This is a short, easy read. It doesn't contain any new or groundbreaking information, but I do like the zimzum metaphor and how the authors apply it to marriage. It reminds me a lot of Rob Bell's Nooma videos- short, to the point, but enough "meat" there to make you think. While the author does quote scripture and refer to Christian ideas, this isn't a traditional "Christian" marriage book. Besides the fact that the authors specifically state that the book is for all married couples, straight or gay, there is no discussion of "traditional" gender marriage roles. Instead, they talk about "the space between" the two spouses, and ways to keep that space healthy.

All in all, a great read!

Beautiful perspective of the energy within a marriage relationship. Thankful for this book.

3.7

Meh...

A short book worth spending time with, but not a book that’s likely to make a lasting impression. More than anything it’s an excuse to share a common experience with your spouse.

Favorite quote: "When you are both intentional about moving toward the other in love, over time you build up tremendous reserves of love and grace and goodwill. Love - with spark and substance and sacrifice all together - is a cumulative phenomenon. It builds on itself, it gains a head of steam, it grows in depth and breadth and intensity. This propels you into an entirely different way of relating to each other - another kind of life altogether."

Is 2.5 stars possible? In keeping with the Goodreads rating system, I place it somewhere around "It was OK."

I wish it was longer and more fleshed out. Great points, but yeah, I wish there was more substance to the book. Favorite part was the explanation of the Trinity and God as an active movement

Sometimes, I think I should just throw my money at Rob Bell.

His books never fail to make me think, make me cry, and make me learn a little more about myself and the world.

The Zimzum of Love is no exception. Written with his wife, Kristen, we learn about their relationship and also about the importance of the primary relationship in their lives - and in our own as well. That of marriage. Bell doesn't delve into WHAT marriage is or even really the religious ceremony itself. What they are really talking about is the partnership and relationship aspects of marriage.

And the book is easily accessible and easily read. While the concepts may be easy to understand, putting them into practice is much more difficult.

This may be my new wedding gift for people. :)

This read more like the transcript of an interview than a book--not what I was expecting, but I liked it. I also liked that it was short (read it cover to cover in just a couple of hours in between household chores). Normally books on marriage, self-help, etc. tend to go on longer than necessary. It was refreshing to see one that got to the point and then let it go. I wouldn't wholeheartedly agree with absolutely everything the authors said, but it gave my husband and I several things to talk about and challenged us in a fun way. I would recommend this to people who are looking for a discussion generating marriage book that won't take a lot of time or emotional energy but I would not recommend it for those who can't take the good and leave the not-so-good without over-analyzing.