Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence

With a New Preface by the Author

"The world’s best-known relationship expert.”- The New York Times

“Makes fewer promises and raises thornier questions thanany other how-to-improve-your-relationship book. . . which is exactly why youshould read this one.” ―ELLE

A special twentieth-anniversary edition of the internationally bestselling and culturally groundbreaking book that cemented Esther Perel as the iconic relationship psychotherapist for today.

In the twenty years since Mating in Captivity was published in 2006, it has become a global phenomenon, as has its author, Esther Perel. As a psychotherapist and thought leader, Perel is widely considered one of the world’s most original and respected voices on erotic intelligence.

Drawing on decades of clinical experience, Mating in Captivity examines the obstacles and anxieties that arise when our quest for secure love conflicts with our pursuit for freedom and passion. It illuminates the complexities of sustaining desire in long-term relationships and shows how more playful, adventurous, and even poetic sex is possible. Wise, witty, and as revelatory as it is practical, Perel’s bold and provocative take on intimacy is ever more relevant today, asking:

• Why does great sex so often fade for couples who claim to love each other as much as ever? Why doesn’t good intimacy guarantee good sex?
• Can we want what we already have?
• Why does the transition to parenthood so often spell erotic disaster?

In a new preface, Perel reveals the personal origin story behind the book and reflects upon the many cultural shifts since its publication. This twentieth-anniversary edition invites us to reconsider the timeless paradoxical union of domesticity and desire―and offers a guide to bringing lust home.

Psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author Esther Perel is recognized as one of today’s most insightful and original voices on modern relationships. Fluent in nine languages, she helms a therapy practice in New York City, serves as an organizational consultant for Fortune 500 companies, and is an advisor to both Hinge and Culture Amp on the intricacies of human connection. Her celebrated TED Talks have garnered 50 million views, and her bestselling books, Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, are global phenomena translated into more than 30 languages. Perel is also the host of the hit podcast Where Should We Begin? that has captivated millions of listeners around the world for nearly a decade. Learn more about her live events, games, and other projects designed to improve your relationships at EstherPerel.com.