Love Secrets with Barbara De Angelis, Ph.D.

Cars and computers come with manuals, but what are the standard operating procedures for love? Barbara De Angelis, psychotherapist and best-selling author of several self-help books on relationships and self-improvement, boldly claims that her Love Secrets will act as a love manual, and after listening to her sound advice on how to avoid sabotaging a relationship, her claim doesn't seem so audacious. While the presentation itself isn't the selling point here--it's mostly De Angelis talking to a live audience--she shares her advice with the ease and conviction of a seasoned professional who's been listening to men and women complain for years. Although I was prepared for some all-to-familiar sexual stereotyping (and I still might quibble with some of her generalizations), De Angelis' spiel hits the target so often it's hard to complain, as she shares her advice in the form of “secrets” (a clever strategy since it has the effect of both simplifying love's conundrums and championing its mystery at the same time). Between dispensing secrets, she articulately discusses the behavioral, emotional, and conversational patterns of men and women. Underscoring her belief that couples can rekindle their romance by promoting a regimen of thoughtfulness, intimacy and attention, she recommends, for example, a “Love Diet” to satisfy your mate's emotional “nutrition” needs--three courses a day of attention, affection, and appreciation along with a few extra “Love Snacks” of kisses, hugs, and loving looks. Simplistic? Maybe so…but it's no small feat to create an intelligent self-help guide on the subject of love and this is about as good as it gets. Highly recommended. Editor's Choice. Aud: P. (A. Cantú)