Mating in Captivity by Esther Perel - Non Fiction - Paperback

Details
Condition: Brand New
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780340943755
Publisher: Hodder & Stoughton
Age Range: Adult

Overview
Mating in Captivity is Esther Perel's landmark exploration of why intimacy and eroticism so often struggle to coexist once couples settle into committed, long-term relationships. Drawing on her work as a psychotherapist and years of couples counseling, Perel challenges the assumption that domestic security and sexual excitement naturally reinforce each other. Instead, she argues that desire needs distance, mystery, and imagination even within a loving partnership. Blending psychology, anthropology, and real-life case studies from her therapy practice, this New York Times bestseller has become a touchstone for anyone trying to understand how passion survives the routines of everyday domestic life.

About the Book
Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence grew out of Esther Perel's clinical observations that many of the couples she counseled struggled not with a lack of love, but with a lack of erotic charge once emotional closeness and daily obligation took over. Perel, a Belgian-born psychotherapist who practices in New York City and has counseled couples for decades, uses vivid composite case studies to explore how partners can rebuild the sense of otherness, curiosity, and risk that fuels desire. She examines cultural assumptions inherited from religion, feminism, and modern romantic ideals, showing how these often unconsciously suppress erotic energy inside committed relationships. Rather than offering simple fixes, the book invites readers to sit with paradox: that safety and adventure, familiarity and mystery, must somehow be held together rather than resolved. Chapters move through themes of domesticity, jealousy, infidelity, and the negotiation of individual needs within a shared life, always returning to Perel's central idea that eroticism is a vital form of self-expression, not merely a physical act. Since its original publication, the book has been translated into numerous languages and continues to be recommended by therapists, book clubs, and relationship coaches worldwide. This paperback edition delivers Perel's original text in a compact, easy-to-read format ideal for underlining passages, sharing with a partner, or revisiting again and again as a relationship evolves through its different seasons.

Key Benefits

• Written by Esther Perel, a New York Times bestselling psychotherapist and internationally respected relationship expert
• Combines psychology, anthropology, and real therapy case studies for a grounded, credible perspective
• Offers practical, non-judgmental language for discussing desire, boundaries, and intimacy with a partner
• Challenges common myths about how closeness and passion are supposed to coexist
• Useful for couples, therapists, and anyone curious about the psychology of long-term attraction
• Compact paperback format, easy to read, gift, or revisit

About the Author
Esther Perel is a Belgian-born psychotherapist based in New York City, recognized as one of today's most original voices on modern relationships. She is the New York Times bestselling author of Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, and her celebrated TED talks on desire and infidelity have been viewed by millions. Fluent in nine languages, Perel maintains a private therapy practice, consults for Fortune 500 companies on relationships and communication, and hosts the podcast Where Should We Begin?. Her work blends clinical insight with cross-cultural perspective, challenging conventional Western assumptions about love, sex, and commitment.

Why You'll Love This Book
Honest, witty, and refreshingly free of judgment, Mating in Captivity gives couples real language for a conversation many are afraid to start. It's a thoughtful anniversary or wedding gift, a smart addition to any self-help shelf, and a compelling read for date night, book clubs, or quiet solo reflection any time of year.

Please Note: This is the UK edition with the ISBN as listed; the cover may vary slightly from the image shown.