply be "fixed" by loving them harder. This is a very complex issue in which both parties need professional assistance, and should ultimately be done within the context of strict boundaries that provide safety above all else. Not acknowledging this within this topic is highly negligent. Further, suggesting that addicts will happily leave their addictions behind and become responsible, healed people simply by being loved by a family member may make those in these troubled relationships think that they are simply failing to love the other hard enough for them to heal. Gross.
Now the topic of sex: teaching that there are only two extremes: wanton, untethered, unsafe sluttyness with a vast number of unknown partners or waiting until you get married. Not only is this preposterous, it does not allow for discussion of healthy sexuality and/or healthy sexual behaviours. Further, Dr. Chapman twice mentions that sex before marriage is actually illegal (what?!?). It actually makes me sick that so many younger people are being taught this sort of nonsense, rather than being given ALL of their available options and allowing them to make their own decisions. In today's world, there is a wide range of sexual behaviour undertaken by all different sorts of people, much of it extremely loving and safe but outside the bounds of marriage. Get real!
Bringing up sexual assault and violence within relationships, the author actually recommends "fixing" these relationships and marriages too - instead of first insisting that the victim of these horrible crimes make themselves safe (or make an action plan to make themselves safe asap). One might think that the #metoo movement and more than 30 years of councelling would have enlightened this man into taking care of those that suffer the violence of power-desperate, narcissistic, manipulative perpetrators. Apparently not. He writes that this is simply the result of men not being able to control their urges.
Also, forcing a cis-gendered, hetero-normative viewpoint is extremely damaging to all of those who identify as someone other. Again, Dr. Chapman goes even further to note that arranged marriages within other cultures lead to long-lasting, happy spouses. He doesn't even grasp the culture within which he is living, so going out of his way to say things like this is so outlandish that I don't even know where to begin.
Yes, the concept of the 5 love languages is something that people of all kinds can use to better their relationships. Yes, there are all kinds of workplace, school, university, roommate, family, friend and dating relationships that could use more deep understanding. Yes, talking about things instead of assuming is great advice. Yes, the concept of considering the solidity of the foundation of any dating/intimate relationship prior to marriage is amazing advice.
BUT.... if you are not deeply Christian, male, affluent, cis-gendered, hetero-sexual and remaining a virgin until marriage, and possibly white, this book is at minimum insulting - and more realistically - dangerously lacking reasonable advice in so many cases. The author obviously writes from a place of extreme privilege as a white man in America with means, as well as dogged, blind faith to Christianity.
I picked this audiobook up because I was going to go and see Dr. Chapman talk on the 5 Love Languages at a local event this week. I thought that I would refresh my understanding of the fundamental concepts behind his work before going. Now, all that I want to do is get a refund on my ticket!!!
UPDATE: I didn’t refund my ticket and did attend Dr. Chapman’s speaking gig. He was funny, charming and delightful - and also everything that I called out above. He has done the world and so many people a great service by inventing both the 5 Love Languages, and the 5 Languages of Apology. That said, his public expression of these is one of deep faith that love can override ANY negative situation, completely ignoring the aspects of personal safety from violence/assault/verbal abuse, cultural hierarchy, the marginalization of so many people, his own privilege, and the completely outdated views on sexuality and the dating world. Read with a grain of salt!!!