The Secrets of Successful Relationships : A quick and easy read on romantic relationships. There are some good ideas and lots of food for thought. But it sticks mainly to the mainstream and doesn't include the problems that can occur such as abuse or narcissism which require a totally different approach. Some of the exercises which include making yourself very open and vulnerable may put you at high risk in a problem relationship. Some exercises were a little bit cringe worthy to me, but that is probably just me. Overall a good insightful book that will provide lots of general help and guidance.

There are so many book out there that discussing about relationship but a few that success to bring the secrets of meaningful relationships. This book, from the School of Life, is a few that is so good to read for you. For me personally, especially the part of Good Listening. I recommend you to read this book.

For relationships between healthy adults, whether they are business, friendship, or romantic, there is a lot to offer here in the way of attachment and communication styles...Social Psych 101. However, if someone is in a relationship with an abuser or narcissist, someone who does not relate in healthy ways, there is a lot of advice here that will only hurt the person trying to save the relationship. This could be something good for teens to read before going into their first relationships, but they need to be aware of what red flags and unhealthy behaviors look like as well.

I have watched a lot of The School of Life Youtube videos. They are always clear and interesting and the information can be a lot to process, so I really like the book formats such as the book about Parents that combine all the wisdom in book format that can easily be picked up and perused at leisure. The book contains a lot to think about when embarking on a relationship and can help you see unhelpful patterns of behaviour and gives you ideas about how to communicate better in relationships. I think the advice could apply just as well to platonic, familial or business relationships as romantic ones. The basic takeaways seem to be to endeavour to totally be yourself ( with all your glorious idiosyncrasies from the outset) never mask who you really are as you are "enough" despite how others have made or continue to make you feel and to strive to communicate better so that people are clear that if you seem, for example, annoyed with them that perhaps you are more angry and stressed about your own reaction to a situation than them. There is a lot to ruminate on. I have to say that I didn't always agree with some of the advice. For example, they suggest that a couple sets aside a time every week where one of you can vent all your frustrations with the other and explain how certain behaviours make you feel and maybe why ( the origin being usually parents, school, etc) and the other person in the relationship listens without comment and learns how to adapt. I actually think this is bad advice if you are in any sort of coercive or emotionally abusive relationship, especially one with a narcissist. It would seem to give the abuser carte blanche to vent and demand standards of behaviour and care that no one could ever hope to achieve. Similar to how some couples counselling starts with the assumption that each person is 50% responsible for the relationship issues and the abused partner can come away with a list of things to do to enable their abuser in the guise of supoorting and repairing the relationship. That said, I still think the book is great. I wish I had read something like this when I first started having relationships, it may have given me more confidence to just be myself rather than trying to people please or always anticipate and service others desires and preferences rather than my own.

A great introductory and reflexive guide about relationships.
As described in the marketing summaries, the relationships that this book cover are romantic relationships, but as in many other School of Life (SoL) books, the book delves into other areas of life, our pasts and other relationships to offer a wholesome understanding of our psyches.
The writing style and the organisation of the book are clear and approachable, as usually expected from an SoL book. I always enjoy their prose.
My favourite parts were the exercises: the questions to ask yourself and the paragraphs (they occur in all chapters and subchapters) about acceptance and self-reflection.

For other types of relationships (with your family and friends) are covered in other SoL books already.
Personally, I requested The Secrets of Successful Relationships because I like their books.
I must say I do not see eye to eye with the theories in this book at all times, but this is a wonderful intro to self-awareness, therapy and relationships who wish to specifically learn more on those topics.