Love Sense

November 18, 2013
The bestselling author of Hold Me Tight makes an admirable attempt at exploring relationship dynamics through contemporary psychology and neuroscience, but the results at times are thin. . The first few sections, for example, are devoted to legitimizing emotions through facts and experiments, but despite piling up lots of data, Johnson rarely puts it to use in her analyses of some of the most common relationship problems couples face. She breaks down partner types into three categories: “secure, anxious, and avoidant.” Johnson deciphers the relationships of those who fall under these categories, encouraging those feeling insecure that they in fact can become stable partners, though it often feels like a partner is being blamed for their category diagnosis. She believes wholeheartedly in the flexibility of relationships and their vital role in a successful life, reaffirming the success of her own form of relationship therapy called Emotional Focused Therapy. As readers are slowly introduced to the specifics of this method, Johnson tries to convey its power and efficacy through stories of former patients. Unfortunately, the dialogue is too stilted to pass for real conversations. Nevertheless, the examples are varied and general enough to serve as conversation starters for those in need of relationship help. Agent: Miriam Altshuler, Miriam Altshuler Literary Agency.

Sue Johnson's slow-paced narration doesn't give her thoughtful book the personality or verve it deserves. But her voice, with its British accent and academic tone, sounds sounds kind and genuine, and her writing is top-notch, so it's easy to adjust to her narrative style. Her book reveals a poet's grasp of the history of romantic love, especially its largely utilitarian foundations and the unrealistic expectations we moderns have regarding our romantic partnerships. Then, focusing on what works for most people and what science has discovered, she explains the core concepts of attachment, emotional security, sexual attraction, and mature love paradigms. The audio is a helpful reminder of why self-knowledge, persistent communication, and the ability to navigate differences are essential for romantic attachments to remain viable. T.W. © AudioFile 2014, Portland, Maine

November 15, 2013
A self-help book from a clinical psychologist promoting a model of treatment called Emotionally Focused Therapy. Johnson (Clinical Psychology/Alliant International Univ.; Hold Me Tight: Seven Conversations for a Lifetime of Love, 2008, etc.), one of the founders of EFT in the 1980s, credits her approach to couples therapy to the theories concerning attachment patterns in infants developed by psychiatrist John Bowlby decades earlier. In the first part of the book, the author argues that through clinical studies, laboratory experiments and applied therapies, science has now revealed that love, vital to our existence, is not only understandable, but also repairable. In other words, love makes sense, hence the title. In a chapter on the brain, Johnson looks at research into the neurochemistry of love, especially the so-called cuddle hormone, oxytocin. In another, on the body, she examines the connection between attachment and sexuality. In the second part of the book, the narrative's core, Johnson shows EFT in action, with the author, a practicing couples therapist, presenting the cases of various distressed couples in therapy who are learning how to recognize their attachment issues, understand their emotions, and work to repair and enhance their relationships. All chapters conclude with exercises for readers to try either alone or with a partner. In the third part, Johnson offers readers a sweet love story with a happy ending and then broadens her perspective to a view of love in the 21st century. It is, she opines optimistically, a time when a growing awareness of humanity's interdependence on this small planet is leading people to find ways to connect and cooperate--or as the author would put it, to love and be loved. A readable combination of research findings and case studies, filled with good cheer and practical advice.

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July 1, 2013

After the best-selling Hold Me Tight, which still sells 3,000 copies a month after its 2008 publication, clinical psychologist Johnson plumbs new research to argue that love isn't arbitrary but an important attachment bond aiding our survival. With a 100,000-copy first printing.

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