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  • The Commitment

  • Love, Sex, Marriage, and My Family
  • Written by: Dan Savage
  • Narrated by: Richard Powers
  • Length: 9 hrs and 50 mins
  • 4.7 out of 5 stars (14 ratings)

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The Commitment

Written by: Dan Savage
Narrated by: Richard Powers
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Publisher's Summary

In a time when much of the country sees red whenever the subject of gay marriage comes up, Dan Savage - outspoken author of the column Savage Love - makes it personal.

Dan Savage’s mother wants him to get married. His boyfriend, Terry, says “no thanks” because he doesn’t want to act like a straight person. Their 6-year-old son, D.J., says his two dads aren’t “allowed” to get married but that he’d like to come to the reception and eat cake. 

Throw into the mix Dan’s straight siblings, whose varied choices form a microcosm of how Americans are approaching marriage these days, and you get a rollicking family memoir that will have everyone - gay or straight, right or left, single or married - howling with laughter and rethinking their notions of marriage and all it entails.

©2005 Dan Savage (P)2011 Blackstone Audio, Inc.

What the critics say

“The strongest argument here, which [Savage] brilliantly plays down, is that family means everything to these people: married, not married, blended, gay, straight, whatever.” (Washington Post)

What listeners say about The Commitment

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  • Michelle
  • 2011-09-21

Amusing, but missed Dan's voice

A very funny, honest accounting of a little slice of Dan Savage's life. I enjoyed it a lot, but missed Dan's characteristic voice. I know he's busy these days, but I would have liked to have him read this himself.

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13 people found this helpful

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  • Carla
  • 2012-10-24

Entertaining, but not life changing

I like Dan Savage, so I enjoyed the book and found it entertaining. I could see that some might find it a bit preachy. My main gripe is that Dan didn't read the book himself. The narrator did a fine job, but didn't sound anything like Dan which was just strange to listen to.

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  • Emily
  • 2011-11-22

Wish it was narrated by the author, but very good

I far prefer hearing Dan Savage in his own voice. I recognized pieces of this book from This American Life pieces, and I just really prefer the author's voice to the narrator. But the book was entertaining, funny, and heartwarming. Great story of a family and a realtionship.

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  • Nichole
  • 2016-01-13

Always a good listen

I missed Dans voice but still enjoyed the book. As always his books are funny, smart, and incredibly entertaining.

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  • Christopher
  • 2015-09-19

Good book; prefer a Savage narration

I enjoyed the book as I have all of Dan's books, but this is the only one I heard with a different narrator. The characters (Dan's family members) come across much differently in his voice.

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  • Brittany
  • 2015-05-31

Thought provoking for anyone thinking of marriage

Whether you're gay or straight (or somewhere in between) this book is a good read for an objective look at what it means to be married from someone who isn't allowed.

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  • Briana Melissa Ford
  • 2014-04-08

Hilarious and Thought Provoking

I bought this audiobook back in 2012 but just now listened to it. I had no idea what to expect, and I think it actually worked out better that way. Dan Savage wrote about his partner Terry, his son DJ, his loving family, and how marriage does and doesn't work for some couples. His commentary was hilarious, and his conversations with others (mainly his family members) about marriage made great points, for both, straight and same-sex couples. The narrator, Paul Michael Garcia, made the audiobook even more enjoyable. I'm glad I got it and glad I read it. Recommended for anyone who isn't too serious, as I can see some of Dan's writing rubbing the far right the wrong way (especially DJ's opinion of George W. Bush haha)

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  • Science Teacher
  • 2013-01-14

Outdated

This book is outdated. Dan Savage and his "boyfriend" got married in Seattle last month on the day same-sex marriage became legal.

By the way, this book has one of the worst first chapters I have ever read/listened to. It is so unpleasant to begin with an extended complaint about his "boyfriend's" faults.

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  • v. ericsen
  • 2012-10-07

I love Dan Savage! Great book! thank you!

Where does The Commitment rank among all the audiobooks you’ve listened to so far?

This is a tribute to love. As I see it anyone could benefit from listening to a successful person in relationship speaking from the heart and being humorous along the way.

What did you like best about this story?

the authentic way of writing that Dan does so well

Have you listened to any of Paul Michael Garcia’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

no

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  • Derek
  • 2012-03-27

Entertaining and Touching

If you could sum up The Commitment in three words, what would they be?

Favorite of mine.

What other book might you compare The Commitment to and why?

Pretty much any of Dan's other books. His signature wit and sense of humor are all over this one.

Have you listened to any of Paul Michael Garcia’s other performances before? How does this one compare?

No I have not, but I liked this performance a lot. It would have been nice to have heard Dan read it, but this performance was very well done.

Did you have an extreme reaction to this book? Did it make you laugh or cry?

A lot of laughs. I don't know how many times I actually laughed out loud at this audiobook... Too many times to count. A lot of the stories are very touching too.

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