Committed

A Skeptic Makes Peace with Marriage

By: Elizabeth Gilbert

Narrated by: Elizabeth Gilbert

Length: 8 hrs and 30 mins

Publisher's summary

At the end of her best-selling memoir Eat, Pray, Love, Elizabeth Gilbert fell in love with Felipe, a Brazilian-born man of Australian citizenship who'd been living in Indonesia when they met. Resettling in America, the couple swore eternal fidelity to each other, but also swore to never, ever, under any circumstances get legally married. (Both were survivors of previous bad divorces. Enough said.)

But providence intervened one day in the form of the United States government, which - after unexpectedly detaining Felipe at an American border crossing - gave the couple a choice: they could either get married, or Felipe would never be allowed to enter the country again. Having been effectively sentenced to wed, Gilbert tackled her fears of marriage by delving into this topic completely, trying with all her might to discover through historical research, interviews, and much personal reflection what this stubbornly enduring old institution actually is.

Told with Gilbert's trademark wit, intelligence and compassion, Committed attempts to "turn on all the lights" when it comes to matrimony, frankly examining questions of compatibility, infatuation, fidelity, family tradition, social expectations, divorce risks, and humbling responsibilities. Gilbert's memoir is ultimately a clear-eyed celebration of love with all the complexity and consequence that real love, in the real world, actually entails.

©2010 Elizabeth Gilbert (P)2010 Penguin

Loved it.

It had Good humor, was well written and read. I liked the look at marriage in different cultures.

Not great

Unfortunately this is just overwritten- feels like it could have been half as long. The story meanders, but not in the pleasant way EPL did. This feels more like a cash grab - I finished it, but unenthusiastically.

Changed The Way I Looked At Marriage..Well written

This book was very close to home for me. I am a commitment phobia person my -self considering marriage to someone overseas. The story was well written, funny and it hit every concern a person needs to think about when marrying someone. The in depth exploration of different cultural perspectives on marriage geographically,historically and statistically was very helpful for me personally. I probably got more out of it than most due to my situation..but I believe that there would be less divorce if people would read this before getting married so that they understand what it means.

Wonderful to Listen to - laughed and cried

Any additional comments?

What a wonderful listen.

Feels like we are just sitting together and I am listening to her tell her story.

Fantastic Read

What I Loved: As a History Buff--I absolutely love that this is more of a history lesson on marriage (and all that encompasses. Ms. Gilbert did an amazing amount research on this topic all across the globe. She was non-judgmental and really kind of just presented the facts.

What I Liked: I listened to this on Audio book (just as I did Eat, Pray, Love) and I think it made me like the book more. Elizabeth reads her own book, so she is very good at conveying what she is feeling during the reading. This adds a whole layer to the book that I think might be missing in the print version.

Why I gave it a 4: This audio book was wonderful. I would recommend it to anyone who is curious about commitment and the history of it through out the world. I also love that at different points she was good at making sure that the reader also knows that there is a good amount of happiness in being single too. If you love history and personal stories then you will enjoy this (as long as the topic appeals to you).

wonderful

I loved the story line & International research of details to back up the main idea.

Great insights and a good narrative

Committed bills itself as a book about a skeptic making peace with marriage, but what's lost in that subtitle is the fascinating, in-depth look at the history of marriage and its role in both Eastern and Western societies and cultures. Gilbert is forced to marry her sweetheart if he is ever to be allowed back in the US, and this is the story of her research into the various meanings of marriage in an effort to somehow be okay with being married again. It's a personal, historical and cultural exploration of the ways people do and do not embrace the institution. Lots of fascinating details and you can't beat a story being told by its author.

The epitome of overthinking it.

A nice history of marriage but she really did some soul searching. I wonder if she'll write book 3 that discusses her recent divorce to Philippe.

Great book for anyone in a relationship!

This is a great book that everyone who's in a relationship should read or listen to. Gilbert gives great insights into marriage and relationships from all different cultures. More importantly, she goes into great detail on the sacrifices women who are married have had to go through for years.

She writes like your best friend.

Whether you are thinking about getting married or a newlywed or married for awhile, this book will speak to you like a best friend we all wish she could and would. You listen and think, along with a brilliant yet vulnerable woman, who is going through the same journey as you are going through, with all the confusion and conviction regarding marriage, without judgment but only deep understanding of humanity. I feel grateful at many levels to have listened to this book.