Mating In Captivity

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In her two decades as a couples therapist, Esther Perel has seen time and time again just how rare it is for good sex and long-term relationships to co-exist. She aims to explain exactly why that is in this book, which is packed with detailed case studies and bold advice. As Perel tells it, exciting and even revelatory sex isn't out of reach for anyone — even those who've settled in to committed, long-term couplings. Perel's explanations and suggestions are savvy and straightforward, and will have you looking at the love and sex in your own life in a whole new light.

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I. Introduction

Can couples in long-term relationships keep the passion alive? If so, how?

Most people in a committed relationship have probably asked themselves these questions at some point. In Mating in Captivity, psychotherapist and sex/relationship advisor Esther Perel argues that the answers we come up with are often too easy. This is because, according to Perel, the cultural narrative about fading sex drive is often oversimplified and relies too much on tropes, such as we’re all too busy, too tired, or too interested in our phones.

In place of these simple narratives, Perel invites readers to dig deep into the ways current culture shapes our views on sex.

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II. Commitment as Captivity

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III. Intimacy and Sexual Passion Don’t Always Go Hand-in-Hand

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IV. The Enlightened Egalitarian Trap

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V. Today’s Child-Centered Culture Places Couples Last

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VI. Fidelity and the Changing Landscape

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VII. The Importance of Sexual Experimentation

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