More Than Two: A Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory (More Than Two Essentials, 1)

"More Than Two: A Practical Guide to Ethical Polyamory" is a valuable resource for anyone interested in exploring the world of polyamory. Written by Franklin Veaux and Eve Rickert, this book aims to provide practical advice, insights, and tools to help individuals navigate the challenges and complexities of ethical non-monogamous relationships. The authors draw from their personal experiences and expertise, making it a well-rounded guide for both newcomers and those already familiar with polyamory. Chapter Overview: Defining Polyamory: The book starts with a clear and inclusive definition of polyamory, debunking common misconceptions and highlighting the fundamental principles of ethical non-monogamy. Communication and Consent: This chapter emphasizes the importance of open, honest, and compassionate communication in polyamorous relationships. It offers practical strategies for effective communication, negotiating boundaries, and obtaining enthusiastic consent. Jealousy and Insecurity: One of the most challenging aspects of polyamory is dealing with jealousy and insecurity. The authors provide a deep understanding of these emotions and offer strategies for managing and transforming them into opportunities for personal growth and relationship strengthening. Time Management and Prioritization: With multiple partners, time management becomes crucial. This chapter offers insightful advice on managing schedules, setting priorities, and finding balance in relationships, work, and personal life. Relationship Negotiation: Building and maintaining healthy polyamorous relationships require ongoing negotiation. The book provides tools and frameworks for negotiating agreements, addressing conflicts, and navigating power dynamics within relationships. Solo Polyamory and Relationship Anarchy: The authors discuss different relationship styles, including solo polyamory and relationship anarchy, offering guidance on how to embrace these approaches and create fulfilling connections. Coming Out as Polyamorous: For individuals considering coming out about their polyamorous lifestyle, this chapter provides guidance on the process, dealing with societal biases, and finding support within their communities. Polyamory and Parenting: This chapter explores the intersection of polyamory and parenting, addressing the unique challenges and opportunities for individuals who have children or are considering having children within a polyamorous context. Building and Nurturing a Network: The authors emphasize the importance of building a supportive community of friends, partners, and allies. They provide guidance on finding like-minded individuals, creating chosen families, and developing a network of emotional support. Moving Forward: The final chapter offers practical advice on personal growth, self-reflection, and evolving within polyamorous relationships. It encourages readers to continue learning, adapting, and striving for ethical and fulfilling connections. Key Strengths: Comprehensive and Practical: "More Than Two" covers a wide range of topics, providing a comprehensive understanding of polyamory and its various nuances. The authors offer practical advice, tools, and exercises that readers can immediately implement in their own relationships. Empathy and Personal Experiences: Veaux and Rickert draw from their personal experiences, sharing anecdotes and case studies that make the book relatable and engaging. Their empathetic approach fosters a sense of understanding and validation for readers who may be navigating similar situations. Inclusivity and Diversity: The book embraces diversity and inclusivity by acknowledging different relationship structures, sexual orientations, gender identities, and cultural backgrounds. This inclusivity makes it accessible and relevant to a wide audience. Well-Structured and Organized: Each chapter is well-structured, with clear headings, subheadings, and bullet points that aid comprehension and facilitate easy reference. The book's organization allows readers to focus on

This book has completely changed the way I look at all relationships (not just my partners) and communication. While More Than Two is written in the context of polyamory, the lessons go so much deeper. It’s really about how to communicate honestly, handle emotions with care, and show up better for the people in your life. Since reading it, I’ve noticed a huge shift in how I interact with friends, family, coworkers, partners, and even strangers—it’s made every connection in my life stronger and more intentional. What I love most is how real and practical the authors are, they manage to slow me and my busy chaotic life down long enough to thoroughly understand ALL types of people and understand the importance of showing those people genuine interest. They don’t just talk about the good parts—they share mistakes, struggles, and lessons learned in a way that feels so human and very relatable. It’s not preachy or pushy, just incredibly thoughtful and eye-opening. Even if you’re not interested in polyamory, I can’t recommend this book enough. If you care about personal growth, better communication, and building healthier relationships of any kind, this book is worth every page.

More than two review: Thousands of questions I never would have thought to ask about myself or others! Incredible. I have finally set healthy boundaries for myself after 10 years of trying to figure it out! I just finished it in 5 days, and to be honest I'm disappointed that it's over! I liked the kindle version since it lets me highlight, copy, and paste making my note taking and self discovery super simple! Someone in our group asked about its appropriateness for teens: my response is this: Well. That depends. The book is excellent as far as relationships of all kinds go!!! It's not overly sexual or explicit at all, very tasteful. It is of course, designed to explain the how tos of poly living, but also discusses monogamy, comparing the two often without coercion. It's much more focused on in depth discussions of how to/how it to have healthy relationships with yourself and others than on sex. It focuses on compassion and integrity. I come from a very Christian back ground, I love my Jesus! But this book goes over love in ways that I have never learned and feel are highly intelligent and accurate as far as how to love yourself, and others! You could absolutley read it yourself as a way to gain some amazing insights on teaching kids about healthy love, and for older teens, I feel that it is absolutely appropriate and educational in ways that are thought provoking and prompt personal growth in countless positive ways, including information regarding making personal choices that affect sexual health and safety.

