NOOOO!! Not. the sex towels!!! John Gottman, who coined the phrase "the 4 horsemen of relationship apocalypse," has written several books, including Why Marriages Succeed or Fail, and The Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work. His work did not save my marriage. However it did improve my other relationships. Read my noble words: Visit me on for the wilder stuff: Fancy Jargon: Metamour (or meta): your sweetie's other sweetheart. NRE: new relationship energy, aka that time early on where you still think their every quirk is adorable and mostly you are a pain to be around because you are sooooooo in love.