Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love [Paperback]

Dorothy Tennov (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: February 1987

Originally released twenty years ago, Love and Limerence has become a classic in the psychology of emotion. As relevant today as it was then this book offers insight hire love, infatuation, madness, and all flavors of emotion in between. Anyone struggling over the loss of the lover, aching for the attention of someone new, or in the grip of intense passion will find similar experiences to learn from and be inspired by in Love and Limerence.

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Natl Book Network (February 1987)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0812861345
• ISBN-13: 978-0812861341
• Product Dimensions: 8.8 x 6 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,092,409 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars This book helped me more than any counseling session., May 25, 2001

By 

John Countryman (Yelm, WA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love (Paperback)

This book explained what happened to me numerous times when meeting different women to whom I was very attracted. I discovered that I could control the degree into which I became "limerent" by the messages I told myself about the other person. It helped me to conclude that emotional responses by human beings are created by the self talk we do. As a result of reading this book, discussing it's premise with others, and sharing it with friends, I have found a wonderful relationship with a person who cares for me in the same way I care for her. It's a mature, deep friendship spiced by delightful suprises. For an easy reading, helpful, yet scientific look at attractive relationships, you can't do better than this book.

27 of 28 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Well worth a read., November 25, 2002

By 

Kim (UK) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love (Paperback)

I ordered the book to try and find out all I could about the state of limerence that I was in. I was hoping to find advice on how to end the limerent feelings (which the book did contain to a certain degree, ie basically avoid the person you feel limerent about, if it is unrequited)

The book was very helpful in that it made me feel somewhat normal, and I discovered my feelings and bursts of intense creativity, overwhelming sadness, interspersed with the highs that come with fleeting hope are a regular part of this condition. It made me feel like I wasn't so alone, and not totally insane.

From a psychological point of view I found the book and theories interesting. There are many limerent case histories peppered throughout the book. If you have been (or still are) in a limerent state you will recognise the patterns!! You will see parts of yourself in many of the case histories!

The one draw-back to the book is while reading it, and for about a week afterwards my limerence steadily increased. I lent the book to a friend, who is also going through the same thing, and the same thing happened to him.

If you are feeling love-sick or know of somebody who is- get the book it is money well spent(especially if it's unrequited love) but be warned that intensity might increase for a short duration. It really is well written and informative.

28 of 30 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Love Obsessed?, May 26, 2002

By 

J. (Ft. Myers, FL United States) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Love and Limerence: The Experience of Being in Love (Paperback)

What a wealth of information Dorothy Tennov offers. What a resource for those who become love obsessed with one particular person. Apparently it is not all of us. Some of us become "limerant" (her name for being "in love") and some of us never do. Some of us are limerant sometimes and other times not. It is key to know that the condition is NOT LOVE. That it is INVOLUNTARY, that it is NORMAL, that it has existed since the beginning of history, that there are probably EVOLUTIONARY REASONS for it, that there are TRIGGERS which set it in motion, that "sufferers", are legion, that practically nothing is known about preventing it, or ending it at will. Ouch!