cover image Uncommon Marriage: Learning About Lasting Love and Overcoming Life’s Obstacles Together

Uncommon Marriage: Learning About Lasting Love and Overcoming Life’s Obstacles Together

Tony and Lauren Dungy with Nathan Whitaker. Tyndale, $24.99 (256p) ISBN 978-1-4143-8369-9

With a “he said/she said” format, former NFL coach Dungy (Quiet Strength) and his wife, Lauren, share lessons learned over more than 30 years of marriage. They are different in personality, but their deep faith and commitment to their relationship help them grow closer through career changes, multiple moves, the rearing of nine children, and family tragedy. They discuss the wide variety of incidents and factors that have strengthened their marriage, like working through different communication styles and learning the importance of praying together. They also share the difficulties through which they have walked together, like being in the public eye—Tony became the first African-American head coach to guide a team to the Super Bowl; dealing with the loss of a parent; and coping with the suicide of their son. They offer their thoughts in personal, conversational style with the hope that readers can recognize some part of their own marriage and be able to find guidance, hope, and encouragement. The book reads more like an enjoyable chat with longtime friends than the helpful marriage guidebook that it is. Agent: D.J. Snell, Legacy Management. (Feb.)