Tallis draws on a wide range of sources from evolutionary theory to poetry and literature to explore humankind’s preoccupation with the concept of love. Throughout history, the often dichotomous combinations of experience- the agony and the ecstasy- seem to have been universal. This is especially true with romantic love.
Tallis is a clinical psychologist with specific interest in obsessive disorders. In this excellent book he uses clinical examples to describe a variety of fascinating case studies where patients are suffering with different ‘strains’ of love. There is a clue in the title- many of the symptoms described often appear to mimic mental illness. Very readable and well worth it.