"Keeping Score" by Marc Brackett describes itself as “a common sense approach to relationship evaluation” with a bit of math thrown in. The author makes the valid point that a relationship is like a garden - things are going to grow and change in it. Some elements may bloom and bear fruit while others might wither. There is a constant need to reevaluate any relationship, before those damaging ruts get slipped into. This is an interesting and helpful book whether you are married, in a steady relationship or single and dating. It really is for any adult and ties in with a website with free evaluation forms that you fill in and then you use the score key at the end of the book to see how you shape up relationship-wise. Honest evaluations are essential to get the best out of this well-thought-out little book.

The book is divided into sections for Adam and Eve, i.e., men and women. There are slightly different sets of questions aimed at each gender. Brackett uses euphemistic headings for the subsections of the book - ‘castle versus cave’ when looking at financial matters within the relationship, and ‘handle with care’ when dealing with intimacy, for example. This lends a light touch that keeps the tone from getting too serious. Women assess their partners on financial matters, feeling loved, and common interests while the men assess the women on appearance, attitudes to finance, nurture and loyalty, and then again on common interests. At the end the author evaluates the various factors and rates them as granite, steel, plastic and tin foil, according to how much they can be bent or altered. The book is a mine of practical advice and achievable aims.

"Keeping Score" is a great way to assess your relationship. I highly recommend reading this book and taking the quiz before marriage. It is an excellent tool for evaluating the true basis of a relationship. When we are first involved in relationships usually we respond with our emotions. This book/quiz is based on common sense rather than emotion. Brackett says the quiz utilizes a math format. It is obvious the author spent much time researching the topic and drew from his own personal experiences and the experiences of acquaintances in creating this book. The author also refers the reader to his website for more information. This book would actually work well for other forms of adult relationships as well. After all, relationships are needed and yet are extremely intricate and challenging to maintain. Marc Brackett was inspired to write this book after talking with a friend who had recently attended the wedding of his ex-wife. The friend shared the emotional, physical and spiritual burden the divorce had caused him.

"Keeping Score" is a unique relationship book. The basis of this book is two relationship quizzes, one for males and the other for females. The questions are divided into several categories. Each category deals with a different aspect of a relationship. The categories run the gambit from finance, trust, affection and career goals. The questions for the males are not the same as for the females, which makes sense when you consider the different needs of men and women. The purpose of this book is to assist the reader to become aware of their partner’s needs. This unique relationship book will make a great addition to a public library, church library, relationship counselor’s library or for the individual.

Relationships are very complex, no doubt about it. Sometimes people need something to help them analyze where they are and use that information to redirect. Using the book and the online question and answer worksheet, the reader answers questions to come up with a total score. Using this score, they are able to see where they are in the scheme of things. The book is easy to read as is the worksheet. This combination is good for everyone, regardless of their relationship status. There are many good points made throughout about a plethora of subjects. Life is difficult, to say the least. This book helps us take the stress off of some of the choices we have to make.

The author is very knowledgeable on the subject matter. While I felt that some of it was subjective, I chose to realize that we all cannot agree on everything and filtered through the things that were relevant to me. The checklist is an interesting, informative tool that might be an eye opener when you get to the end to find your score. This book and its related worksheet would be an ideal addition in any library (although you would need the printed version of the worksheet of course), counseling center and/or personal library collection. It would be interesting to go back through it after a period of time and see if the answers are different. Change is a good thing and those who help us see the changes we need are really providing a great service to us.

I have often heard the old saying, “if it isn’t broke, don’t fix it.” This does not apply to marriage. Too often we become comfortable in our relationships and overlook or deny the problems staring us in the face. Only something desperate wakes us up to the true state of our relationships. Marc Brackett has penned a book on relationships. "Keeping Score: A Guide to Love and Relationships" is a cross between a workbook and a test. Brackett refers the reader to his website for score sheets. On the website the reader will find the author’s blog, bio and other information pertaining to relationships. Brackett explains how the idea for this book was formulated. A friend of his attended his ex-wife's wedding repeating the vows she had previously sworn to him. The conversation between the two men led to examining the author’s marriage and that of friends. The discussion and much research led to this book. In "Keeping Score" the reader will find a rational attitude toward assessing a relationship. The author is correct in his belief that often we make relationship decisions based on sentiments, moods, and intuitions rather than using common sense. We have only to consider the divorce rate to realize there is a problem. Brackett begins with the basics: love. He defines the term and discusses how it fits into a relationship. He also defines a relationship as a “collection of experiences, sensations, and interactions between two people that are both positive and negative.”

"Keeping Score" assists readers in examining their relationships. The book is divided into a section for males and one for females. The questions in each section are “unique for that gender.” There is also a section that is “identical for both partners.” The questions are simple and easy to understand. I am sure the reader should be able to answer the questions. There is also a section that will assist the reader in interpreting their score. The questions are related to various topics such as financial issues, in laws, children, beliefs, education, affection, trust, and sense of humor. Marc Brackett combines humor with common sense in "Keeping Score". This is not your run of the mill, same old approach to relationships. I enjoyed the quotes strewn throughout the book as they add wisdom and humor to the text. Brackett’s approach to relationships is unique. I highly recommend this book.