Open

Love, Sex, and Life in an Open Marriage

By: Jenny Block

Narrated by: Lauren Weedman

Length: 6 hrs and 15 mins

Publisher's Summary

Finally, a book about open marriage that grapples with the problems surrounding monogamy and fidelity in an honest, heartfelt, and non-fringe manner. Jenny Block is your average girl next door, a suburban wife and mother for whom married life never felt quite right. While many books on this topic presuppose that the listener is ready to embrace an "alternative lifestyle", Block operates from the assumption that most couples who are curious about or engaged in open marriages are in fact more like her - normal people who question whether monogamy is right for them; good people who love their spouses but want variation; capable parents who are not deviant just because they choose to be honest about their desires. Open challenges our notions of what traditional marriage looks like, and presents one woman's journey down an uncertain path that ultimately proves open marriage is a viable option for her and others.

©2008 Jenny Block (P)2014 Audible, Inc.

"Open" inspires a new look at marriage

I know my wife loves me. I also know that our needs differ. This book offers a model of how Open Marriage can be enriching. It's inspiring in its normality. There are a few glitches with the recording -- the editor missed a few times where the narrator repeated a sentence. And there were some small issues in the reading that a good director would have improved. But those are just quibbles. Thank you for this wonderful book.

Better than expected

Usually "only from Audible" books are junk. I think it's different in this case - my understanding is that it's been a regular printed book, and I suppose it's only the audio format that is exclusive to Audible.

If you're curious about polyamory, or the topic comes up in your relationship, this is worth a listen. It's a talk of one woman's struggles in a marriage that she values highly, but doesn't find fulfilling in every area. She talks about her sexual past that led her up to this point, her struggles to balance her needs with modern expectations of what a marriage is, and what she and her husband tried and what they ultimately found worked for them.

I'm not very keen on the narrative approach of making her story into a few lines, in third person, giving it all at the beginning of the book, then having each section start with a line from that summary story.

This book mainly delves into one person's particular experience. There are many, many different kinds of polyamory. But it does a beautiful job of expressing that people don't need to feel bad about wanting something different, and that each person has to explore and experiment and find out what works for them, while highly valuing communication, trust and effort in their existing relationship(s).

I suspect some more traditional people may be turned off by her criticism of the institution of marriage, but she does have a point. I suggest "Sex at Dawn" for a more scientific work that has a different perspective, but ultimately makes the same point.

Very interesting concept for a relationship.

Overall very good audible product. Personally, but would have like a voice rate a bit slower, maybe 90% because 100% felt like it was rushing through and 75% was to slow to listen to.

Misleading

there were some good points but it seems the author was just writing about them selves and there thoughts of the subject . so the preface was very Misleading I felt it was very repetive and was struggling to fill the paiges

I appreciate the authenticity.

In a world were so many people are faking the funk, whether they are aware or not-- it is refreshing and inspiring to read about people living authentically.

Great

This is one of if not the best books on the topic.
It avoids the preachy tone many of the other books about open relationships have.

Book full of great insights!

This book has a lot of great info in it! I had been trying to find books that spoke to polyamory/open relationships and find a good source of that here. With hearing her different stories through life you get to know the gradual evolution she went through and the challenges that came up. Good read if you are also searching for more insight and understanding of this life style.
And the narrator did a great job as well. A few glitches with the audio from time to time but over all not distracting.

AMAZING story and retelling of what she went thru

Her story growing up paralleled my own and provided me great insight into my own life and with what I'm currently struggling. Just like someone else mentioned, the audio does repeat a few times.

very interesting!

I found this book to be very insightful and interesting. allot of the desires I have are communicated perfectly in this book.
5 stars!

Extremely enlightening.

Eye opening. my husband and I have been looking for help in the bedroom and came upon this book after several others. It really makes you think about your sexuality and your partners.

Dull

I gave up with the first 10 minutes …. That was too long, it just listening about someone not very interesting talking about themselves, I gave up.

Educational

Inspirational and got me thinking.
highly recommended for everyone regardless of your relationship orientation or belief.