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The Scientific American Book of Love, Sex and the Brain: The Neuroscience of How, When, Why and Who We Love

ISBN: 978-0-470-64778-3
264 pages
April 2012, Jossey-Bass
US $25.95 Add to Cart

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January 11, 2012
San Francisco, CA

The Scientific American Book of Love, Sex and the Brain: The Neuroscience of How, When, Why and Who We Love

"This wonderful and accessible book will definitely make you rethink what you thought you knew about love. Andrew Newberg, M.D., Co-Author of How God Changes Your Brain

The Scientific American Book of Love, Sex and the

Brain: The Neuroscience of How, When, Why and Who We Love

 Who do we love? Who loves us? And why? Is love really a mystery, or can neuroscience offer some answers to these age-old questions?

In her third enthralling book about the brain, The Scientific American Book of Love, Sex and the Brain: The Neuroscience of How, When, Why and Who We Love (Jossey-Bass, 978-1-118-11682-1; December 2011; $32.95) Judith Horstman takes us on a lively tour of our most important sex and love organ and the whole smorgasbord of our many kinds of love—from the bonding of parent and child to the passion of erotic love, the affectionate love of companionship, the role of animals in our lives, and the love of God.

Drawing on the latest neuroscience, she explores why and how we are born to love—how we’re hardwired to crave the companionship of others, and how very badly things can go without love. Among the findings: parental love makes our brain bigger, sex and orgasm make it healthier, social isolation makes it miserable—and although the craving for romantic love can be described as an addiction, friendship may actually be the most important loving relationship of your life.

“Love is fascinating to me because it is something that we all crave, and it’s essential for our personal well-being.  I felt that much had been written on the ‘mysteries of love,’ but not about the interworking of all the different ways that humans can love.  This book was written to provide people with a better understanding of not only how their brain works, but also how and why we love,” say author Judith Horstman.

Based on recent studies and articles culled from the prestigious Scientific American and Scientific American Mind magazines, The Scientific American Book of Love, Sex, and the Brain offers a fascinating look at how the brain controls our loving relationships, most intimate moments, and our deep and basic need for connection.