Pt. I. The myth. The guidance of myth -- The magic union -- How did we get here? a brief history of a myth -- Marital therapy, the science of marriage, and the myth -- Pt. II. A new vision of marriage. Creating the good marriage : from technique to character -- The virtue of friendship : building a partnership marriage -- The virtue of loyalty : creating a lasting marriage -- The virtue of generosity : fashioning a giving marriage -- The virtue of justice : fostering a fair marriage -- How can all of us work together to cultivate strong marriages?