I have not read the book, nor would I encourage it. I have read enough of the excerpts, and reviews (those for and against it) to know some of the things taught in it. I think it is a very unhealthy approach to marriage, and not what being a helpmeet is about at all.
I am very familiar with No Greater Joy Ministries. I have read their magazine for a long time, and though I think some aspects are "okay" (like the herbal remedies and little tips), I dislike a great deal of it (their general lifestyle, home schooling being the only way, woman submit and husbands command etc.).
I read a portion of the book where a woman was in a severely abusive relationship. Her husband violently beat her, and when she was pregnant, her husband tried to kill her with a butcher knife. Debi (the author of this book) then speaks down on this wife because after these beatings and attempts on her life, she would leave the house with loud, railing accusations and go to her mother's house and cry out her sorrows. She would get on the phone and call all of her friends and tell them what Ahmed was doing to her
. When she got so depressed that she went to Debi for help, Debi said she could either leave (which is problematic because they are very much against divorce, even in abusive situations), or campaign for his heart. Debi said that she knew that this wife blabbing her husbands sins kept him in rage, and therefore she could no longer say anything but praise and admiration to him and anyone else. And surprised surprise the problem was fixed. Most of us familiar with this situation know that shutting up a doormat doesnt stop it from being walked on, it just keeps the situation muzzled. This poor woman is probably suffering in silence now, in fear that it is her sharing her (incredibly justifiable) fears is what causes her to be abused. The victim rationalizing why they deserve to be victimized. Appearance of a happy marriage does not mean it is happy! Putting on a mask doesnt fix the rotting face underneath.
When Debis daughter was engaged, she once asked her dad a theological question and her dads response was I cannot answer your Bible question, for now you believe what your husband believes. He will be your head, and you will follow him. It is time to get adjusted to your new role. Ask him what he believes about it." Debi includes that in her book. A woman is to blindly believe what her husband believes? Are women saved through their husbands? Does not God speak to women directly, as well as men? Sounds more like a Mormon approach then a Christian.
Debi categorizes men, and tells women how to submit to them. She said her husband is a commanding man, and if you learn to love commanding man, you will be happy. You cant have your own life, or do anything that he is not involved with, because he doesnt like that. Blah blah blah
.Yikes! Just feed a mans sense of self-centeredness and he will continue to boss you around, and will just be so happy! Since when is it right to encourage arrogance and self-centeredness in our spouses? I am so glad my husband calls me on it when I am egocentric, and me him. Man, would things run amuck if either if us tried to command things to our own needs, rather than have a servant heart for the other.
Anyway, those are a few reasons why I really dont like this book, and think that it is unhealthy.