A General Theory of Love

By: Richard Lannon MD, Thomas Lewis MD, Fari Amini MD

Narrated by: Chris Sorensen

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.

©2000 T. Lewis, F. Amini, and R. Lannon (P)2017 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Three psychiatry professors cover an impressive vista of research and clinical insights from Freud to contemporary neuroscience...the book is well written and provides a credible introduction to the neuroscience of emotions." ( Library Journal)

amazing explanation of Neuroscience

I really enjoyed the explanation of how the different parts of the brain interact with each other. If you do not have a background in medicine, this would be difficult to understand. Narration could have been better, however the material is absolutely worth listening to.

Good but dated

This book is a delightful and poetic approach to understanding the self but is most plagued by a no longer (never?) accepted tripartite theory of the brain. I believe there is still enough to engage the general reader but a supplemental understanding of the current description of the structure of the brain is sorely needed to bring this book to five stars.

Great content, okay narration

They narration was a little hard to follow for me personally. The contents of the book though - really crucial information that everyone should know and have access to! I also wish the book was written in more accessible vocabulary so it could reach a wider audience!

Good book, really comes together around Chapter 8

This book is very insightful, fact based, and generally well written. Despite it being quite wordy, I understand why it would be necessary and beneficial for every prospective therapist and parent to read, if not everyone in general.

Very well done

This is a well eritten book about how we form loving conmections towards one another. some may find it difficult to read or listen to, without basic medical terminology.

Great book, useful information

I love this book, the authors tied together so much information on current neuroscience and common sense that I was constantly getting little “aha!” moments. It not only explained how love works, but also built a useful way to think about how love and connection can be created, maintained and even restored. It’s a great antidote to the barrage of self-help books with quickie solutions... sorry, the authors say, this is the limbic brain we are talking about, not the neo-cortex ... and that memory/processing system while fast acting and powerful, is a slow learner.

Great subject matter-hard to listen to

This is a book that probably needs to be read vs listened to. The vocab is pretty advanced of you’re casually listening in the car or doing other things. It required a lot of focus and going back several times to catch things.
In addition, the narrator’s vocal style and pattern I found incredibly grating, so I didn’t *want* to listen on a certain level, which is unfortunate because the subject matter is fascinating. I just think this is the kind of book that’s better to read.

everyone must read or listen this book

those book helped me to understand why I do things that I done want to do but I do even if I understand that they are bad for me.

"I understand but I keep doing it. why?"

mediocre

held back by preachy tone and the inability to decide if it wants to be analytical or new age pseudo science advocate, with a performance that sounds like they dumped the entire script into Microsoft Sam. still fairly entertaining though.

Enjoyed book not narrator

Really enjoyed the substance of the book. Very insightful and easy to understand. Found the narrator to be robotic and mechanical. I almost thought it was a computer reading it. Somewhat sing songy. Would have enjoyed a warmer deeper, more emotional voice.