On Love
A Novel
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4.3 • 32 Ratings
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- $11.99
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- $11.99
Publisher Description
The New York Times–bestselling author's modern classic that "takes a conventional love story and textures it with philosophical ruminations" (Kirkus Reviews).
A man and a woman meet over casual conversation on a flight from Paris to London, and so begins a love story—from first kiss to first argument, elation to heartbreak, and everything in between. Each stage of the relationship is illuminated with starling clarity, as novelist and philosopher Alain de Botton explores young love and its emotions, often felt but rarely understood.
With a brilliant new introduction by Sheila Heti, the New York Times-bestselling author of How Should a Person Be?, On Love is a contemporary classic from an author "who seems to have been born to write" (The Boston Globe).
"Smart and ironic…The book's success has much to do with its beautifully modeled sentences, its wry humor, and its unwavering deadpan respect for the reader's intelligence." —Francine Prose, New Republic
"Witty, funny, sophisticated…full of wise and illuminating insights." —P.J. Kavanagh, Spectator
Customer Reviews
Amour's Labyrinth
To genuinely free ourselves from the quixotic chase of "ultimate love" stands as a paramount act of self-enlightenment.
De Botton intricately examines romantic interplay, employing the tale of Chloe and the narrator's fervent journey to make sense of the overwhelming rapture of a sentiment that humanity universally cherishes.
Navigating the tumult of disagreements, the magnanimity of forgiveness, the evolution from strangers to confidants, and, inevitably, the poignant detachment, De Botton provides lucid insights into the episodic manifestation of authentic love in contrast to its idyllic, almost coercive representation in romantic ideologies.
Readers are swiftly introduced to the inherent incongruities of romanticism, both as an intellectual construct and as a canon of affection.
"On Love" adeptly delineates the divide between our aspirational desires and the pragmatic realm of relationships, presenting a method that constructively reevaluates our deepest uncertainties regarding ourselves and our partners, past or present. This introspection empowers us to approach love with a refined perspective, undeniably fostering a more wholesome approach.
"On Love" is an essential exploration for young adults, with the innate ability to cultivate understanding for our partners' imperfections, thereby shaping us into more discerning, compassionate companions.