All About Love: Anatomy of an Unruly Emotion

An exquisitely written dissection and history of love in the West through music, literature, interviews and personal experience. While the book mainly focuses on erotic love, it also examines love between friends and between parents and their children. It offers an incisive and insightful map of contemporary relationships in a landscape where anything goes. Meticulously researched and finely argued, Appignanesi reminds us that love, precisely because it is unruly, makes us do some very strange things. The paths of love, as Hardy wrote, are rougher than thoroughfares of stones. If I were to quibble - reviews are an exercise in quibbling - there are moments when the book almost threatens to lapse into self-help, but these moments are few and her argument elucidates, explains, gives perspective and reassures. A beautiful book.

This book is a bit heavy so don't read when tired but it is interesting and thought provoking. Will we ever truly understand the subject though.

Very pleased with purchase. As described. Many thanks

Well written and easy to read. Grouped into chapters exploring different kinds of love and looking at various sources from great literature to popular culture. Some sections were especially moving. Made me want to read more of the author's work.