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Binding: PaperbackDewey Decimal Number: 152.41 EAN: 9780375709227 ISBN: 0375709223 Label: Vintage Manufacturer: Vintage Number Of Items: 1 Number Of Pages: 288 Publication Date: January 09, 2001 Publisher: Vintage Release Date: January 09, 2001 Studio: Vintage Related Items:
Browse for similar items by category: Click to Display Editorial Review: Amazon.com Review: Poor, poor science--it gets blamed for everything. While it might be true that some of our alienation and unhappiness stem from a too-rational misunderstanding of emotion, it's also true that science is its own remedy. A General Theory of Love, by San Francisco psychiatrists Thomas Lewis, Fari Amini, and Richard Lannon, is a powerfully humanistic look at the natural history of our deepest feelings, and why a simple hug is often more important than a portfolio full of stock options. Their grasp of neural science is topnotch, but the book is more about humans as social animals and how we relate to others--for once, the brain plays second fiddle to the heart. Though some of their social analysis is less than fully thought out--surely e-mail isn't a truly unique form of communication, as they suggest--the work as a whole is strong and merits attention. Science, it turns out, does have much to say about our messy feelings and relationships. While much of it could be filed under "common sense," it's nice to know that common sense is replicable. Hard-science types will probably be exasperated with the constant shifts between data and appeals to emotional truths, but the rest of us will see in A General Theory of Love a new synthesis of research and poetry. --Rob Lightner Product Description: Drawing comparisons to the most eloquent science writing of our day, three eminent psychiatrists tackle the difficult task of reconciling what artists and thinkers have known for thousands of years about the human heart with what has only recently been learned about the primitive functions of the human brain. The result is an original, lucid, at times moving account of the complexities of love and its essential role in human well-being. A General Theory of Love draws on the latest scientific research to demonstrate that our nervous systems are not self-contained: from earliest childhood, our brains actually link with those of the people close to us, in a silent rhythm that alters the very structure of our brains, establishes life-long emotional patterns, and makes us, in large part, who we are. Explaining how relationships function, how parents shape their child’s developing self, how psychotherapy really works, and how our society dangerously flouts essential emotional laws, this is a work of rare passion and eloquence that will forever change the way you think about human intimacy. Average Rating:
 Rating:  - An ABSOLUTELY WONDERFUL BOOK!! Runs the gamut from self-evident to groundbreakingly informative and innovative. And for another extraordinary read, I recommend That's How the Light Gets In: Memoir of a Psychiatrist by Susan Rako, M.D. The title comes from a song by Leonard Cohen: "There is a crack, a crack in everything. That's how the light gets in." Rako's book is remarkably candid, fascinating, insightful, and wonderfully well-written. It's a great read. The writing just flows. Rating:  - Strong startThe book starts out strong with biological explanations for why we become sad or depressed when separated from those we love. The authors provide examples of this despair occuring in most mammals and explain in great detail the areas of our brain that coincide to create attachments. But then the book takes a different turn and focuses on how to grow children who are emotionally strong and healthy. I was still looking for insight into how to foster emotional health in adults. Still a worthwhile ... Read More Rating: - Excellent interpretation of the science of loveWhat I hate most about reading about an author's love philosophy is that usually it's full of mushy gushy stories about destiny and true love. This book is completely different. It may seem a bit dry in comparison, but what it lacks in storytelling it makes up for in scientific scrutiny of the human mind and our brain's capacity for love. I read this book several years ago, and what still stands out in my mind was the contrast between the brain of a chicken and the brain of a dog (or maybe it was a ... Read More Rating: - What Really Happens When Love AppearsJust what the doctor ordered. Written with with a poet's flourish this well-researched book is an easy read of a complex subject. Definitely a new way of looking at the most talked about yet least understood subject - Love! Rating: - Amazing readIt was an interesting approach to characterize love scientifically. The book has many clear insights although sometimes it feels like they are making stretches to get to their points. Aside from that, this is an incredible read that points us in the right direction to living a more healthy and fulfilling life. 
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