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

Headline

I enjoyed the book a lot I was hoping however that it would be more about your relationship than the history of marriage but still I love the way you write

A magnificent read

This book is so beautifully crafted as well as moving, funny (duh) and utterly fascinating. It’s also thought provoking and quite deep. Everyone, whether married or contemplating it, can benefit from its wisdom and emotional truth.

Love and Liz

Another book by one if my favorite authors and also read by her, making it even more of a literarily delectable experience. The topic, so relevant for so many....going to choose this one for our next mother-daughter book club! Thanks again to you, Liz 💖

I loved it

I loved it, beautifully written and beautifully read. A wonderful memoir that along the way shares insightful notes on what marriage looks like in different parts of the world, and has looked like in the past. I looked forward to listening to every chapter and Liz reads it so well.

Fantastic!

Pay attention to the delivery in this book, she's really accomplished the forest for the trees here.

Solid, Entertaining and Useful guide for couples

Really appreciated her first book. Was surprised at her maturity, research, integration and style in this one. And the ending holds a surprise in the understanding of Marriage for all who are cautious about entering into this sometimes scary agreement. Highly Recommended. Did I mention she reads as well as she writes? Very easy to follow and a delight to take in.

Deep dive into the institution of marriage

Highly recommended to anyone with ambivalence or skepticism about marriage.

I love the author's voice. I felt cozy around the proverbial campfire.

Great book

Love this book, love Elizabeth's narrative, and learned a lot about marriages culture all over the world. Interesting matter.

Good

I think a lot of people get married because they fear it means something negative if they do not. I wish Gilbert would have researched & discussed this aspect.

Great Listen!

I've read a lot of negative reviews of Committed, but I really enjoyed Eat, Pray, Love so I thought I'd give it a try. Elizabeth Gilbert is a great narrator, and I almost felt like she was talking to me. I really liked the way she described the history of marriage. Although she says the book is about marriage is western civilization, she also has a lot of anecdotal information about marriage in non-western cultures.