A Book About Love

**“Jonah Lehrer has a lot to offer the world....The book is interesting on nearly every page....Good writers make writing look easy, but what people like Lehrer do is not easy at all.” —David Brooks, __The New York Times Book Review__** Science writer Jonah Lehrer explores the mysterious subject of love.Weaving together scientific studies from clinical psychologists, longitudinal studies of health and happiness, historical accounts and literary depictions, child-rearing manuals, and the language of online dating sites, Jonah Lehrer’s __A Book About Love__ plumbs the most mysterious, most formative, most important impulse governing our lives. Love confuses and compels us—and it can destroy and define us. It has inspired our greatest poetry, defined our societies and our beliefs, and governs our biology. From the way infants attach to their parents, to the way we fall in love with another person, to the way some find a love for God or their pets, to the way we remember and mourn love after it ends, this book focuses on research that attempts, even in glancing ways, to deal with the long-term and the everyday. The most dangerous myth of love is that it’s easy, that we fall into the feeling and then the feeling takes care of itself. While we can easily measure the dopamine that causes the initial feelings of “falling” in love, the partnerships and devotions that last decades or longer remain a mystery. This book is about that mystery. Love, Lehrer argues, is not built solely on overwhelming passion, but, fascinatingly, on a set of skills to be cultivated over a lifetime. Weaving Together Scientific Studies From Clinical Psychologists, Longitudinal Studies Of Health And Happiness, Historical Accounts And Literary Depictions, Child-rearing Manuals, And The Language Of Online Dating Sites, Jonah Lehrer's A Book About Love Plumbs The Most Mysterious, Most Formative, Most Important Impulse Governing Our Lives. Love Confuses And Compels Us--and It Can Destroy And Define Us. It Has Inspired Our Greatest Poetry, Defined Our Societies And Our Beliefs, And Governs Our Biology. From The Way Infants Attach To Their Parents, To The Way We Fall In Love With Another Person, To The Way Some Find A Love For God Or Their Pets, To The Way We Remember And Mourn Love After It Ends, This Book Focuses On Research That Attempts, Even In Glancing Ways, To Deal With The Long-term And The Everyday. The Most Dangerous Myth Of Love Is That It's Easy, That We Fall Into The Feeling And Then The Feeling Takes Care Of Itself. While We Can Easily Measure The Dopamine That Causes The Initial Feelings Of Falling In Love, The Partnerships And Devotions That Last Decades Or Longer Remain A Mystery. This Book Is About That Mystery. Love, Lehrer Argues, Is Not Built Solely On Overwhelming Passion, But, Fascinatingly, On A Set Of Skills To Be Cultivated Over A Lifetime. Introduction: Habituation -- Attachment. Interlude: Limerence -- The Abraham Principle -- The Marriage Plot. Interlude: Divorce -- Moments Of Grace. Interlude: Love Lost -- On Memory. Interlude: The Opposite Of Love -- Going On. Coda: Scarcity. Jonah Lehrer. Includes Bibliographical References (pages 261-288). Jonah Lehrer has a lot to offer the world.The book is interesting on nearly every page.Good writers make writing look easy, but what people like Lehrer do is not easy at all. David Brooks, The New York Times Book Review Science writer Jonah Lehrer explores the mysterious subject of love. Weaving together scientific studies from clinical psychologists, longitudinal studies of health and happiness, historical accounts and literary depictions, child-rearing manuals, and the language of online dating sites, Jonah Lehrers A Book About Love plumbs the most mysterious, most formative, most important impulse governing our lives. Love confuses and compels usand it can destroy and define us. It has inspired our greatest poetry, defined our societies and our beliefs, and governs our biology. From the way infants attach to their parents, to the way we fall in love with another person, to the way some find a love for God or their pets, to the way we remember and mourn love after it ends, this book focuses on research that attempts, even in glancing ways, to deal with the long-term and the everyday. The most dangerous myth of love is that its easy, that we fall into the feeling and then the feeling takes care of itself. While we can easily measure the dopamine that causes the initial feelings of falling in love, the partnerships and devotions that last decades or longer remain a mystery. This book is about that mystery. Love, Lehrer argues, is not built solely on overwhelming passion, but, fascinatingly, on a set of skills to be cultivated over a lifetime. "Weaving together scientific studies from clinical psychologists, longitudinal studies of health and happiness, historical accounts and literary depictions, child-rearing manuals, and the language of online dating sites, Jonah Lehrer's A Book About Love plumbs the most mysterious, most formative, most important impulse governing our lives. Love confuses and compels us--and it can destroy and define us. It has inspired our greatest poetry, defined our societies and our beliefs, and governs our biology. From the way infants attach to their parents, to the way we fall in love with another person, to the way some find a love for God or their pets, to the way we remember and mourn love after it ends, this book focuses on research that attempts, even in glancing ways, to deal with the long-term and the everyday. The most dangerous myth of love is that it's easy, that we fall into the feeling and then the feeling takes care of itself. While we can easily measure the dopamine that causes the initial feelings of "falling" in love, the partnerships and devotions that last decades or longer remain a mystery. This book is about that mystery. Love, Lehrer argues, is not built solely on overwhelming passion, but, fascinatingly, on a set of skills to be cultivated over a lifetime."-- From dust jacket