Toxic In-Laws: Loving Strategies for Protecting Your Marriage

by Susan Forward

Book Overview

From Susan Forward, Ph.D., the New York Times bestselling author of Toxic Parents and Men Who Hate Women and the Women Who Love Them , comes a practical and powerful book that will help couples cope with terrible and toxic in-laws. Toxic in-laws are in-laws who create genuine chaos through various assaults--aggressive or subtle--on you and your marriage. Toxic in-laws come in a wide variety of guises: "The Critics," who tell you what you're doing...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0060196815
• ISBN13: 9780060196813
• Release Date: October 2001
• Publisher: Harper
• Length: 304 Pages
• Weight: 1.25 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.0" x 6.1" x 9.3"

Customer Reviews

A great deal of help!

If you have a husband you don't understand and a mother in law you'd like to take out (and we aren't talking dinner) this book will do a great deal for you. It's very helpful in understanding the cycle of mental abuse your spouse has endured and why they simply cannot see things in the same light as you. It gives good advice on how to set your own boundaries and when to let things go. Certainly worth buying, especially if your marriage is in trouble b/c of a nasty inlaw.

Helped me diffuse my angry feelings

Let me begin by saying there isn't a book by Susan Forward that isn't very helpful in making you understand what the problem really is and how to make it better. Her book on verbal abuse was so excellent. I think I have read ALL of her books. What makes this book great is that she gives numerous examples of different couples and their in-law problems so there is a very good probability you will find your specific problem in the book. The strategies given are ones you may not have even considered in your frustration of dealing with your obnoxious self centered in law(s). I was very angry before I read this, now I'm just mildly amused. I won't be controlled with my own resentments/emotions any more. Susan will help you understand their ... little world of either not being able to "share" the love, or whatever unresolved mess is in their minds, so you wont/dont take it personally.

Excellent Book!

This book gives specific methods and language for improving in-law relations. It gave me the confidence I needed to assert my rights in a calm manner. I read and reread it and finally tailored an appropriate "speech." I was pleasantly surprised by my husband's reaction, which was far more supportive than I expected. Frazier also helped me accept that some problems can't be solved, but can be managed. Her wealth of client experiences covers nearly every in-law problem imaginable and made me realize my in-law "challenges" could be much worse. After I ordered the book and before it arrived, I was so frustrated and upset. Each day, I would find some comfort by telling myself "Help is on it's way." I was not disappointed.

Another Winner for Susan Forward

Toxic In-Laws is another winner for Susan Forward, PhD. This book takes the problems she addressed in "Toxic People" and "Toxic Parents" to a new level. She explores how particularly destructive a toxic in-law can be to a marriage. I shared this book with my husband to back-up what I've been saying for years, i.e. it is something that we have to deal with or it will destroy us. We have to remember that whenever we have an argument about her, she wins. Whenever we can work together, stand united, and place each other first, we win. Thanks to Susan Forward, PhD., I have a perspective on the situation I didn't have before and some tools to use when problems arise. I highly recommend this book.

Great!

This book is great! It's written objectively enough that I think you could share it with a spouse who has an unhealthy relationship with his/her parent. Some of the other books I read were so "over the top" that my husband would have never taken them seriously. I found the book very helpful with many good "how to's" rather than just a bunch of stuff telling you how horrible being in this situation can be. The little stories about how other couples dealt with this situation were also very helpful. If you're doubting yourself or how devistating this type of relationship can be to YOU - read this book.