• The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning

  • By: Simcha Fisher
  • Narrated by: Simcha Fisher
  • Length: 2 hrs and 48 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (107 ratings)

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The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning  By  cover art

The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning

By: Simcha Fisher
Narrated by: Simcha Fisher
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Publisher's summary

So, you've decided to use Natural Family Planning.

Has it blessed your marriage? Deepened your respect for your body? Has it made your sex life fantastic?

Do you and your spouse hold hands at sunset, and do pink flowers grow around your marital bed?

If so, this book is not for you.

But if you've tried Natural Family Planning and have discovered that your life is now awful - or if you feel judged or judgey, or if you trust NFP but your doctor doesn't, or if just you're trying to figure out how the heck to have a sex life that is holy but still human - you'll find comfort, encouragement, honesty, wit, and, most importantly, practical advice in The Sinner's Guide to NFP.

In a series of funny, frank, and profound essays, popular Catholic blogger and mother of nine Simcha Fisher shows what it's really like to practice NFP, and how to achieve those fabled "marriage building" benefits.

The Sinner's Guide to NFP helps you with:

  • NFP and your spiritual life
  • NFP and the rest of the world
  • NFP in the trenches

An easy and lively read, thoroughly grounded in orthodox Catholic theology, this book is packed with refreshingly frank insights about sex, love, and marriage. The next time you ask yourself, "If NFP is wonderful, why am I so miserable?" - don't panic. The Sinner's Guide to NFP is here to help.

©2013 Simcha Fisher (P)2013 Audible, Inc.
  • Unabridged Audiobook
  • Categories: Erotica

What listeners say about The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning

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  • Overall
    5 out of 5 stars
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    5 out of 5 stars

Irresistible Even If You Completely Disagree

I am completely in love with Simcha Fisher's writing and spirit, even though we couldn't be farther apart in politics or birth control habits!

I was raised Irish Catholic, and my mother, born in 1925, was the first not to die in childbirth in her maternal line. She and I both embraced feminism, atheism, and contraception! -- but we also learned to think like Jesuit intellectuals, and that never leaves you.

Simcha's honesty, self deprivation, humor, and bravery working within her religious framework speak to me on a metaphorical level that I couldn't resist. I approached her, as an editor, after reading her blog, and virtually BEGGED her to write a book, offering to edit it. You are now listening to the result! I think this is one of the most original works I've ever edited.

Anybody looking for a best girlfriend to guide them through the tears, rigors, and rewards of the only Church-sanctioned birth control method has come to the right place. And anyone, like myself, who appreciates great writing and warm humor can stay too. But more than that, if you've ever been in a relationship where you made a SACRIFICE....hello, everyone... then this book will speak to you in ways you don't expect.

As the exec producer on this title, I auditioned so many people to read it and NONE of them were right. I kept thinking, "how can I get Simcha to read this when she has nine children to take care of, many of them in short pants?" The answer is: babysitting.

So here you have it: my favorite new author and narrator. I want to thank her whole family for being so supportive because it is worth every minute!

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5 people found this helpful

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Best marriage/sexuality/spirituality book I've read

This book is so honest and real, and so far from the overly tense and legalistic treatments I've seen of this topic. Though I'm a man, this book nailed the male perspective better than any book by a male author I have read, and was utterly eye-opening about the female perspective. You can tell immediately that the author is deeply familiar with both the hearts of women, men, and has a heart that is both in love and in touch with the Lord. Beyond five stars for this book, (and I'm the type who usually gives four stars to even stuff I love.). Amazingly, despite being a book largely about NFP, I think this book would be wonderful for any marriage no matter how their spacing their pregnancies. No one will feel pushed toward NFP by this, they will only feel inspired to grow, love better, and follow the Lord more truly.

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1 person found this helpful

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A Must Read for Catholics Using or Considering NFP

I have been using NFP for several years and after many trials faced have been ready to give up. This book has given me encouragement, insight and resources to be willing to continue.
I wish I would have read it at the beginning of my NFP journey, and I believe this book should be recommended to Catholic couples at the start of their commitment. It is true that most of the teachings out there on NFP focus on the (real!) positive aspects of the method; and I feel that glossing over the real challenges makes couples unprepared to face the true nature of NFP. Couples who face challenges can then feel like they are failing. And because sexuality is such a sensitive and personal topic, they may not realize that their trials are normal and that there are ways to better their experience.
Simcha Fisher has gifted us with a brilliant, thought-provoking, heart-opening - and funny - contribution to the conversation on NFP. Don't miss it!

