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A Natural History of Love
The bestselling author of A Natural History of the Senses now explores the allure of adultery, the appeal of aphrodisiacs, and the cult of the kiss. Enchantingly written and stunningly informed, this "audaciously brilliant romp through the world of romantic love" (Washington Post Book World) is the next best thing to love itself.
Paperback, 384 pages
Published
February 21st 1995
by Vintage
(first published February 21st 1994)
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I decided to write my very first review for this book but GoodReads decided that it would be a fabulous idea to no longer function after I clicked the "submit" button. Thanks, GoodReads.
Maybe it's a sign that I'm really awful at writing reviews and should just stick to rating books while brooding in my dark, quiet corner of the world.
Alas, I'll leave you with this:
Love feeds a million watchfires in the encampment of the body
Love it or leave it.
Maybe it's a sign that I'm really awful at writing reviews and should just stick to rating books while brooding in my dark, quiet corner of the world.
Alas, I'll leave you with this:
Love feeds a million watchfires in the encampment of the body
Love it or leave it.
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Love seems the perfect topic for a writer like Diane Ackerman to tackle -- her writing is frilly, juicy, bursting with enthusiasm for her subject. Best so far is her explanation of the knight's role with his lady: lingering in the deliciousness of physical desire, playing peek-a-boo with certain body parts, titillating but rarely touching -- all in the name of adding a spice to the Lady's eroticless marriage and elevating the knight's virtue! Yum! If I smoked, I'd need a cigarette after reading...more
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The historical background on love through the ages, and in different cultures was really interesting (granted it was very Western) and followed a nice progression from ancient Greece to the Victorian era.
After awhile the book moves into musings on love, which though interesting, I thought went on too long. Honestly I just skimmed most of them, they were so long.
I would have liked more of the actual history, and more perspectives from different parts of the world.
After awhile the book moves into musings on love, which though interesting, I thought went on too long. Honestly I just skimmed most of them, they were so long.
I would have liked more of the actual history, and more perspectives from different parts of the world.
(from Semper Augustus)
Having previously read Diane Ackerman's A Natural History of the Senses, comprised of wit and beautiful prose, anecdotes from both nature and history, insightful depth into the nature of our five senses, and scientific fact, I expected a lot from A Natural History of Love. And to be sure, the first 130 pages were interesting.
Ackerman moves through history and literature to describe the many ways we have conceived of love. Beginning in Egypt, she describes the role that ima...more
Having previously read Diane Ackerman's A Natural History of the Senses, comprised of wit and beautiful prose, anecdotes from both nature and history, insightful depth into the nature of our five senses, and scientific fact, I expected a lot from A Natural History of Love. And to be sure, the first 130 pages were interesting.
Ackerman moves through history and literature to describe the many ways we have conceived of love. Beginning in Egypt, she describes the role that ima...more
diane ackerman takes on the subject of love, much as she has taken on other subjects as an author of creative non-fiction over the years, and explores the history, physiology and mythologies of this romantic subject. as always, ackerman proves that the world of nonfiction need not be non-literate or staid, as her writing carries a certain lyrical quality and poetic sensibility i always enjoy. this was not my favourite of her books, and it may be that the subject matter is just not that interesti...more
I expected to learn more reading this book. Early on the book, she uses the story of Orpheus and Eurydice as an example of desire. At the end of the section, she has a riff on what the myth could mean. It didn't ring true to me, it was if she left out something essential. It made me read the rest of the book with an awareness that I was questioning her interpretations. I kept thinking: If I didn't get much out of or even agree with her interpretation of a story I know well, how could I trust her...more
Nov 09, 2011
Susan
added it
A LOVEly (!) read! A Natural History of the Senses is one of my all-time favorite books and while this one wasn't quite as delicious (!), it was a pleasure and fascinating to read. And yes, one of the things I learned was that the word "fascinating" comes from the Greek (I think) word for "penis" and I think of that every single time I say or write the word "fascinating" ~ which is, as it turns out, a lot.
