Why did I give advice to Eve instead of going directly to Adam? I knew I would never be able to stop the Creator’s overall plan, but I thought I might really be able to frustrate it if I could screw up some relationships. So speaks Satan as The First Family Counselor in this new collection of Edwin Friedman’s most popular essays, edited by his daughter, Shira Friedman Bogart.

Friedman’s signature wit and playfulness goes straight to the heart of human relationships from one generation to another.Throughout his life, Friedman eloquently applied the insights of family therapy to churches and synagogues, rectors and rabbis, politicians and teachers, and his humor, sense of paradox, and unique style of storytelling were trademarks of his teaching style.