Who’s on your Mt. Rushmore? 4 Marriage Authors You Should Know And Read

Here is our list of the top four marriage authors (writers) every couple should know and read.

Before we begin, I want to make a brief analogy or reference point for my thoughts. Hang with me, I promise I’m going somewhere with this.

Who Is On Your Mount Rushmore

If you are not aware, Mt. Rushmore is a colossal sculpture carved into the granite face of the side of the mountain in Mount Rushmore National Park in South Dakota.

It hosts four 60 foot tall heads of famous presidents.

The four presidents are:

• George Washington
• Thomas Jefferson
• Theodore Roosevelt
• Abraham Lincoln

They were each chosen by the artist Gutzon Borglum for their contribution to American development.

Mt. Rushmore Backstory

Mount Rushmore is often referred to as the “Shrine of Democracy” and symbolizes the ideals of freedom and democracy.

The idea for Mount Rushmore was conceived by South Dakota historian Doane Robinson in 1923 to promote tourism in the state.

Sculptor Gutzon Borglum was hired to design and execute the project.

Construction began in 1927 and continued until 1941, with Borglum’s son, Lincoln Borglum, taking over after his father’s death in March 1941.

The project faced numerous challenges, including funding issues and the onset of World War II, which ultimately led to its completion being limited to the presidents’ heads rather than their full bodies as originally planned.

It was officially completed on October 31, 1941.

Weird Facts About Mt. Rushmore

Here are a few weird facts about the monument:

• Each head on Mount Rushmore is about 60 feet tall, with eyes that are 11 feet long and mouths that are 18 feet wide.
• There is a hidden Hall of Records behind Lincoln’s head, intended to house important documents and artifacts, but it was never completed due to funding issues.
• Approximately 90% of Mount Rushmore was carved using dynamite. This method was chosen for its efficiency in removing large amounts of rock quickly.
• The original plan was to carve the full bodies of the presidents, but due to lack of funds, only the heads were completed.

It is one of the most popular tourist attractions in the United States, drawing nearly three million visitors annually.

Our Top 4 Marriage Authors

People often talk about ‘their’ Mt. Rushmore of names that have impacted their lives.

For example, golfers talk about the Mt. Rushmore of golf. There are many names bantered around (everyone has their opinion), but it’s fun to discuss if your are a golfer.

The same goes for basketball, football, soccer and any other sport you can think of.

I, too, have a Mt. Rushmore list. In fact, I have several.

Here’s one list:

My top 4 authors who have impacted my thoughts on marriage. (no specific order)

#1: John Townsend and Henry Cloud

Mostly for their books on boundaries. If you’ve been in a relationship for any length of time (marriage, friendship, family, work, etc), you realize the importance of boundaries.

I’ve given away more copies of the original boundaries book than I can count.

In my opinion, it is a must read for anyone in relationships (which is all of us).

#2: John and Julie Gottman

If you write about marriage (as I do), you can’t escape the impact that the Gottman’s have on relationship research.

They are pioneers in marrying science, psychology, and practical advice on marriage.

Their work spans almost 5 decades and is based on solid research. They’ve been able to predict divorce with a 98+% accuracy.

To say ‘they know couples’ is an understatement.

I recommend all their work but especially ‘The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work’ and ‘What Makes Love Last?’

#3: Gary Chapman

His book on the ‘5 Love Languages’ has changed the lives of countless couples.

Understanding what makes your spouse ‘tic’ and how they process information (and define love) is vital for a healthy marriage.

Chapman gives us practical, applicable insight into connecting the dots with our spouse.

If you haven’t read it, do so.

#4: Shaunti Feldhahn

If you are not familiar with her work, you should be. She is a social researcher focusing on the needs of men and women in relationships.

She writes to help couples understand how the opposite sex thinks and works.

The two books I highly recommend are, ‘For Women Only,’ and ‘For Men Only.’

These are my Mt. Rushmore authors in the category of general marriage books.

Of course, I have others. Lee Baucom, Brad Browning, Jimmy Evans, and Dave and Ashley Willis to name a few.

But these four are essential if you want to know why men and women are different, and how to make those differences something you can celebrate.

Each author focuses on research along with practical application so you can actually help your marriage be better.

Here’s what you should do next…

I want to help you create an emotionally safe relationship where you can thrive as a couple.

To do this, we put together a 64-page ebook (a compilation of several articles on our website) called ‘Emotional Security In Marriage.‘ In it, you will learn: 

• 6 Characteristics of Emotionally Safe Relationships
• 7 Things that Destroy Emotional Safety in a Marriage
• How to Create Emotional Safety in Marriage

Designed to help you learn how to create emotional safety in your marriage. This is one of our core messages.

Great relationships are grounded in trust. Without trust, you cannot experience the quality of love you desire.

Where To Find Help