An extremely common couple ritual is to read to each other in bed.  It’s a simple ritual that requires little explanation.  Couples usually vary what is read, but common material includes short stories, novels, old journals, poetry, and past love letters from each other.  Take turns and enjoy the almost child-like pleasure of being read to.

Fodder

http://parentingtuneup.org/play/embers
http://parentingtuneup.org/play/stories

Siddhartha 
http://www.amazon.com/Siddhartha-Hermann-Hesse/dp/1492964964

Ishmael  
http://www.amazon.com/Ishmael-An-Adventure-Mind-Spirit/dp/0553375407

Alchemist 
http://www.amazon.com/The-Alchemist-Paulo-Coelho/dp/0061122416

The Prophet
http://www.amazon.com/The-Prophet-Kahlil-Gibran/dp/1614270627

Rumi
http://www.amazon.com/The-Essential-Rumi-Expanded-Edition/dp/0062509594

The Little Prince
http://www.amazon.com/The-Little-Prince-Antoine-Saint-Exupery/dp/0547978847

Phantom Tollboth
http://www.amazon.com/The-Phantom-Tollbooth-Norton-Juster/dp/0394820371

Jonathan Livingston Seagull  
http://www.amazon.com/Jonathan-Livingston-Seagull-Richard-Bach/dp/0743278909

Man’s Search for Meaning
http://www.amazon.com/Mans-Search-Meaning-Viktor-Frankl/dp/080701429X

The Four Agreements
http://www.amazon.com/The-Four-Agreements-Practical-Personal/dp/1878424319

Tao Te Ching
http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Te-Ching-Perennial-Classics/dp/0061142662

How to win friends and influence people
http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/0671027034

7 Habits of Highly Effective People
http://www.amazon.com/The-Habits-Highly-Effective-People/dp/0743269519

The Giving Tree 
http://www.amazon.com/Giving-Tree-CD-Shel-Silverstein/dp/0060586753

Oh the places you’ll go
http://www.amazon.com/Oh-Places-Youll-Dr-Seuss/dp/0679805273

5 Love Languages
http://www.amazon.com/Love-Languages-Secret-That-Lasts/dp/0802473156

The Gift of the Magi
http://www.amazon.com/Gift-Magi-Other-Short-Stories/dp/0486270610

The Last Lecture
http://www.amazon.com/Last-Lecture-Randy-Pausch/dp/1401323251

Tuesday’s with Morrie
http://www.amazon.com/Tuesdays-Morrie-Young-Greatest-Lesson/dp/076790592X

Enjoy Every Sandwich
http://www.amazon.com/Enjoy-Every-Sandwich-Living-Each-ebook/dp/B004X6PR7S

Bible / Qur’an / Bhagavad Gita / Buddhism -- Dalai Lama / Book of Mormon

Bene Brown
Pema Chodron
Eckhart Tolle
C.S. Lewis
Kurt Vonnegut
Zen and the art of _______

Lord of the Rings
Hunger Games
Princess Bride
Harry Potter
Roald Dahl
Lois Lowry
Orson Scott Card

Untethered Soul
http://www.amazon.com/The-Untethered-Soul-Michael-Singer/dp/B009NG5GSS

Variations

• Reading to each other in the car, on the plane, after a meal, or Sunday mornings.
• The news was mentioned several times, yet take care to not read about, generally, man’s inhumanity to man
• So that both are free to cuddle, audio books and podcasts are used.
• Read every other night, on weekends, or just when the mood strikes you both.

Principal Purposes Served

• Stable touchstone
• Emotional money in the bank
• Builds the relationship culture and history