Robert H. Lauer, Ph.D., and Jeanette C. Lauer, Ph.D., earned their doctorates at Washington University. They have taught and served as deans at various universities, and are now research professors at U.S. International University in San Diego. They have co-authored fifteen books and numerous articles, and lectured extensively on various topics, including social problems and marriage and family life. Their articles have appeared in such popular publications as Psychology Today, Self, Family Weekly, Ladies' Home Journal, and Readers' Digest. Their text Marriage and Family: The Quest for Intimacy, 4/e, is also published by McGraw-Hill (2000). Their other recently published books are Becoming Family: How to Build a Stepfamily that Really Works (Augsburg) and How To Survive and Thrive in an Empty Nest (New Harbinger).