The Truth About Cheating

Two hundred cheaters and non-cheaters who participated in the author's study gave surprising answers to questions about their marriages and affairs. Among the cheaters, dissatisfaction with the emotional aspects of their marriages--and the resulting feelings of isolation, disapproval, criticism, and lack of appreciation and thoughtfulness--were far stronger than complaints about sex, communication, or physical attractiveness. The author follows these fascinating results with warmly framed recommendations for both spouses to minimize the likelihood that husbands will stray. Jonathan Davis's performance is thick with drama and gravitas, even when the material shifts from exposé to optimistic insights and suggestions. His reading of case studies and the statements of participants also sounds affected--but not enough to keep this marriage advice audio from being accessible and helpful. T.W. (c) AudioFile 2010, Portland, Maine

July 14, 2008
Neuman (Emotional Infidelity
) attempts to arm wives with the tools to prevent their husbands from cheating by drawing upon questionnaires and interviews with 100 men who reported sexual affairs. According to the author's research, sexual dissatisfaction within their marriages rated fourth and emotional dissatisfaction first as reasons given for straying. Neuman notes that only “12% of cheating men said that the mistress was more physically attractive than their wives,” thereby reinforcing findings that men were missing an emotional connection in their marriages (whether this is intended to serve as comfort to their wives is unclear). Neuman introduces “The Innervoice Recognition Formula” and “Quick Action Program,” challenging women to revise assumptions about marriage, make immediate behavioral changes and forge new bonds with their husbands, thereby deterring future dalliances. While some wives might find this book helpful, it is perhaps more likely that readers will wish that the author had devoted more time to holding the cheating husband responsible for his actions rather than putting the onus on wives to take preventive—and dubiously effective—measures.