What Love Is: And What It Could Be

What Love Is examines romantic love through both scientific and philosophical lenses. Jenkins, a philosopher at the University of British Columbia, combines research from biology, psychology, and anthropology with philosophical inquiry to analyze the nature of romantic relationships. The book tackles fundamental questions about love's biological basis while exploring its social construction across cultures and time periods. Through personal narrative interwoven with academic analysis, Jenkins investigates how factors like monogamy, marriage traditions, and gender norms shape our understanding of romantic love. Jenkins challenges readers to question their assumptions about what constitutes "normal" or "natural" love. By examining love as both a biological phenomenon and a social construct, the book presents a framework for understanding this complex human experience in deeper, more nuanced ways.

Readers found the book offers a philosophical examination of romantic love that blends academic analysis with personal narrative. Many note it provides a fresh perspective on how biology and social construction interact in shaping love. Readers appreciated: - Clear explanations of complex philosophical concepts - Personal anecdotes that ground the theory - Discussion of polyamory and non-traditional relationships - Rigorous academic approach while remaining accessible Common criticisms: - Too much focus on author's personal experiences - Arguments sometimes feel repetitive - Some sections become overly technical - Insufficient exploration of platonic love Ratings: Goodreads: 3.7/5 (447 ratings) Amazon: 4.1/5 (31 ratings) Sample reader comment: "Jenkins effectively bridges the gap between academic philosophy and everyday experience of love, though at times the personal narrative overshadows the philosophical argument." - Goodreads reviewer Several readers noted the book works better as an examination of love's nature rather than a practical guide to relationships.

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The Power of Romantic Love by Carol C. Gould Presents philosophical arguments about romantic love's role in human flourishing and social justice.

Love 2.0 by Barbara Fredrickson Integrates scientific research from psychology and neuroscience to reframe love as a series of micro-moments of connection.

Against Love by Laura Kipnis Examines the political and social constructs behind modern romantic love through critical theory and cultural criticism.

🔹 Author Carrie Jenkins is both a philosophy professor and award-winning poet, bringing unique perspectives from both analytical and creative fields to her exploration of love. 💝 The book challenges the common notion that romantic love is purely biological or purely social, proposing instead a "dual nature" theory that combines both elements. 🎓 Jenkins wrote this book while holding the Canada Research Chair in Philosophy at the University of British Columbia, where she leads groundbreaking research on the nature of love and relationships. 🔹 The author draws from her personal experience as a polyamorous woman to examine how traditional concepts of love might be too narrow to capture all valid forms of romantic relationships. 💝 The book's publication in 2017 coincided with a growing academic interest in the philosophy of love, helping establish it as a serious field of contemporary philosophical study.