The 80/80 Marriage by Nate and Kaley Klemp

Genre: Nonfiction
Length: 240 pages
Audiobook Length: 6 hours and 28 minutes
First Published: 2021

Rachael’s Review

Struggling to find perfect equality in their marriage, Nate and Kaley Klemp eventually realized that instead of going 50/50, they should attempt to be “all in.” In their marriage model, the Klemps suggest each partner give 80%, proposing that radical generosity will transform your marriage partnership.

I love that The 80/80 Marriage points out that 50/50 is a myth. Marriages are too complex for couples to ever be able to attain perfect equality. Fairness on the other hand is another matter, and a 45/55 split or even a 40/60 split can be fair depending on the circumstances. However, I would assume most people in these types of marriages already know that equality and fairness are two separate things and don’t need this book.

On the other hand, for couples in severely off-balanced relationships, The 80/80 Marriage points out the flaws in their marriage without giving enough tools to help shift the balance. Maybe some under-performing spouses will be willing to take advice from a self-help book at the prompting of an over-performing spouse, but many likely will not. Which obviously limits the usefulness of the book.

Publisher’s Description

An accessible, transformative guide for couples seeking greater love, connection, and intimacy in our modern world

Nate and Kaley Klemp were both successful in their careers, consulting for high-powered companies around the world. Their work as mindfulness and leadership experts, however, often fell to the wayside when they came home in the evening, only to end up fighting about fairness in their marriage. They believed in a model where each partner contributed equally and fairness ruled, but, in reality, they were finding that balance near impossible to achieve.

From this frustration, they developed the idea of the 80/80 marriage, a new model for balancing career, family, and love. The 80/80 Marriage pushes couples beyond the limited idea of “fairness” toward a new model grounded on radical generosity and shared success, one that calls for each partner to contribute 80 percent to build the strongest possible relationship. Drawing from more than one hundred interviews with couples from all walks of life, stories from business and pop culture, scientific studies, and ancient philosophical insights, husband-and-wife team Nate and Kaley Klemp pinpoint exactly what’s not working in modern marriage. Their 80/80 model of marriage provides practical, powerful solutions to transform your relationship and open up space for greater love and connection.

About Nate Klemp

Nate Klemp is a former philosophy professor and a founding partner at Mindful. He is the co-author of Start Here and of The 80/80 Marriage. Visit the author’s website →