The Selfish Path to Romance: How to Love with Passion and Reason, Inspired by the Ideas of Ayn Rand

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.)