You, Me, And We
Andre Williams
Trafford
ISBN: 1425126723
Reviewed By Karynda Lewis
Official Apex Reviews Rating: 
Andre
Williams has had many epiphanies in his life. After witnessing the
effects of lust, pride, and unchecked materialism on personal
relationships, he penned You, Me, And We as a panacea for the aforementioned ills - and he comes rather close to delivering.
Williams's
tome reads as a "How To" guide for better relations between men and
women from all walks of life. With the same methodical approach that
one would take in repairing a busted car or dishwasher, Williams breaks
down the key elements that need to be addressed if relationships are to
function properly. He meticulously dissects such issues as self-esteem,
unrealistic expectations, and personal responsibility. He also frames
his viewpoints within the greater overall context of seeing a
relationship as a greater whole than the simple sum of its individual
parts. Helping to illustrate his points are colorful anecdotes and
apropos analogies serving to broaden his writing's appeal for a diverse
audience of readers.
One particular element that Williams
places special focus on is that of faith. He comments frequently on the
essential role of spirituality in relationships, and he emphasizes the
need for everyone, male and female, to place a high priority on
maintaining a close personal relationship with God. At times, Williams
comes dangerously close to proselytizing for the Christian faith,
almost downplaying (even if by their mere omission) the significance of
other beliefs and their various tenets and teachings. Only by reaching
mostly generalized conclusions is he able to avoid the appearance of a
biased approach.
Given his reliance on emphasizing the
spiritual, though, one would have expected to see Williams cite
specific biblical passages to augment his points. The current market
certainly has no shortage of relationship "experts," and having a sound
scriptural basis for any claim or argument presented does much to
differentiate the pack.
Still, You, Me, And We
shines for its sincerity. Having served personal witness to many a
heartbreaking experience in his young life, Williams is truly concerned
with helping others avoid similar hard times of their own. As such, his
revelations will surely connect with the multitudes seeking solid
direction and definitive answers.
Official Apex Reviews Interview: Andre Williams (You, Me, And We)
Apex Reviews: Andre, thanks for joining us for this interview. We greatly appreciate having this opportunity to learn more about your book.
Andre Williams: Well, thank you. I appreciate this opportunity as well.
AR: Was there a specific incident or development that inspired you to write the book?
AW: Not specifically. "You, Me, and We" was a direct result of a manifestation of many of my observations, research, personal experiences, intuitive perspectives, passion for writing, as well as my penchant for helping others. I learned alot about myself, my community, and my culture through this process, and it is through this confluence of self-reflection and relationship advocacy that makes "You, Me, and We" so personal, so poignant, and so purposeful.
AR: You place a great deal of emphasis on the spiritual in addressing the problems in relationships. Why is that the particular focus of your approach?
AW: It's easy. I believe fervently that a strong spiritual base or 'relationship' is needed before we can begin to both foster and sustain healthy relationships in other areas of our lives. Also, I place a great deal of emphasis on a faith based approach to life, love, and relationships, because the vast majority of my readership, target audience, as well as myself believe in God, so it only made sense to surround many of the sentiments expressed in the book around this belief system. Lastly, "You, Me, and We" is not a Christian book, but it does acknowledge the spiritual aspect of how we relate, communicate, and love, which I'm ecstatic to say, still allows others who are less spiritually inclined to also enjoy the book and learn a great deal from it.
AR: We've all witnessed the materialistic trappings of contemporary youth (fancy cars, big houses, expensive jewelry). What would your message be to young men and women in trying to steer their focus away from such superficiality?
AW: My message is clear. There is nothing wrong with having a high affinity for nice things or enjoying some of financial successes creature comforts; however, we must understand that what truly defines the measure of a person and ultimately how happy they'll be is not by what they have, but who they are. I also urge people, young and old, to remember that the less energy we spend focusing on material things, the more energy we'll have to focus on personal, social, and relationship development. All of which, will increase our probability of enjoying a greater sense of self, more responsibility and opportunity for civic engagement, as well as building progressive relationships. This is true wealth.
