Review by Booklist Review
The famous attorney, four times unhitched himself, joins forces with a divorce counselor to produce a comprehensive manual on handling the disjunctive process both in and out of court. They've done the job very thoroughly, generally by alternating sections of psychological and legal advice. After each recounts his own experience as divorce, Krantzler gets the proceedings underway with a consideration of the ``basic realities'' to be faced in determining whether to save or scrap a marriage. Belli then opines about taking control of the legal aspects of divorce. Not surprisingly, Krantzler writes far more of the succeeding text than Belli, but neither rattles on; both are capable of point-by-point presentation and interrupt the prose stream with plenty of mostly no-nonsense subheadings. On account of its sheer bulk, this book at first seems to be overly talky; actually, it turns out to be-with the possible exception of a mundane chapter about ``Breaking Up in the Lives of the Rich and Famous''-both terse enough and personable enough to be comfortably helpful, businesslike but not coldly professional. No index. RO. 306.8'9 Divorce-U.S.-Psychological aspects / Divorce-Law and legislation-U.S. [OCLC] 87-38264
From Booklist, Copyright (c) American Library Association. Used with permission.
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Lawyer Belli and California psychologist Krantzler are both experienced in counseling people who confront the myriad problems of divorce. In the introduction to this minutely detailed guide, they tell how they themselves overcame the traumas of failed marriages (Belli's three, and the fourtha ``footnote''quickly annulled; Krantzler's one) and ultimately re-wed successfully. The authors seemingly cover all aspects of divorce, starting with suggestions for avoiding the breakup, if possible. There follows advice on financial arrangements, protecting children from the hurts and anxieties of separation, arranging custody, dealing with loneliness when suddenly single, etc. Belli and Krantzler emphasize that it is wrong to mistrust or back off from a promising relationship, but they caution readers to guard against possible hazardsphysical or mental abuse, incurable diseases like herpes and AIDScaused by intimacy with a new partner. The book is an excellent resource. 75,000 first printing; first serial to Cosmopolitan; author tour. (August) (c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
(c) Copyright PWxyz, LLC. All rights reserved
Review by Library Journal Review
Co-authored by a well-known therapist and an attorney, and hence covering all the legal and psychological aspects of the topic, this book is required reading for anyone contemplating a divorce. Belli draws on his own life experience as a four-time divorce and a divorce attorney as he guides the reader through the legal intricacies. Advice from therapist Krantzler, drawn from his earlier works on the divorce experience, helps normalize what for many seems a painfully idiosyncratic event. The vignettes of divorces of the rich and famous lend nothing to the rest of the book, but readers needing sound, well-written, and practical advice will find it here. John M. Haynes, Haynes Mediation Assoc., New York (c) Copyright 2010. Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
(c) Copyright Library Journals LLC, a wholly owned subsidiary of Media Source, Inc. No redistribution permitted.
Review by Kirkus Book Review
An examination of the psychological and legal aspects of divorce and how to prevent destructive emotions from hampering or overcomplicating the divorce process. Marriage and divorce counselor Krantzler (Creative Divorce, 1974) traces the rocky emotional journey that begins with the erosion of a marriage and goes on through the actual divorce and the adjustments required for life on one's own. He finds certain constants: shock, anger, guilt as the divorce process grinds to a conclusion (mourning for a ""dead marriage"" helps one work through these feelings); despair, detachment, and renewal as one adapts to single life and learns new dating customs and contemplates, perhaps even enters, a new marriage. Krantzler also advises on how to protect children from the fallout of divorce (their welfare should be primary, no matter how bitter the divorce). Lawyer Belli (Everybody's Guide to the Law, 1986) supplies alternating chapters that discuss the selection of the right lawyer; the costs of a divorce; the pros and cons of do-it-yourself divorces and divorce mediators; the protection of one's economic interests (ferreting out ""hidden"" assets, avoiding costly litigation over specific property items). He also advises on getting the best legal settlement for the children's welfare; avoiding custody battles; and assessing the value of prenuptial agreements when remarrying. Who could dispute that it's best to keep one's cool in order to get the optimal divorce settlement? Unfortunately, the sections on the emotional traumas of divorce interrelate only tenuously and tortuously with those useful ones dealing with the nuts and bolts of the legal process. Copyright ©Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Copyright (c) Kirkus Reviews, used with permission.
Review by Booklist Review
Review by Publisher's Weekly Review
Review by Library Journal Review
Review by Kirkus Book Review