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Honesty, courage and faith of the Author

If you could sum up The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning in three words, what would they be?

Excellent Guide for Families

What did you like best about this story?

Sens of humor

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

No

What did you learn from The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning that you would use in your daily life?

Reconfirmed that there is a gift in the challenge

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Far better than I expected

If you could sum up The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning in three words, what would they be?

Friendly, Practical, Helpful

What other book might you compare The Sinner's Guide to Natural Family Planning to and why?

I wouldn't compare it. That is the point. This is in a class all of its own and badly needed.

Which character – as performed by Simcha Fisher – was your favorite?

Herself.

Was this a book you wanted to listen to all in one sitting?

Yes. And more or less did. I felt like we were having coffee together.

Any additional comments?

This is a truly excellent offering from Simcha. I am naturally predisposed to disliking Simcha. I respect her, I enjoy her wit, I appreciate that she tackles tough topics but I also feel that she too often borders on the vulgar, the crass, the disrespectful and the banal. She simply is not my style. I don't object to her morally or socially but I also don't feel terribly uplifted or inspired by her writing either. This offering must be said to be the very best of her. She takes an incredibly difficult, often misunderstood and certainly uncomfortable topic and walks it out with the warmth, respect and skill of a venerable old mentor. She exudes understanding, respect, friendliness, joy and authenticity. My expectations were utterly outdone and I am so glad to have this in my library!

What I love about this book is that it is neither prudish nor vulgar. It is funny. Warm. Informative. Inspirational. Practical. Packed full of understanding. She *does* say things that are as old as Adam and Eve but does so in a way that feels incredibly new, fresh and authentic. I particularly appreciate how PG this book is. I feel not only comfortable but compelled to give it to every bride at her bridal shower. There is nothing scandalous in here and her approach to explaining NFP is really what NFP is all about - communication between partners centered on genuine love and respect.

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    2 out of 5 stars
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Earnest but absurd

I’m a Protestant woman married to a wonderfully devoted Catholic. I can appreciate many aspects of NFP, but the longer I’m married the more I feel burdened by a web of ridiculous rules that are in effect no different from, say, a condom—except in how complicated they are. The author bends over backwards to see the sunny side. She earnestly believes in the goodness & inerrancy of Church teachings on contraceptives, & she twists herself into pretzels (kind, well-intentioned ones) trying to make moral sense of its implications.

The author emphasizes the opportunity NFP presents for self-sacrifice on both sides & chooses to see this as a gift. If I were Catholic, I guess I’d have to focus on that aspect too. Do I believe that charting can help a couple grow & become stronger as a unit? Sure. But so would cancer. In drawing a roadmap for how not to lose your mind while practicing this method of contraception (because yes, that’s what it is), she has instead convinced me that NFP is simply martyrdom & is far from a good use of a marriage’s energy.

The corny, let’s-keep-it-light tone of the book—which I guess is supposed to sound like candor?—also made me cringe. The vocal delivery didn’t help.

I wish I’d skipped this.

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    5 out of 5 stars
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Totally relatable and entertaining!

Mrs. Fisher encapsulated the hilarious and realistic ways of natural family planning. As a mother of four, and counting, it gives me great relief to know that I am not alone. God definitely has a sense of humor, especially when it comes to our humanity and sexuality. What God never lacks, is love always. I couldn’t help but speak out loud, saying “Yep that’s totally right” or laughing and sharing what I read with my fellow Catholic sisters. Definitely going to reread and share!

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Just what I needed

This painfully honest book spoke to my heart. I am looking forward to listening to it again with my husband!

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Easy listen and enlightening

This was a great insight into NFP and how everyone’s experience or reasoning is unique. I appreciated the performance narration and it kept me engaged and laughing. I plan to listen to this once more, especially the last few chapters!

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must read for NFP users

I loved the way this author put difficulties one faces with NFP into perspective with her witty humor yet unapologetic truth. She also captures the beauty of it all and really dives into both the woman AND man's side of things.

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