Why We Love

PUBLISHERS WEEKLY 10. JAN. 2022

Love sits at the center of human existence, according to this sharp survey from anthropologist Machin (The Life of Dad). Aiming to give "the expansionist answer" to the question of why humans love, Machin considers 10 topics, or "answers," to the question. She covers the science behind each—her reasons for love include survival, in which she explains the "evolutionary quirk" that results in human babies being born with a brain that's not yet fully developed and thus needing extensive care; motivation ("the power of love enables us to cross what appear to be impossible hurdles"); and addiction, in which Machin explains why love can feel obsessive and akin to an opioid high (thanks to oxytocin, dopamine, serotonin, and beta-endorphins). There's also attachment, which impacts psychology and behavior, and control, which, Machin writes, is unique to human love, that "arguably our greatest and most intense life experience can be used against us." Machin draws from plenty of studies of both the human and animal worlds, and her personal interjections are energizing: "Human love is awe-inspiring. I believe it defines our humanity." This provocative account is a fitting tribute to its subject.