The New Science of Intimate Relationships

Garth Fletcher has managed to write a book that is both highly informative and entertaining. With a clear writing style that is comparable to Matt Ridley, Fletcher accurately describes the current state of affairs in research on intimate relationships, never fearing to tackle controversial issues (and there are many). As a true social scientist, Fletcher weaves together various theoretical perspectives, and discusses the importance of evolution in the understanding of why people seek to form intimate relationships. While reading the book I found myself eager to turn the page, wondering what mysteries lurked ahead. Reading this book is time well spent.

With so many books that just recycle the same cliches about relationships on the market (think: Mars/Venus), it it can be amazing to find one that actually has new things to say. This may be because the author is not some self-appointed expert but a veteran scientist who has published extensively in the research literature in social psychology. This book describes not just the conclusions but the scientific research on which the conclusions are based. The reader will learn a lot about psychology in general as well as about relationships. The topics include everything from flirting to passion to long-term marriages, and some of the conclusions are surprising. Finally, everything the book says is rooted in a fundamental view of human nature based on modern research in evolutionary psychology. This is a fun read and you will learn something too.