Audiobook8 hours
A General Theory of Love
Written by Thomas Lewis, MD, Fari Amini, MD and Richard Lannon, MD
Narrated by Chris Sorensen
Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
4/5
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About this audiobook
This original and lucid account of the complexities of love and its essential role in human well-being draws on the latest scientific research. 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.
A General Theory of Love demonstrates 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.
A General Theory of Love demonstrates 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.
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Reviews for A General Theory of Love
Rating: 4.097560975609755 out of 5 stars
4/5
123 ratings6 reviews
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5This is what I got out of it: all our lives, our feeling mammal limbic brains are (hopefully) seeking out others in order to help us survive and/or prosper. Therefore we better learn to love and care for each other, and especially for our young, otherwise human future will be irreparably damaged at an early stage, and the healing will be difficult, if possible at all.Must say I was slightly disappointed by this... thesis, which does not sound very new to me, quite the opposite. It sounds almost conservative, like an idea from the 50s, and whoever is bringing it up wants to confirm it by pointing out the physiological side of it. This is what we are born with... these should be our instincts. As a result, for example, mothers are put right back in their realm of motherhood, with its responsibilities of love and caring and... terrible mistakes, should they fail. (Parents as a couple are mentioned rarely and other parenting models are not dwelled on.) This may all well be so, however, what was lacking, was some kind of support or proof that this, indeed, is the case. The opinions in the book seemed tome to me just that - opinions and observations. And these were juxtaposed to poetry and... other observations. I hope more scientific research has been performed to confirm all this since. Obviously, should this really be the case, it would be essential to develop societies that understand and also meet and respond to these needs. And perhaps we should then teach the findings in schools - trying to develop emotional intelligence along other skills. I am giving it 3 stars because of the importance of the topic and my interest for it.
1 person found this helpful
- Rating: 1 out of 5 stars1/5I had to give this a low rating so that people will hopefully stop having Chris Sorenson narrate books. I don't know how he keeps getting hired! I tried increasing the speed so I could get through it sooner but I just had to stop listening altogether. Such a shame. I've heard good things about this book. Hopefully they come out with another narrator who is actually decent to listen to.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5This book is nerdy and will kill romance for you. By way of science. It is a great listen/read.
- Rating: 3 out of 5 stars3/5A General Theory of Love has really made me question the use, or really for which intent, starred reads on Goodreads are of use. This book contains elegant prose and the authors have a clear, well-rounded integration of literature, philosophy and neuroscience. Ultimately an enjoyable read I found it hard to follow the path laid where the discussion of childhood attachment includes no reference to Judith Harris's research in The Nurture Assumption or really squares much of any claim with scientific data. I found some great insights into the practice and purpose of therapy, and relatedness and general, but a large erroneous claims about culture and society that were unnecessary and outdated. I wouldn't start the study of emotions and neuroscience with this book but I would recommend it on a reading list, especially when considering the limits of rational inquiry and the significant impact of relationships for general well-being.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Other than a slight tendancy towards aurate magniloquence, this is a thorough and readable introduction to neuro-psychology. Worth it for anyone interested in brains at all, plus it has the best paper-back cover ever.
- Rating: 5 out of 5 stars5/5Outstanding; it's groundbreaking in that in just 230 pages it connects all the dots from early childhood (attachment theory plus much more), brain physiology to modern therapy that gradually & positively alters the old mental/emotional harmful wiring in we humans through the therapeutic emotional sharing between therapist & client! This book is a required read for many psychology students & graduate students that go to CIIS (California Institute of Integral Studies) here in San Francisco. It could be just a tad more accessible to everyone by using simpler language but overall it is definitely NOT bogged down by psychology jargon.