Why We Love cover art

Why We Love

The Definitive Guide to Our Most Fundamental Need

 Preview

Audible Standard 30-day free trial

Try Standard free
Select 1 audiobook a month from our entire collection.
Listen to your selected audiobooks as long as you're a member.
Get unlimited access to bingeable podcasts.
Standard auto renews for £5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Why We Love

By: Anna Machin
Narrated by: Sophie Bentinck
Try Standard free

£5.99 a month after 30 days. Cancel anytime.

Buy Now for £14.35

Buy Now for £14.35

About this listen

In this entertaining and accessible exploration of love, Oxford anthropologist Dr Anna Machin dives into the science behind the myriad types of love that exist in the world, including romantic love, parental love, friendships, love for pets, football teams, religious love and even love for our smartphones.

Through original research brought to life by interviews and case studies, and encompassing such fascinating areas as polyamorous relationships, parasocial (love for a celebrity) and sacred loves, this book argues that it is time to stop putting romantic love on a pedestal. By exploring the science that illuminates the benefits of all our different close relationships, Dr Anna Machin encourages us to reconsider the importance of love in our own lives, to interrogate our own experiences and to reconnect with the heart of what it really means to be human.

PLEASE NOTE: When you purchase this title, the accompanying PDF will be available in your Audible Library along with the audio.

©2022 Anna Machin (P)2022 Weidenfeld & Nicolson Anthropology Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Funny Mental Health

Critic reviews

"This book opens the Pandora's Box on this most complex and puzzling aspect of what it is to be human." (Robin Dunbar, author of Friends)

"Anna Machin offers a lively guide to the many kinds of human love that exist, and the biology and psychology that explain why we love the way we do." (Frans de Waal, author of Mama's Last Hug)
All stars
Most relevant
I really learnt a lot from this audiobook so much so that I was able to hold a conversation about love and neurotransmitters with people with deep interests in phsycology.

The author invites us to think of love differently from an evolutionary stand point. I was surprised to think of love as a motivator, as a bribe to seek out and maintain relationships for the survival of offsprings.

Almost the same epiphany moment I had with reading the selfish gene!

I will listen to again and probably again just to fully absorp the ideas

Demystifying Love!

Something went wrong. Please try again in a few minutes.