AR: Why do you think it's so difficult for men and women to have even the most basic communication?
AW: One of the biggest and most obvious reasons is the fact that we are both wired differently. Men and women each have certain innate traits and characteristics that by their very nature make it difficult at times to hear and be heard. This of course also influences how we approach the establishment of roles and expectations of the opposite sex, both inside and outside of intimate relationships. In fact, I devoted an entire chapter to covering the positive and negative affects of expectation. I've found that various expectations are causing more disturbances in our communication process versus other, more popularized issues, and I made sure to address them within the book.
AR: Cheating involves more than just physical activity - it can be also emotional or psychological in nature. In keeping with that fact, do you think men cheat more than women, or does the activity tend to balance itself out across the board?
AW: I don't have any evidence to say that men cheat more than women, but I will say that it appears there are a disproportionate number of men who get caught cheating versus women who get caught. As you mentioned, cheating encompasses much more than physical activity, therefore it makes it increasingly more difficult to gauge whether or not certain behavior is in fact cheating. Most cheaters live and die by this line of ambiguity. At the end of the day it up to each of us, along with our partners to determine what is acceptable and what isn't. While it is also our responsibility to approach relationships openly and honestly, and make sure we set and communicate these 'reasonable' expectations to any person with whom the possibility of an intimate relationship exists.
AR: In addition to being an author, you're a youth advocate, mentor, and motivational speaker. How do you find the time to do it all?
AW: Whew… All I can say is I have an exceptionally wonderful and talented support team!!! My business manager, assistant, as well as other important members of my team all help with varying aspects of my business. I wouldn't be able to accomplish 90% of the things that I task myself with each week without them. We all work collectively and most importantly cohesively and this is where I'm really able to see just how important it is to surround yourself with talented, positive, and supportive people. Through their help, I'm able to run a very busy schedule and still have the time and energy to enjoy the ride!
AR: What kinds of reactions do you tend to get when you speak on such topics as the ones covered in the book?
AW: I can honestly say that I've been blessed in that regard. To have so much of what I've had to share in my interviews, speaking engagements, and now writing career to be so well received is a phenomenal experience. Though, it is at speaking engagements where I really get an opportunity to interface with many of my readers and I am blown away at times at the sheer number of people who express a dyer 'need' for my message and appreciation for what I'm trying to accomplish. It is truly humbling!
AR: What's the main message you want readers to take from You, Me, And We?
AW: I want my readers to know that reshaping the way we live and love is possible only through faith, mutual understanding and a keen sense of reverence for our people, our passion, and most of all, our purpose. Each of us deserves to reap the benefits of fruitful, more communicative relationships, and I hope that they walk away from reading the book entertained, empowered, and equipped with the tools necessary to be successful in truly living a life of happiness, wealth, and abundance.
AR: Your next book is slated to be released in early 2008. Care to share a little about it with our readers?
AW: Sure. Well first off, the book itself will be ready in early 2008, but I'm presently in negotiations with a couple of major publishers for the rights, but self-publishing is still an option. Should I decide to pursue the traditional publishing route, I won't have much control over when the physical book will be introduced to the market, but I promise in either case it will be released in 2008.
I can tell you that the book, generally speaking, is going to be a consortium of ideals that deal with mentoring, parenting, youth advocacy, and childhood investment. I can also promise that I'm midway through the book and my team and I are extremely excited about this next project, and I can't wait to release it after my 2008 You, Me, and We tour!!
AR: Any final thoughts you'd like to share?
AW: I'd just like to say thank you again for the opportunity to discuss You, Me, and We. Secondly, all of my readers can reach me at www.myspace.com/andregwilliams or www.AndreGWilliams.com. As I stated, I will be touring extensively in 2008, so be sure to visit these sites for the latest news and information for Andre' G. Williams. Lastly, "You, Me, and We" is available through direct purchase or order at/through any major retailer.
Thanks again!
AR: Thanks again, Andre, and best of continued success to you in all your endeavors!