The Science Of Marriage: Lessons From The Love Lab (2009) - Plot & Excerpts
Dry as dust, but if you're in a relationship, ever been in a relationship, or had any hope of ever getting into a relationship, you should read this. It's really just a summary of one study after another, with the tiniest of hints at the author's personal life, but I learned a ton, and it made a lot of things make sense. Proves as well that we are all having a universal experience, regardless whether we think we're unique. Not only does love make you stupid, but 75% of Harlequin romance novels feature a relationship dynamic that is the No. 1 behavioural predictor of divorce. Thoroughly enjoyed. I think Tara Parker-Pope is a fabulous science writer, but she lacks (and this is mostly a good thing) that narrative impulse for embellishment or extrapolation that those less familiar with scientific studies adopt when explaining things to the simple old public. It's not like this book is dry necessarily; it just doesn't have any shock value. Super concise and well argued, but no narrative thrust. Compared to Malcolm Gladwell, who I think is kind of a hoax but is a rather gripping writer, Parker-Pope plods on dependably but not that excitingly.
What do You think about The Science Of Marriage: Lessons From The Love Lab (2009)?
It was really interesting reading about the statistics/science behind what makes a good marriage.
—sarahT
What I read was fascinating but didn't get far. Maybe I'll pick it up again soon.
—linajp
Very cerebral way of looking at relationships and marriage. Very interesting.
—Lynn
