Reviews
The Chemistry Between Us: Love, Sex, and the Science of Attraction, by Larry Young, Brian Alexander
theybedax's review against another edition
4.0
While I did listen to this as an audiobook I do believe that I would of gotten more out of it if I had read it myself. So much of this was very interesting and I would love to see what might be added or changed since this was released.
morgan_blackledge's review against another edition
4.0
This book is a blast! It's laugh out loud, nurdy, raunchy fun. It's well written and researched and it's as informative as it is entertaining. If you end up reading it, be prepared to bug the shit out of your friends with all the neurosmut factoids you'll be (over) sharing with them during the coming weeks.
I highly recommend this book, but with a word of caution. If you decide to read this thing, prepare to have (what's left of) your puerile, romantic mysterienism regarding love, sex and attraction dashed on the rocky shores of psychnuroendocrinology. If you would prefer to maintain a shred of ignorant bliss (no judgment either way), than skip this one and enjoy your blue pill. I think those things are chewable, yum!
If you're ready to eat the red pill (an often bitter but acquired taste), you will be rewarded by having some of your most nagging questions from junior high school answered (at last) and some of your doubtlessly shameful secrets completely demystified and normalized.
Hint; It ain't magic, it's nervous systems under the influence of happy, crappy and fappy chemicals, doing what they evolved to do. Which is basically to trick, cajole or otherwise bamboozle you into the otherwise loathsome chore of reproduction. Alas, we are (largely) meat puppets dangling from strings of neurons and chemistry.
If the "miracle" of love is your higher power, and you equate the cutaway gear meets gear view of things with base reductionism, than be wise and pass. But if you're like me, and you find plausible naturalistic, cause and effect explanations sexy and uplifting (sublime even), than you just found your next read!
I highly recommend this book, but with a word of caution. If you decide to read this thing, prepare to have (what's left of) your puerile, romantic mysterienism regarding love, sex and attraction dashed on the rocky shores of psychnuroendocrinology. If you would prefer to maintain a shred of ignorant bliss (no judgment either way), than skip this one and enjoy your blue pill. I think those things are chewable, yum!
If you're ready to eat the red pill (an often bitter but acquired taste), you will be rewarded by having some of your most nagging questions from junior high school answered (at last) and some of your doubtlessly shameful secrets completely demystified and normalized.
Hint; It ain't magic, it's nervous systems under the influence of happy, crappy and fappy chemicals, doing what they evolved to do. Which is basically to trick, cajole or otherwise bamboozle you into the otherwise loathsome chore of reproduction. Alas, we are (largely) meat puppets dangling from strings of neurons and chemistry.
If the "miracle" of love is your higher power, and you equate the cutaway gear meets gear view of things with base reductionism, than be wise and pass. But if you're like me, and you find plausible naturalistic, cause and effect explanations sexy and uplifting (sublime even), than you just found your next read!
ari767's review against another edition
4.0
This was a good read. I study psychology and neuroscience in school, so I am already really into what this book is about. That being said, this book is co-written by a journalist, and the book does not read like a typical scientific paper or book. I recommend this for anyone who is even remotely interested in attraction and what happens in our brains to make us attracted to other people. The book also discusses biological bases of infidelity, homosexuality, drug addiction, and more. The book is also laid out so you can pick and choose the chapters you want to read if you are only interested in a specific topic.
danigonzalez's review against another edition
3.0
As a neuroscientist, this book was a very interesting read. The narratives in this book made it interesting to learn about what happens in our brains as we form romantic and familial attachments, and how those relationships shape us for the rest of our lives. While interesting, this book was not a fast read. It can get a little heavy after a few pages and I found myself having to stop for a while and then pick it up again. It was still worth it. [b:The Chemistry Between Us: Love, Sex, and the Science of Attraction|13588415|The Chemistry Between Us Love, Sex, and the Science of Attraction|Larry Young|https://i.gr-assets.com/images/S/compressed.photo.goodreads.com/books/1346660636l/13588415._SY75_.jpg|19175817][a:Larry Young|19036|Larry Young|https://s.gr-assets.com/assets/nophoto/user/u_50x66-632230dc9882b4352d753eedf9396530.png]
rexlui's review against another edition
5.0
It took me 5 months to finish this book because I never take note for non-textbook on the first go. But once I fall in love with a book, I read it a second time with very detailed note-taking. Then I might re-read again for the third time before I shelf it. This is one of those note taking book. It's my top 10 all time favorite among all the favorites. In one sentence:
Compassion is the Law of Evolution and there are absolutey no cultures nor civiliation nor history that can change it. Our human culture is way way way too short to have an impact on our basic instincts such as Love, Sex, Compassion, and Empathy.
I choose this book to round up the decade of knowledge acquiring. Looking forward to the 20s.
Compassion is the Law of Evolution and there are absolutey no cultures nor civiliation nor history that can change it. Our human culture is way way way too short to have an impact on our basic instincts such as Love, Sex, Compassion, and Empathy.
I choose this book to round up the decade of knowledge acquiring. Looking forward to the 20s.
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