How to Be Married

What I Learned from Real Women on Five Continents About Surviving My First (Really Hard) Year of Marriage

De: Jo Piazza

Narrado por: Jo Piazza

Everyone tells you marriage is hard, but no one tells you what to do about it.

At age thirty-four, Jo Piazza got her romantic-comedy ending when she met the man of her dreams on a boat in the Galápagos Islands and was engaged three months later. But before long, Jo found herself riddled with questions. How do you make a marriage work in a world where you no longer need to be married? How does an independent, strong-willed feminist become someone’s partner—all the time?

In the tradition of writers such as Nora Ephron and Elizabeth Gilbert, award-winning journalist and nationally bestselling author Jo Piazza writes a provocative memoir of a real first year of marriage that will forever change the way we look at matrimony.

A travel editor constantly on the move, Jo journeys to twenty countries on five continents to figure out what modern marriage means. Throughout this stunning, funny, warm, and wise personal narrative, she gleans wisdom from matrilineal tribeswomen, French ladies who lunch, Orthodox Jewish moms, Swedish stay-at-home dads, polygamous warriors, and Dutch prostitutes.

Written with refreshing candor, elegant prose, astute reporting, and hilarious insight into the human psyche, How to Be Married offers an honest portrait of an utterly charming couple. When life throws more at them than they ever expected—a terrifying health diagnosis, sick parents to care for, unemployment—they ultimately create a fresh understanding of what it means to be equal partners during the good and bad times.

Through their journey, they reveal a framework that will help the rest of us keep our marriages strong, from engagement into the newlywed years and beyond.

Enjoyable read about marriage from others

What did you love best about How to Be Married?

The stories from other women around the world.

What did you like best about this story?

Her candidness.

Have you listened to any of Jo Piazza’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

I haven't.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

It made me think, laugh, and change my ways a little bit.

Any additional comments?

Most candid book there is on marriage. I'm fascinated by other cultures around the world. I appreciate the different perspectives and insights about marriages from the research collected. The author really felt like a best friend when I heard the audiobook, she didn't hold back.

Must Read for Married (or soon-to-be) People.

This book is full of insightful tidbits. It left me feeling solidarity with all married people for the real, hard, wonderful and imperfection of marriage.

Loved it!

Great book for marriage and relationships. Highly recommend for anyone who wants a quick easy listening.

Loved it!

I’m a newly wed and listened while wedding planning. I loved the outlook on relationships/marriage in other countries. Lots of good advice for life in general! Easy and fast listen.

anthropology and journalism

I loved Jo's writing style. I found her relatable while still inspiring. I appreciated her frankness on the topic.