The Rule of Love by Richard Templar

Description

People often talk about love as if it were a magical or mysterious power, but Richard Templar says it’s not. It’s a talent you can learn. In The Rule of Love, he takes years of watching people and distills it into 100 short, two-page chapters, each based on a single rule that turns love from a sensation into a conscious practice. These rules can help you make substantial changes in your life, whether you want to build a new romance, rekindle an old one, or improve your friendships and family ties.

There are four main themes in the novel. In the Foundations section, Templar shows you how to think of love as something you do, not just something you feel. You’ll learn how to really listen, show gratitude often, and make goals for how you want to be treated. Early guidelines stress being aware of yourself knowing what you need and what your limits are before trying to accommodate the needs of others.

Templar introduces guidelines like “Speak Your Truth Kindly” and “Argue to Understand, Not to Win” as the topic changes to Communication and Conflict. He uses real-life stories to explain how couples can avoid common mistakes like harsh criticism, stonewalling, and defensiveness. Instead, he shows how they can use empathic discourse to turn arguments into chances to grow. At the end of each chapter, there are reflection prompts that help you use what you’ve learned, making reading an active way to work on your relationship.

The final part, Nurture and Renewal, is all about keeping love alive throughout time. “Surprise with Small Gestures” and “Play Together Regularly” are two rules that remind you to add fun and spontaneity to your daily life. Templar says that simple rituals, like a weekly “love ledger” to write down pleasant things you do for others or a monthly “date-you” ritual to boost your self-love, can help keep the spark alive even when routines and responsibilities threaten to put it out.

Lastly, Resilience and Commitment talks about the problems that every partnerships will have to deal with at some point. You may find principles like “Forgive Quickly and Authentically” and “Grow Together, Don’t Outgrow Each Other” here. These rules can help you repair trust after being betrayed, deal with outside stressors like family pressure or work changes, and recommit with a new sense of purpose. Templar’s real-world examples, such couples who made it through long-distance relationships and friends who learned to respect each other’s different life paths, show that resilience isn’t something you’re born with; it’s something you develop on purpose.

The “dip-in, dip-out” style of The Rule of Love makes it unique. You can read it from start to finish or just pick a rule that fits your present problem. It’s both a whole guidebook and a daily companion. If you follow these guidelines all the time, you’ll see small but big changes: talks will be more honest and emotional, disputes will be resolved more amicably, and you’ll be able to give and receive love more deeply.

The Rule of Love gives you the tools you need to make love a deliberate, happy decision every day, whether you’re starting a new relationship or trying to strengthen an old one. Follow these rules, and you’ll see how small changes can make your relationships more satisfying over time.

About the Author

Richard Templar is the pen name of British author and editor Richard Craze, renowned for his bestselling “Rules” series on life, money, work, parenting, and relationships. His books read by millions worldwide are celebrated for their clear, pragmatic advice and memorable style. With The Rule of Love, Templar applies his signature approach to the world’s most treasured yet challenging emotion, offering readers practical wisdom to enrich every bond they hold dear.

Product Details

• Title: The Rule of Love

• Author: Richard Templar

• ISBN‑13: 978‑0273735275

• Publisher: Prentice Hall

• Published: 2011

• Pages: 176

• Binding: Paperpack