An interesting, quick-moving study of the biological, evolutionary, and anthropological ramifications of the fact that humans are (or at least are now) hard-wired to love each other.
Ackerman does a good job of steering clear of anything that smacks of sappy romance or warm fuzzy reassurance that "everything will be OK because we're all programmed for love. Let's everyone get stoned and fuck." If one is going to take a serious look at the vague concept of love as a biological function (and claim...more
Ackerman does a good job of steering clear of anything that smacks of sappy romance or warm fuzzy reassurance that "everything will be OK because we're all programmed for love. Let's everyone get stoned and fuck." If one is going to take a serious look at the vague concept of love as a biological function (and claim...more
History part fascinating.
Psychology part interesting and thought-provoking.
Last third was hard to read.
Extremely heterosexual and very close-minded about sex. Definitely more of a conservative author, but she does keep relatively neutral in the history and psychology sections, which was appreciated.
Psychology part interesting and thought-provoking.
Last third was hard to read.
Extremely heterosexual and very close-minded about sex. Definitely more of a conservative author, but she does keep relatively neutral in the history and psychology sections, which was appreciated.
Ackerman's prose is beautifully lush though it does start to get rather purple; by the end, one starts to want her to realize that it's enough with the fancy anecdote and evocative metaphor and just spit it out already. Fascinating, complex material made accessible.
Partially my own fault for not liking it, I was really hoping for an actual history book. Too little scholarship, too much of the author's musings on love. Then again, that's my taste - it might be great for others. Has some well written passages.
A favorite-- This is poetry and science dancing together. Read my full review here on my book blog!
Available at Teton County Library, call number 306.7 Ackerman
Available at Teton County Library, call number 306.7 Ackerman
I read this in the 90's and liked it less than A Natural history of the Senses, but also found it interesting mix of cultural history, storytelling and science facts around love. Fell in love with Oxytocin in this book.
I was alternately bored to tears and completely fascinated by this book. And it took me forever to read. But in the end, it was a highly enlightening endeavor.
Explaining love in terms of evolutionary imperatives and chemical reactions isn't exactly romantic, but makes so much sense. I was disappointed, though, that while Ackerman touched on many of the "hows" and "whys" of love, one lingering question was not answered: Why are we attracted to one person over another? What exactly sets those chem...more
Explaining love in terms of evolutionary imperatives and chemical reactions isn't exactly romantic, but makes so much sense. I was disappointed, though, that while Ackerman touched on many of the "hows" and "whys" of love, one lingering question was not answered: Why are we attracted to one person over another? What exactly sets those chem...more
This book gave me a more realistic outlook on love. Anyone still holding on to their Hollywood, Disney ideals of romance and finding themselves utterly disappointed would do well to read this book.
This book is well-written, with a wealth of information, and fun to read. But it bothered me that she gives no documentation, even when she quotes other people directly.
I picked up this book from my shelf-- apparently I have already read it... but I have no memory of it! From rereading the first couple of chapters, though, I'm not sure I'd give it as many as 3 stars. She seems to proceed without first defining what she means by "love." Is it a feeling? Is it hormones? An emotional state? Is it something you DO? A close reader (or someone who has read a whole lot about "love") will notice that she uncritically bounces around between different conceptions of love...more
I love Diane Ackerman, but this book has totally obliterated my romance with her. Horses? Unicorns? The Indy 500? She's searching, and way too sappy.
Aug 25, 2009
Maggie Campbell
marked it as to-read
"Love makes mania respectable."
"I did not mean to be diverted from my path by pleasure; I couldn't help myself. In the same way, love distracts one from the tidiest plans, the narrowest course, the clearest goals."
"Wouldn't it make more sense to believe that when love brings two people together they are a community of two, not a compound of one?"
"The loves of two people in love with each other are seldom the same."
