A Little Book on Love: A Wise and Inspiring Guide to Discovering the Gift of Love [Paperback]

Jacob Needleman (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: January 11, 2000

Experience the miracle called love...

What is the purpose of love? Is the storm of ecstasy that we call love simply a biological urge that eventually passes--or the first stage in something much more? Is it possible for love to last, literally, forever?

In this extraordinary book, philosopher Jacob Needleman explores the greatest works of philosophy, myth, and sacred wisdom to offer a bold new interpretation of why two people are brought together in the first place. The radiant poetry of the great Sufi mystic Rumi, the revelations of St. Paul, the moving tale of Philemon and Baucis, and the words of the world's sages become, with Needleman's gentle guidance, an enthralling journey of discovery--one that reveals the secret to finding love...and staying together for a lifetime. Resonating with hope and wisdom, A Little Book on Love shows us how true love can transcend time and the difficulties of daily life. It is a precious resource for anyone who wants a relationship to last a lifetime--and beyond.

Editorial Reviews

Review

"A Little Book on Love...will be of inestimable value to those starting out on the long voyage of love."
--Body Mind Spirit

From the Inside Flap

Experience the miracle called love...

What is the purpose of love? Is the storm of ecstasy that we call love simply a biological urge that eventually passes--or the first stage in something much more? Is it possible for love to last, literally, forever?

In this extraordinary book, philosopher Jacob Needleman explores the greatest works of philosophy, myth, and sacred wisdom to offer a bold new interpretation of why two people are brought together in the first place. The radiant poetry of the great Sufi mystic Rumi, the revelations of St. Paul, the moving tale of Philemon and Baucis, and the words of the world's sages become, with Needleman's gentle guidance, an enthralling journey of discovery--one that reveals the secret to finding love...and staying together for a lifetime. Resonating with hope and wisdom, A Little Book on Love shows us how true love can transcend time and the difficulties of daily life. It is a precious resource for anyone who wants a relationship to last a lifetime--and beyond.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 176 pages
• Publisher: Delta; Reprint edition (January 11, 2000)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 038533432X
• ISBN-13: 978-0385334327
• Product Dimensions: 6.8 x 5.2 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 4 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,653,903 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Jacob Needleman, the acclaimed author of The American Soul and Money and the Meaning of Life, is a professor of philosophy at San Francisco State University, and a former director of the Center for the Study of New Religions at the Graduate Theological Union in Berkeley.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

13 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars A valiant attempt to communicate that which is hidden, July 2, 2000

By 

"superdne" - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Little Book on Love: A Wise and Inspiring Guide to Discovering the Gift of Love (Paperback)

I've read this book twice, and I've bought it four times. The first time I read it, I thought it was great and heartily agreed with the concept of love being work.

After a little growing up prompted by a lot of suffering, I reread it, and now realize I barely read it the first time. Yes, love benefits greatly from working on and with it, but I'd totally missed the other, more fundamental points of the book-that we we love the search, the struggle for understanding of 'life beyond life', in each other, the duality of love (selfish versus selfless), and the idea that what we identify as love in contemporary culture may only be passion, need, desire, and egoism.

I'm humbled enough to realize I can benefit from reading this book, with more of my attention, in times of suffering and times of joy, throughout the rest of my life.

Oh, and I keep buying it so often because I keep giving it away...I suspect there's no open human who cannot benefit from reading this book.

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Needleman is the Einstein of practical wisdom- this is proof, February 1, 1999

By 

[e-mail] (Oxford, Ohio) - See all my reviews

This review is from: A Little Book on Love: A Wise and Inspiring Guide to Discover the Gift of Lasting LOve (Mass Market Paperback)

There are plenty of brilliant people in the world today, but if someone speaks of "wise men" we immediately think of ancient history. They seem to have somehow dissappeared after three of them followed the Christmas star. Don't believe it. As long as Jacob Needleman is alive, there are wise men in the world today. Needleman is the Einstein of practical wisdom - this book is ample proof. If you want more proof, try some of his other books, such as Time and the Soul. Both of these have utility beyond anything in self-help books, which are too shallow and superficial. In contrast, this is the most important book on love to appear this century. Is your love life a mess? For far less money than therapy, this book will show you a clear vision behind it and path to resolving it. In fact, Needleman understands some very important points modern psychology has missed. And the book is for a universal audience with any background or belief system. Needleman gives the indisputable answer to the question of whether or not love can be, or made to be, of life-long endurance. Now that this book exists, the question need never again be raised. Just hand the questioner this book. Be sure to order plenty - by the time you have read the first four chapters, half the names on your Christmas list will be scheduled to receive a copy.

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Lovely book, thoughtful, with a spiritual slant, February 14, 1997

By A Customer

This review is from: A Little Book on Love (Little Books on Big Questions) (Hardcover)

So many books on love seem misdirected because they do not really address the whole question of love within the light of our inner selves. Most books try to deal with love in relation to the outer world, a world that in many ways is in deep trouble. This books goes to the essence of our inner selves and how love is a reflection of our spiritual being. It especially points out that if your inner life, your spiritual dimension is under-nourished, then forming a genuine unselfish, loving, long-term relationship will be difficult, if not impossible. Highly recommended