WILKES-BARRE – With Valentine’s Day in mind, a local author offered his thoughts on cultivating and preserving a fulfilling relationship.

David Weinberger, Ph.D., author of “Think Smart,” signed copies of his book at Barnes & Noble on South Main Street on Monday as he answered questions and offered advice – advice based on 35-year career of working with couples and marriages and trying to keep families together.

“The book doesn’t tell you what to think,” he said. “It tells you how to think. It encourages you to examine what drives your decisions in people and relationships.”

Weinberger, 66, is a native of Scranton. He said he has a “great marriage” and he credits his wife, Nancy, a nurse, as the reason for his physical health and overall happiness.

Weinberger has a few keys to a successful relationships:

• Spend time with someone to truly get to know them.

• Have mutual trust and respect – honesty is a given.

• Make each other feel valued and work at making each other feel understood.

• Talk to each other, problem-solve and have fun.

• Communicate – the key to communication is listening.

“It’s not rocket science,” he said. “Live in the moment and appreciate it.”

Weinberger has “Davidisms” in his book. He shared a few:

• If you live in the present through past history, you trade off the future.

• There is a difference between being in a relationship and building one.

• Intrapersonal issues always supersede interpersonal ones.

Weinberger said he wrote “Think Smart” to thank all the people who had a part to play in contributing to his growth and understanding of human behavior and to give back what he took from those encounters, in the hope that it could help to make a significant difference in the lives of others.

The book was mainly written with intimate or romantic relationships in mind, but also deals with relationships with family members, co-workers, casual acquaintances or close friendships.

What can people expect from “Think Smart”?

“People will learn that we are all cut out of the same fabric,” Weinberger said. “What makes us different is how we wear our clothes.”