We: Understanding the Psychology of Romantic Love

by Robert A. Johnson

Book Overview

Provides an illuminating explanation of the origins and meaning of romantic love and shows how a proper understanding of its psychological dynamics can revitalize our most important relationships. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0062504363
• Release Date: July 2009
• Publisher: HarperOne
• Length: 204 Pages
• Weight: 0.40 lbs.
• Dimensions: 8.0" x 0.5" x 5.3"

Customer Reviews

The Rosetta Stone of Relationships

I have spent many years reading books, talking to counselors, and talking to friends about relationships. Reading Johnson's book was a real eye opener, to put it very mildly. I have enjoyed the author's style in his other books where he presents a myth and discusses it's psychological meaning. This book is no exception, except that it's relevance is way off the charts. Before reading "We" I had all but thrown my hands in the air in frustration regarding relationships. The author's beautiful style drills deep and answers the many questions I had. Johnson's use of the Tristan myth told me what I did not want to hear, but the pain I have experience in relationship told me that Johnson was right on the money. The author's analysis of romantic love and the distinction he makes between passion and true love (which is more low key and may even come across as boring sometimes) spoke loud and clear. He made me realize that I have been searching out there in vain for so many years for lady soul, because lady soul lurked within my unconscious mind. Since reading this book I was able to connect with lady soul and have that symbolic marriage that Johnson talks about.I highly recommend this book to each person who has a lot of questions about why relationships in our cultures are in a state of epidepic crisis. The author's answers may not be what you want to hear if you are a "zealous" romantic. If you are willing to stretch yourself and change, then Johnson's words are an excellent catalyst for changing your ways and heading in the right direction. I consider "We" among the most relevant books by Robert Johnson, and among the most relevantt books by any author!

An Essential Examination of Western Romantic Assumptions

I found this volume almost impossible to put down once I started reading it. Author Robert A. Johnson has a very fluid writing style, and does a superb job of exposing the archetypal aspect of romance and love relationships by discussing the implications of the myth of Tristan and Iseult. I found myself strongly movedby this volume, and it helped me work through some live and at the time previously unexplored aspects of my own psyche. This book doesn't leave you feeling torn apart as many analyticalworks on love do. It analyzes the emotions and expectations oflovers in such a way as to allow one to re-examine one's own love relationships and ultimately one's understanding of whata love relationship should be. This is a timeless volume, whichtranscends the stereotypical types of responses one has to love and love relationships. Western media and folklore have so thoroughly dwelt on this topic that I find it remarkable that this Jungian philosopher is able to significantly add to the tradition, by allowing one to consciously break down the archetypal influences that seem to so powerfully motivate us when we are in love. I found this book illuminating enough that after finishing it I had to purchase a copy for a close friend. Be aware that this type of progress doesn't happen in a vacuum, so this book may be somewhat troubling if you are a person who haslong cherished views that you do not want to question about love and romance. But if you are willing to subscribe to the author's thesis that love and love relationships can be improved by understanding their core motivations as reflected in myth and allegory, you will absolutely love this book as I did and possibly this book will change the way you look at love and life. Definitely a must-read if you are someone like me who is always falling in love and not knowing why.

Makes you rethink what love is

Our media and culture tell us that romantic love "makes you whole, gives your life meaning, is like a torch in the dark, is something that gives you strength and courage ..." Johnson does a good job at pointing out that this is the symbolic equivalent of a religious experience. But what Johnson does isn't to demolish the wonder of romance, but instead gives us strength by showing that the "angel" you fall in love with comes from inside you. I also found this book more approachable than Johnson's "He" or "She" because his writing here is clearer and less concealed in Jungian terms than "He" or "She".

Clear and Concise Story of Love

Robert A. Johnson sets up a wonderful analysis of the Arthurian romance of Iseult and Tristan. Each chapter tells a bit of the story, then the author goes into a dialogue on the implications of the story. Also citing other more obscure examples to demonstrate what 'true' love is and what is the 'heat of the moment' love. Scraping the surface of some issues on social commentary in which some of the problems of marriage and relationships in general derive from out not-understanding of what love is. Robert Johnson's best work to date, as well as one his most lengthy titles (by comparison).