Description
A heartwarming hands-on relationship guide for couples who want to be best friends and true partners!
Grow closer every day—on purpose.
Growing Our Unity: 19 Vital Practices for a Thriving Relationship is rooted in science and filled with real-life stories. It introduces 19 powerful “Unifiers” to help you laugh more, talk better, and grow a connection that lasts.
With quick-read chapters, meaningful activities, and virtue-driven insights, this book transforms everyday moments into opportunities for couple relationship connection.
Whether you’re just starting out or decades in, this book will bring joy, depth, and sparks to your relationship—and guide you toward a vibrant, united life together.
“This helpful and practical book ticks all the boxes.” Recommended by the US Review of Books
(Please see the Reviews tab for this review and others)
Growing Our Unity Table of Contents
Growing Our Unity Sample Chapter
Note: There are 22 virtues focused on in Growing Our Unity. These 22 are listed below and described in “Core Element C: Virtues Growth”.
- Adherence
- Compassion
- Creativity
- Dependability
- Excellence
- Flexibility
- Honor
- Humility
- Justice
- Moderation
- Orderliness
- Perseverance
- Politeness and Sociability
- Positive Spirit
- Purposefulness
- Reflection
- Respect
- Self-Discipline
- Service
- Trust
- Truthfulness
- Unity
These virtues are derived from the Character Foundations Assessment™, a validated instrument that author W. Grant Peirce IV developed.
Colleagues Susanne M. Alexander, a relationship and marriage coach (www.marriagetransformation.com), and W. Grant Peirce IV, an industrial and organizational psychologist (www.peircegroup.com), have worked with thousands of people on integrating transformative character virtues into their lives, relationships, and work.
Paperback Copies: Please see your favorite online bookstore (distributed globally)
Page Count: 284 pages
Size: 5.5 inches x 8.5 inches
Publication Date: May 21, 2025
Susanne M. Alexander –
From Couples and Individuals
“This is a fantastic guide to a healthy relationship. It will undoubtedly help many couples. Congratulations, and get it out into the world!” Glenn and Elisabeth
“This book is a great tool for really identifying what it takes to sustain a relationship. It’s written in a manner that allows for deep self-reflection, and it clearly outlines the steps that are needed to achieve a vital relationship. The goals are realistic, transparent, and thoroughly explained, making it easy to recognize the strengths and areas that need to be addressed to optimize and improve a relationship.” D. F.
“I like the use of Respect, Trust, Unity, and the other virtues as guides to reflection for the couples. A gift to the community and the world.” Johanna Merritt Wu
“Growing Our Unity is an information-packed toolkit with a wealth of ideas and techniques that a couple can use as they need to deepen their relationship. With a wide range of topics, including discovering shared values, establishing a friendship, communicating about money, and many more, a couple can focus on areas they need to strengthen, or they can go through the book more systematically. I found the suggested exercises to be clear, helpful, and thought-provoking. I plan to return to this book many times as a valuable resource for communication about important topics and to improve my relationship.” Anne Bivans
From Amazon.com:
• “5 out of 5 stars. Great resource to strengthen relationships. Great collection of insight and activities to improve communication and help understand and support a spouse better. Draws from many well-respected resources.”
• “5 out of 5 stars. Great handbook. I found it very helpful. Did it save my marriage? Possibly! Things are good!”
From the US Review of Books (Kate Robinson)
“This engaging self-help volume rises to the task of systematically outlining how to develop and maintain a happy, fulfilling marriage. Authors Alexander and Peirce combine their decades of transformative life experience and career expertise in psychology to deftly describe the concrete, methodical steps couples can take to turn nearly broken relationships into friendly, accommodating unions that survive and thrive. The authors’ enthusiasm for their topic shines through the six sections of well-organized themed chapters containing concrete steps and suggestions for ‘Powerfully Creating Couple Unity,’ ‘Creating Shared Values and Vision,’ ‘Creating a Loving Partnership,’ ‘Creating Connecting Experiences,’ ‘Forging Deeper Connection,’ and ‘Expanding Beyond Us.’
“As described in the introduction, the accessible science-based tools and suggestions are designed to be actively practiced by couples as they navigate the highs and lows of their relationship. The foundation of the authors’ system consists of ‘Core Elements,’ ‘Unifiers,’ and ‘Virtues.’ The concepts are embraceable as action steps to better understand partners’ mutual and individual needs and responses. The system’s flexibility allows couples to devise their own ‘toolkits’ of concepts to apply to their discussions, designed to reinforce clear communication and foster commitment and unity for individual and marital growth.
“Section One sets the stage with three foundational principles to study and practice before learning the nineteen ‘Unifiers’ described in succeeding chapters. The authors suggest that the first two sections are primarily foundational, and the remaining sections build upon these. Readers are encouraged to progress at their own pace, and the system is adaptable to the needs and preferences of different couples. … Overall, the authors’ helpful and practical book ticks all the boxes.”
RECOMMENDED by the US Review
https://www.theusreview.com/reviews-1/Growing-Our-Unity-by-Susanne-M-Alexander-and-W-Grant-Peirce-IV.html
From Professional Colleagues
“This book is thorough, incredibly positive, and full of examples and strategies—exactly what couples need. I especially like the idea of a relationship as one of the best places to work on character and the book’s clear theme of building character virtues. (I am reminded of one of my favorite Frank Pittman lines, ‘marriage is your last best chance to grow up!’.) I applaud you for what is obviously a deep dive into the research to provide such a practical, positive guide for couples to truly create a thriving relationship. I am confident this information will help oh so many people.” Pat Love, EdD, author of The Truth About Love
“This is an excellent resource for couples looking to strengthen their relationship and deepen their connection. It clearly and effectively explains important concepts needed to build a lasting love and offers practical exercises and tools the couple can use to explore themselves and their partners in a deeper, more meaningful way.” David Grammer, Licensed Marriage and Family Therapist; Grammerfamilytherapy.com
“This book is the answer to many couples’ prayers. Some are clearly in the dark, looking for a way out of the madness called their marriage or their relationship. They desperately want Growing Our Unity. This book gives them exactly that and so much more. If you want a better relationship and want to put your heart into making that happen, start reading tonight. Dreams do come true.” Nisa Muhammad, DMin; weddedblissinc.com; founder of Black Marriage Day
“This book isn’t for couples who want quick-fix tips or who are recreational dabblers into having a good relationship. It’s for couples who are all in and understand how their relationship is the foundation for changing the world—for couples who want nothing less than complete transformation. Kudos to the authors for their in-depth yet approachable concepts.” Priscilla Hunt, Executive Director, Better Marriages; bettermarriages.org; closecompanions.org
“I like the content of the book. I find the tie-in to virtues intriguing, and I like that it is character-based and not faith-based.” Paul Kuhn, serving couples with his wife through their church and Better Marriages for 25+ years