About the Book
This title is just about everything most of us have learned about how to find love is wrong. That's the premise of "The Selfish Path to Romance". Love is not about sacrifice. Real, lasting romance comes when you are certain about your self, your needs, and your worth. Authors Dr Edwin Locke and Dr Ellen Kenner are inspired by the work of philosopher and novelist Ayn Rand. Their book explores Ayn Rand's belief that the assertion of your own needs and values is the foundation of love. This book offers a no-nonsense, rational alternative for those who are serious about finding and sustaining a lifetime romance.
About the Author :
Ellen Kenner, a clinical psychologist in private practice, is the host of a nationally syndicated radio talk show, The Rational Basis of HappinessA(r) (ranked in the top 250 national shows by Talkers magazine). Her show, heard on over sixty stations coast to coast, is in its fourteenth year. It features listeners who call her with questions related to romance and other personal problems. She has appeared as a guest on radio and television. Dr. Kenner has studied Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism for over thirty years. Edwin A. Locke is Dean's Professor of Leadership and Motivation Emeritus at the R.H. Smith School of Business, University of Maryland. He has published over 280 books, chapters, articles, reviews, and notes and is internationally known for his research on motivation, job satisfaction, leadership, and other topics. For many years he has promoted the application Ayn Rand's philosophy of Objectivism in the social sciences."
Review :
From ForeWord Reviews
""The Selfish Path to Romance" has arrived just in time for Valentine's Day. Based on the Objectivist philosophy of Ayn Rand, this manual instructs the reader on how to build and preserve a mutually fulfilling sexual relationship with the romance equation boiled down to a point-by-point, easy-to-understand workbook, complete with intellectual exercises at the end of each chapter. The authors explore the importance of self-love in this concise text that breaks down the method of seeking a 'soul mate.' They believe that achieving romance involves negotiation, as well as nurturing, between respectful individuals exhibiting self-esteem and common sense.
"Divided into six parts, this intriguing book begins by defining romantic love as a positive experience built on egoism (i.e., there must be something in it for both parties or it won't work), but eliminates altruism and narcissism as stereotypically bad courses of action. Making yourself appealing to a potential mate is addressed at length, along with choosing an appropriate partner and making the correlation thrive. A section devoted exclusively to sex precedes the final segment on resolving conflict. Included is an appendix on the termination of a relationship in the event of irreconcilable differences.... True love, according to these experts, is not an accident, nor is it mystical. It is a rational interaction between two people that can be learned."
Though Locke (Handbook of Principles of Organizational Behavior) and Kenner base their latest on controversial Objectivist Ayn Rand, their text actually adheres to a simple self-help premise: honest introspection, truly knowing oneself, will lead to rewarding romantic relationships. The authors use countless case studies of challenged relationships to illustrate healthy approaches to problem solving and boundary setting. Maintaining that "the principle of self-sacrifice destroys relationships," they invoke their own clinical experience to offer guidelines for developing self-esteem. Despite the Randian platform, this effort is actually a compendium of oft-repeated advice ranging from "Replace Anger with Positives" to finding the right partner. Acknowledging that relationships need work to thrive, the authors offer tips on resolving the inevitable conflicts of any relationship. Though Locke and Kenner offer little new in their first collaboration, their breezy style and comprehensive approach will likely draw new readers. (Feb.)
Cevin Bryerman, Publishers Weekly, April 18, 2011
From ForeWord Reviews
""The Selfish Path to Romance" has arrived just in time for Valentine's Day. Based on the Objectivist philosophy of Ayn Rand, this manual instructs the reader on how to build and preserve a mutually fulfilling sexual relationship with the romance equation boiled down to a point-by-point, easy-to-understand workbook, complete with intellectual exercises at the end of each chapter. The authors explore the importance of self-love in this concise text that breaks down the method of seeking a 'soul mate.' They believe that achieving romance involves negotiation, as well as nurturing, between respectful individuals exhibiting self-esteem and common sense.
"Divided into six parts, this intriguing book begins by defining romantic love as a positive experience built on egoism (i.e., there must be something in it for both parties or it won't work), but eliminates altruism and narcissism as stereotypically bad courses of action. Making yourself appealing to a potential mate is addressed at length, along with choosing an appropriate partner and making the correlation thrive. A section devoted exclusively to sex precedes the final segment on resolving conflict. Included is an appendix on the termination of a relationship in the event of irreconcilable differences.... True love, according to these experts, is not an accident, nor is it mystical. It is a rational interaction between two people that can be learned."
Though Locke (Handbook of Principles of Organizational Behavior) and Kenner base their latest on controversial Objectivist Ayn Rand, their text actually adheres to a simple self-help premise: honest introspection, truly knowing oneself, will lead to rewarding romantic relationships. The authors use countless case studies of challenged relationships to illustrate healthy approaches to problem solving and boundary setting. Maintaining that "the principle of self-sacrifice destroys relationships," they invoke their own clinical experience to offer guidelines for developing self-esteem. Despite the Randian platform, this effort is actually a compendium of oft-repeated advice ranging from "Replace Anger with Positives" to finding the right partner. Acknowledging that relationships need work to thrive, the authors offer tips on resolving the inevitable conflicts of any relationship. Though Locke and Kenner offer little new in their first collaboration, their breezy style and comprehensive approach will likely draw new readers. (Feb.)
Cevin Bryerman, Publishers Weekly, April 18, 2011