"Fear, too, is crucial to love. Certainty, familiarity, complacency- they all lead...more
"I did not mean to be diverted from my path by pleasure; I couldn't help myself. In the same way, love distracts one from the tidiest plans, the narrowest course, the clearest goals."
"Wouldn't it make more sense to believe that when love brings two people together they are a community of two, not a compound of one?"
"The loves of two people in love with each other are seldom the same."
"Fear, too, is crucial to love. Certainty, familiarity, complacency- they all lead...more
Sep 16, 2008
Laylo
added it
While there are a few very interesting facts regarding love, sex, and history, Ackerman's metaphors border on the ridiculously cheesy. Several times in the course of reading, I found myself rolling my eyes and yelling, "oh my gawdddd!!!! are you (expletive deleted) serious?!" I would post a few examples if I were in the mood to wince and cringe, but I just ate.
*ALSO, I am thoroughly perplexed by the use of such antiquated terms as "discos" (as a plural noun) in a contemporary context. In a book...more
*ALSO, I am thoroughly perplexed by the use of such antiquated terms as "discos" (as a plural noun) in a contemporary context. In a book...more
She presents some interesting facts - scientific and anthropological. Talks a little too much about herself
I find that when reading this book and "Natural History of the Senses" back-to-back, this one suffers in comparison. But after re-reading this on its own, I find it to be as brilliant--at certain parts she's on the edge of sappiness--but I guess when the subject is love, it takes a lot of talent to not get sappy and melodramatic. Any writer deciding to take on this tricky subject ought to have a strong stomach and get ready for the brick-bats. On the second reading, I noticed that the book start...more
Both poetic and scientific. Ackerman is a provocative and perspicacious writer.
This book was actually brutal to read...while I found the first third mildly entertaining the rest was difficult and I often found my mind wandering. To be sure, love and the idea of being "in love" is a difficult concept to tackle and I truly wanted to learn something new. I did, but it was a painful read that was about 150 pages too long...
I decided to stop reading about a third of the way through. I just lost interest.
Not my favorite treatment of one of my favorite subjects.
What can I say about perfection and intellect?
Jul 27, 2007
Nicole
rated it
4 of 5 stars
Recommends it for:
anyone who is interested in the historical context of love
Diane Ackerman covers the history of love from Egypt through the present, examining the origins of rituals like marriage and where love comes from. It's a pretty ambitious topic, but the delicious details in the book--like that giving a "toast" comes from medieval times when people would put actual bread in the glass and drink until the liquid was gone--make it a fascinating and extremely educational read. If you need cool facts to spout at a cocktail party or are just a hopeful romantic, this b...more
Incredible book. I have no other words for this except that YOU SHOULD ALL READ IT.
I love, love, love A Natural History of Love. :)
I love, love, love A Natural History of Love. :)
When I first saw the title of Nicole Krauss' The History of Love, I got rilly excited, because I thought it'd be a deconstruction of the trope. Imagine my disappointment when I realized it was a love...story.
Bleh.
I fink this is the text that I was looking for...but we shall see.
...
And, no.
Vomit.
Bleh.
I fink this is the text that I was looking for...but we shall see.
...
And, no.
Vomit.
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Diane Ackerman received her B.A. in English from Penn State and an M.F.A. and Ph.D. in English from Cornell University in 1978. Her dissertation advisor was Carl Sagan. From 1980 to 1983 she taught English at the University of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. She has been married to novelist Paul West since 1970. She currently resides in Ithaca, New York. A collection of her manuscripts, writings and pap...more
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“When I set a glass prism on a windowsill and allow the sun to flood through it, a spectrum of colors dances on the floor. What we call "white" is a rainbow of colored rays packed into a small space. The prism sets them free. Love is the white light of emotion.”
—
26 people liked it
“Love is like a batik created from many emotional colors, it is a fabric whose pattern and brightness may vary.”
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6 people liked it
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