I sat next to a colleague today who moved to NY it feels like just a minute ago. He’s been here a year and a half, max. And in the city where people only date, he met someone and proposed a year later. I just learnt about the proposal today and what I said to him was ‘OOOOOH, I love love!’. I do, I love everything about it. How people meet, why they’re attracted to each other, why they sometimes run away together and sometimes throw knives at each other. The giddy irrationality, the heartbreak and what we learn from it. As my mom says: Love is the elixir of life. More choice quotes from my mom in my last post.
My friend Leigh and I were inseparable at varsity (that’s uni in the UK and college in the States). We we studying Politics, Philosophy and Economics but couldn’t understand why there were no Politics of Love, Philosophy of Love or Economics of Love courses available. These would’ve been so much more applicable to our lives. To make up for the lack of quality courses available we frequented Love 101 lectures, held by and attended by, ourselves. As neither of us had boyfriends or went on dates the course material was totally fantastical. I also don’t think that at the time people were as academically interested in the subject as they are now. Many years on (Leigh and I have thankfully acquired more personal material) and there are lots of legitimately clever people talking about love.
I’ve selected some of my favourite reads and resources to share with you as the foundation of my Love 101 curriculum
When to watch it: when you know you’re acting crazy and need some reassurance that you’re just behaving the way you were programmed to.
The secret to desire in a long term relationship:
When to watch it: Uh, if you’re in a long term relationship – obvi. And also if you’re not, for the pure sexiness of this woman’s voice. It’s a great conversation starter for couples but also just fascinating.
How to Think more About Sex, Alain de Botton:
When to read it: Today. Whether you’re in a relationship or not. This book demystifies all the crap you’ve heard about sex from the world and teaches you to think intelligently about it, for yourself.
The English Patient, Michael Ondaatje:
When to read it/watch it: Literally on a journey or when you feel like taking one. If you’re a reader, read it first. If you’re a film lover, see the movie. Both are slow and beautiful.
OK, lovers of love, I’m excited for you to go forth and feast on this Love 101 course work, whatever stage your heart is in.
Let me know what you learnt and what you loved please.
GrowingOnUp 
What I learnt is still percolating in my brain, what I loved is what I learnt and how these video’s will percolate in my brain. I’ve had this blog post of yours to watch/read for ages now, Thanks for writing. There is so much I relate and I’m so grateful to you for sharing your thoughts.
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Well done for doing your love homework!
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