Love: What Life Is All About

My girlfriend at the time gave me this book 30 years ago when I was 21 and in my final year of university. I knew nothing of love and in fact had a lot of learning and growing to do over many years. I read it at the time and, while I could understand what Leo Buscaglia was saying, it took a long time truly to resonate with me. I was young and lived largely in my mind, not the union of my heart and mind. When I've seen this book on my shelf over the years I've always thought of her and felt badly that I couldn't reciprocate her caring for me at the time. She was way ahead of me in that respect.I recently bought a couple copies from Amazon for my teenage child and a friend. I reread the book in advance, probably the first time in 20 years or so I'd done so. It's a good book for a young person. As others have noted, Mr. Buscaglia doesn't present a framework for understanding love. These are a series of lectures he gave around the early '70s at the Univ. of Southern California as an education professor. His qualification to convey something meaningful is that he was apparently a truly loving human being, despite never marrying or having children, from a big, loving Italian immigrant family.I read it quickly over several days while commuting on the train. I think my child will enjoy it in a couple years. If you want a solid framework for understanding the nature of love, and its sacrificial roots, then I suggest reading M. Scott Peck's classic The Road Less Traveled. That's the gold standard for me in explaining clearly what love is and what it is not. I first read that book when I was 25. I've read it every 2-3 years since. It's evergreen and has done more than any other text to enable me to grow consciously into a fully-loving human being.I do, however, have a complaint about the paperback version that Amazon is selling. The pages, unlike the 30-year-old version I have, don't have chapter headings on each page. Accordingly, it's a bit difficult to go back to a chapter and find something. The print is very small, too. And I don't say that because my eyesight is fading. I still have 20/20 reading vision. If you buy this you might consider buying an older version. The size of the older paperbacks is smaller than this new edition, but a bit thicker (160 v. 130 pages), and it's easier to read and re-orient yourself when you want to revisit a passage.

After a hectic day, I wanted to read something light. I went through my personal library to find a book that could be read within a single sitting. I could not find one. As usual I searched for a book. While I was searching for a book, I happened to see this book and went through some pages. Wow...! It was interesting and I immediately ordered a copy and got it within two weeks. I began reading the book. Believe me. How good it is is really indescribable. I really loved it. I went on reading. The book is worth your hard earned money.Love is a subject of interest to many. If you are a passionate lover, this is the book for you. Grab a copy of it. Read it. Once you complete reading, you can gift it to someone near and dear to you. I know the ideas in the book will be interesting to many.Buscaglia is a passionate teacher who taught his students the art of love while at university. He died several years back but his ideas live on. According to him, love is an art but not a science to analyze and calculate in terms of logic and propositions. It is in us, it is in you, it is in human beings. It is the energy that drives us. Buscaglia's ideas are worth remembering, practicing and sharing. This is a book that may change how you feel for your partner or the near and dear one. You should read and enjoy this book. This is a book that everyone should read. It has to be a must read for caring lovers like you.I truly changed certain ideas I had in relation to love. It is I must love love so that I will be loved. Love is to be exchanged. Love is limitless and unconditional. That is what Buscaglia talks about. Though I saw the book accidentally, I never regret spending the few dollars on a book like this. Language in the book is simple. He simply explains the whole concept of love. Go ahead and read the book. There will be a transformation in you.Many experience many forms of love. Parents' love, partners' love, love of close friends' etc. They are all forms of love. He advises the reader that sex is not love but it is a by product of love. He does not endorse physical love in a way but rather platonic love. Experience love, your life will be worth living for someone other than you.Susil Manchanayaka, B. A., PGDE, PGC T&HRD

The media could not be loaded.  “If he desired to know about automobiles, he would, without question, study diligently about automobiles. If his wife desired to be a gourmet cook, she’d certainly study the art of cooking, perhaps even attending a cooking class. Yet, it never seems as obvious to him that if he wants to live in love, he must spend at least as much time as the auto mechanic or the gourmet in studying love.”“I hug everybody—just come close to me, you’re more than likely to get hugged, certainly touched.”~ Leo Buscaglia from LoveI smile as I type these words—just having Buscaglia’s book, Love, open in front of me is enough to make me happy. :)Seriously. This is hands down one of my favorite books. I’ve purchased at least 250 copies of it. We used to give it away to all of our partners at my last business (Zaadz.com) and I used to bring a copy with me to nearly every business lunch I had. (I’m a little wacky like that. :)My hunch is you’ll fall in Love with Love as well. By the end of reading it, you’ll wish you could give Leo Buscaglia—a former Professor of Love at USC—a big ol’ hug.Here are some of the Big Ideas:1. Study Love - How else to master it?2. Love Yourself - Rule #1.3. Jump In! - Immerse yourself!4. Say YES!! - And, yes! And, yes!5. Grow in Love - To your highest self.May I echo Buscaglia’s recommendation and suggest that we live for creating joy for others and sharing our greatest gifts in the greatest service to the world?!!?(More goodness--including PhilosophersNotes on 250+ books at http://www.brianjohnson.me)

So happy to be able to reorder Leo s books.

the quality could be better

A fantastic book. First brought 30 years ago but timeless. Should be compulsory reading for everyone, especially those about to marry or cohabit.

An excellent book - very thought provoking.

Always wanted to read this book.This book was well worn-(although not an issue)very pleased with my purchase, enjoyable read.

Good book