Evaluating the people you date against The Checklist will help you avoid investing time, energy and emotion in a relationship that will ultimately end in misery. Most of us have engaged in a relationship that we wished we had managed to avoid. If we had only had a crystal ball that could show us what path to take we would've walked away from the relationship long before we got hurt. The Checklist is the next best thing to a crystal ball. It provides 7 criterion that you can use to determine the viability of a life-long relationship. To the degree that the person you are dating doesn't meet one or more criterion on The Checklist you have handicapped yourself and accepted a relationship that has a high chance of failure. On the other hand, if you find someone who meets all 7 criterion on The Checklist the author guarantees a lifetime of happiness with that individual - if you can manage to marry them. The 7 criterion were developed by the author over a four year period after his ex-wife left him with several children to raise on his own. For those that are familiar with US singer/song writer Kenny Rogers' famous line "You picked a fine time to leave me, Lucille", this was just such a moment . The pain of divorce was magnified by the difficulty of being a single parent several times over. But out of the crucible of the author's experiences came The Checklist, a gift for anyone who truly wants to find Mister or Miss Right. Nigel Hughes uses stories from his life that flesh out the origin and rationale of each criterion. You will find yourself deeply touched by the stories and completely convinced by his compelling logic. This is an easy must read for anyone wanting a permanent relationship. And it's the essential field guide for that friend, son, daughter, parent or sibling that is looking for someone with whom to share the rest of their life.