Outstanding! I've read reviews written by readers who didn't like the gardening analogies throughout the book. In contrast, I found them highly helpful. Another feature that I appreciate very much are the series of focused questions to ask oneself at the end of each chapter. Very uncomfortable making at times, but exceedingly pertinent. I'm a librarian, and library where I work doesn't own the book. So I requested it on ILL. Devoured it when it arrived. Was impressed enough to buy my own copy, which is not something I do very often, preferring to check them out. This one is exception that proves the rule, though. Plus, marking up library copies (especially by library staff!) is definitely frowned upon! The authors make the point several times that the advice and comments they offer are equally valid for monogamous and polyamorous relationships. How true! I'm in a mono marriage and putting some of the harder end-of-chapter questions to myself plus doing such things that they advocate, such as trying to consistently ascribe the best possible motives to my wife's actions at all times, has improved our marriage. Also, the authors' straightforward, laying it on the line style (the Eve's Story and Franklin's Story, for example) and forthright insistence that polyamory is not for the faint of heart is great. They're not trying to sugarcoat polyamory to win converts; although it's obvious they can't see themselves as living any other way, they are honest and forthright about all the positives and negatives. Sort of a Polyamory, warts and all approach.

While the book centers around polyamory, I found it very helpful for my ALL my relationships. Yes, it helped me learn more about polyamory after I fell in love with someone who had a partner. We have embraced the lifestyle and I am very happy with my decision to be in an ethical relationship that is "More Than Two". It works well for us. The real benefit I got from reading this book is that it also helped me with establishing healthy relationships with others: with parents, friends, roommate, coworkers, etc. It teaches you the value of understanding why you feel something and talking about that instead of reacting to the emotion. This has lead to many productive conversations and fewer emotional outbursts. I would recommend this book to anyone, but especially those who are struggling to really communicate with someone you are in a close relationship with. I have recommended this book to many and I hope they get the same value I got from it.

Part how-to, part "how we did it," this "Bible" of polyamory covers what it is, and what it's not. (Hint: polyamory isn't all, or even primarily, about the sexytimes, it's about loving others. And a whole lot of communicating.) There are many, many relationship tips, that are applicable to people who are monogamous as well. Because even if you only identify as having one romantic partner (at a time), aren't there others in your close intimate circle: close friends, siblings, coworkers, that you love? But if you open your heart and your life to more than one romantic partner, it gets complicated. You have to not only negotiate among your partners, but among social expectations. It's a little odd, how serial monogamy is socially accepted, how even cheating often gets a wink and a nod, but openly saying you are seeking to practice ethical non-monogamy, and people often look askance. This book needs a place on the bookshelf of anyone who's already opened a relationship to "more Than Two," or those contemplating such a move, as it will bring up aspects and considerations you may not have considered. It's also a great read for those who love someone - a son, daughter, sibling, friend - who's adopted this lifestyle. Very well written, organized well, it's a smooth (if long) read.

This is a really well-written book for how to have healthy relationships with anyone in your life, whether that be one partner or multiple. Sure, some parts will be more applicable to polyamory, but at its core this whole book is about communication and how to have healthy relationships in your life. I love that there are questions at the end of each chapter to ask yourself and reflect on. Each section and chapter is split up well, and the authors add personal anecdotes as well. There are tons of resources in the back, and a glossary of terms too. It's just a really well thought out book.

Definitely a well-present and well written perspective on ethical nonmonogamy. There’s a lot of good relationship and just general life information that can be taken away from this book, whether you’re considering or practicing poly or not. The personal stories throughout the book help break things up, and help keep you interested in the information, as well as making it more relatable and easier to understand. It’s not necessarily a book that I would ever go back and read again (like I would with Sex At Dawn or Ethical Slut), but I’m not at all upset with the good amount of time I spent reading it.

Easy to read, to understand. Food for thought. Visual. For people who want to explore or re-consider their way into relationships.

Didn't find what I was looking for, wrong purchase. Non-returnable (only replacement)... Ordered without checking the return policy, regret the purchase.. Online purchase should invariably have return option... I didn't find the contents useful....cannot return loss of money... the basic purpose of online purchase is defeated......

There is still a place for the longstanding mainstays of polyamory, OPENING UP and THE ETHICAL SLUT. In fact, they remain the ideal introductions to the world of polyamory. But this book is a detailed atlas of that world, and as such is absolutely indispensable to any polycule. Oddly enough, monogamous people will find much in here that applies to them as well: this is first and foremost a *relationships* primer. As such, you may feel you don't need the information in here. You probably do.

Best polyamory book I've read so far. If you're only going to buy one, make it this one. This is essentially my Bible. I'm known to quote passages from it all the time to both poly and mono friends. Helpful on both an individual and couple level. So, so informative, concise and relatable. Thank you for this incredible book!

My bible remains "The Ethical Slut" because it made me discover the world of ethical non-monogamy, but I have to say I now prefer More Than Two. Where The Ethical Slut talks about sex-positivism, and gives plenty of great advice on how to handle non-monogamous relationships, More Than Two goes 2 steps further, and discusses communication techniques, self-worth, and insists on the finer points of living your relationships ethically, considering ALL people involved. I would also recommend this book for monogamous people, since everything about boundaries, rules, better communication, etc are relevant to ANY kind of relationship. I still think the two are complementary, but I don't think reading The Ethical Slut is enough, anymore.