The rough patch: an introduction -- A brief history of the midlife crisis -- Feeling close, in love and sex -- Marriage as a story -- Affairs, flirting, and fantasy: they're never about nothing -- Alcohol and other attempted escapes -- Money: the knife in the drawer -- Lovesickness and longing: putting them to use -- Body, health, and age: the stakes only get higher -- The empty nest: children, parents, and the turning of the generations -- Staying or leaving -- Love is a conversation

"A wise, radical, and optimistic approach to marriage, from a leading clinical psychologist who has counseled couples and individuals for decades"--Dust jacket

People today are trying to make their marriages work over longer lives than ever before-- but staying married isn't always easy. De Marneffe addresses key problems that challenge marriages, and explains the psychological, emotional, and relational capacities we must cultivate to overcome them as individuals and as couples