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Lessons and Beliefs: Learning to Love
Mark Tedesco's latest book takes readers on a journey to understand what constitutes a healthy form of love. The book is relevant to anyone seeking love, regardless of gender. Although the author writes from the perspective of a gay man, the insights gained are universally applicable. "Lessons and Learning To Love" combines self-help, relationship analysis, and memoir, providing a compelling account of healthy and unhealthy forms of love, interdependence, and codependency. The reader discovers the essential components of an authentic, healthy, and enduring relationship.
The chapters cover various experiences such as first love, the ups and downs of relationships, distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy love, self-love and love for others, setting healthy boundaries, and overcoming emotional love addiction.
The chapters cover various experiences such as first love, the ups and downs of relationships, distinguishing between healthy and unhealthy love, self-love and love for others, setting healthy boundaries, and overcoming emotional love addiction.
242 pages, Kindle Edition
Published September 16, 2024
About the author
Mark Tedesco
11 books26 followersMark Tedesco is a writer and educator residing in California. Having lived in Italy for eight years, he enjoys weaving stories connecting the present to the past and exploring how deep human longings are expressed in relationships, events, culture and history.
Mark has written in the genres of travel, historical fiction, memoir, self-help and childrens’ fiction. His titles include: That Undeniable Longing, I am John I am Paul, Lessons and Beliefs, The Dog on the Acropolis and Loving Hoping Believing. Mark’s Dixi Books title, She Seduced Me: A Love Affair with Rome, brings to life Mark’s love for the magic of a city, in which he weaves history, personal stories and interviews into a tale that, little by little, also seduces the reader.
Besides writing, Mark is an educator and he loves to engage his students in his love of history, literature and of each person’s unique story. In his off time, Mark likes to travel but, somehow, he always ends up returning to Rome where, he is convinced, other stories are waiting to be uncovered.
Mark has written in the genres of travel, historical fiction, memoir, self-help and childrens’ fiction. His titles include: That Undeniable Longing, I am John I am Paul, Lessons and Beliefs, The Dog on the Acropolis and Loving Hoping Believing. Mark’s Dixi Books title, She Seduced Me: A Love Affair with Rome, brings to life Mark’s love for the magic of a city, in which he weaves history, personal stories and interviews into a tale that, little by little, also seduces the reader.
Besides writing, Mark is an educator and he loves to engage his students in his love of history, literature and of each person’s unique story. In his off time, Mark likes to travel but, somehow, he always ends up returning to Rome where, he is convinced, other stories are waiting to be uncovered.
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Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews
May 20, 2020
Lessons and Beliefs: Searching for Love in the Gay World by Mark Tedesco
Was hesitant to read this book because I am not interested in the gay world but in relationships yes so I agreed to read and review this.
Really happy I did, love the quotes at the start of the chapters from well known people-some of my favorites also. Many of the experiences I had a glimpse of from the authors other works that I've read.
At times it's very happy times then things just go wrong or it takes time for them to go wrong and some even go into counseling because the relationship means so much to them.
At other times I felt the lead character was being taken advantage of but he didn't want to face that, I think it would mean a breakup which he did not want under any circumstances.
Fear of cancer gets him moving in the right direction, knowing he may not have the rest of his life... Love the action he took against one to get what was his, shouldn't have had to go to the extremes it did...
I am so jealous of all the travel, totally a treasure. That and all the new words I learned.
Not sure I got it all but was seeing it as a man and woman and could see that happening.
Experiences of a lifetime in just one book, can't wait to read more from this author.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
Was hesitant to read this book because I am not interested in the gay world but in relationships yes so I agreed to read and review this.
Really happy I did, love the quotes at the start of the chapters from well known people-some of my favorites also. Many of the experiences I had a glimpse of from the authors other works that I've read.
At times it's very happy times then things just go wrong or it takes time for them to go wrong and some even go into counseling because the relationship means so much to them.
At other times I felt the lead character was being taken advantage of but he didn't want to face that, I think it would mean a breakup which he did not want under any circumstances.
Fear of cancer gets him moving in the right direction, knowing he may not have the rest of his life... Love the action he took against one to get what was his, shouldn't have had to go to the extremes it did...
I am so jealous of all the travel, totally a treasure. That and all the new words I learned.
Not sure I got it all but was seeing it as a man and woman and could see that happening.
Experiences of a lifetime in just one book, can't wait to read more from this author.
Received this review copy from the author and this is my honest opinion.
October 4, 2022
Mark does a fantastic job bringing us in to his day to day, allowing us to view his emotional state and understanding the origins for these feelings. I applaud his depiction of codependency patterns throughout his relationships, as well as the raw reality of how far we will go when we don’t break away from those impulses. It brings us to ask:
Do I love myself enough to know what I need?
Do I love myself enough to meet those needs?
Emotional and empowering- this is the book for queer twenty-somethings (plus) who just want to feel like they are enough.
Do I love myself enough to know what I need?
Do I love myself enough to meet those needs?
Emotional and empowering- this is the book for queer twenty-somethings (plus) who just want to feel like they are enough.
March 15, 2022
This 'sequel' to "The Undeniable Longing" brings the reader into Mark's journey of leaving ministry and embracing his authentic self. Several of the stories that are recounted in this book are heart-wrenching, vulnerable lessons that reveal a man desirious to help others learn from the mistakes of his past. Each vignette, or story, brings with it valuable insights to be applied to ones life, no matter what state they may find themselves in.
April 18, 2022
I loved this book. Reading it felt like reading a guidebook helped me make sense of some disastrous past relationships while also helping me to see the ways in which each of those relationships helped me grow. I only wish I had gotten a hold of it sooner!
July 6, 2022
The author's authenticity touched me in places of loving, where the price paid is pain, but growing pains. He allowed me to take pauses so I could take my own time to revisit my own path through growing pains of a maturing love. Important read for serious students of love.
February 14, 2015
This book should be required reading, not only for gay men, but anyone who has struggled with relationships!
I have never met Mr. Tedesco, although we are acquainted through social media, but after reading this book, I feel as though I have just spent precious time with a dear friend! His personal account of searching for love is, at times, brutally honest and heart-wrenching, but at the same time, insightful and thought-provoking! It's a must-read for anyone who has found themselves dealing with relationship concerns, and the lessons he learned and shares with the reader are valuable and relevant to anyone, gay or straight!
I have never met Mr. Tedesco, although we are acquainted through social media, but after reading this book, I feel as though I have just spent precious time with a dear friend! His personal account of searching for love is, at times, brutally honest and heart-wrenching, but at the same time, insightful and thought-provoking! It's a must-read for anyone who has found themselves dealing with relationship concerns, and the lessons he learned and shares with the reader are valuable and relevant to anyone, gay or straight!
Displaying 1 - 6 of 6 reviews