You Are the One You've Been Waiting For

You Are the One You've Been Waiting For by Richard C. Schwartz

When I passed this book on the shelf, I admit the title first reminded me of the hit dating show If You Are the One, popular on SBS in the 2000s. Whilst I doubt this was Richard’s intention, especially as he is American, it did prompt me to read this book.

If you think self‑help books are too divorced from reality, and the advice they give to “love yourself” is too vague, then this book might be for you. What I liked about this book is that Richard Schwartz gives anonymised anecdotes of his successes with clients as a psychologist. The focus in these sessions is relationship counselling, both with the couple together and individually. The points and examples he uses are very easy to understand, and they show a deep understanding of why people in relationships experience conflict.

However, what I did not like is his highly metaphorical and symbolic writing style. Descriptions of doors inside you that want to be opened, and of inner children wanting to be heard, are abundant and frequent. Further, these anecdotes are solely heterosexual, which is acknowledged at the end of the book.

Overall, I did enjoy reading the book. It was engaging as a dialogue, and the key ideas were expressed in a way that I think is accessible.

Find You Are the One You've Been Waiting For by Richard C. Schwartz

Blake