The Scientific American Book of Love, Sex and the Brain

Who do we love? Who loves us? And why? Is love really a mystery,or can neuroscience offer some answers to these age-oldquestions?
In her third enthralling book about the brain, Judith Horstmantakes us on a lively tour of our most important sex and love organand the whole smorgasbord of our many kinds of love-from thebonding of parent and child to the passion of erotic love, theaffectionate love of companionship, the role of animals in ourlives, and the love of God.
Drawing on the latest neuroscience, she explores why and how weare born to love-how we're hardwired to crave the companionship ofothers, and how very badly things can go without love. Among thefindings: parental love makes our brain bigger, sex and orgasm makeit healthier, social isolation makes it miserable-and although thecraving for romantic love can be described as an addiction,friendship may actually be the most important loving relationshipof your life.
Based on recent studies and articles culled from the prestigiousScientific American and Scientific American Mindmagazines, The Scientific American Book of Love, Sex, andthe Brain offers a fascinating look at how the brain controlsour loving relationships, most intimate moments, and our deep andbasic need for connection.