The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity by Esther Perel

Betrayal, power and affairs are at the scandalous center of our lives and entertainment these days (we’re looking at you Scandal!).  The big question is WHY.  For those of us lost in the dark, Esther Perel just may have the answer.

Esther Perel, a Belgian psychotherapist now based in New York City, has a track record of more than 20 years of tackling this taboo topic. Her book Mating in Captivity: Unlocking Erotic Intelligence, published in 2007, made headlines when it came out and is still one of the best relationship books we’ve read.  Her TED talk  has received more than 7 million views. While Mating in Captivity dealt with the tensions and contradictions between domesticity and sexual desire, her new book The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity, explores trying to understand infidelity.

When affairs happen, we tend to think of them as singular events; however, they’re actually a lot more common than that — and Perel shatters the myths. Affairs, Perel says, actually tell us a lot about ourselves, our wants, needs, expectations, and desires. Bold and strikingly candid, she invites us into having an honest dialogue about what they mean. Adultery can destroy a relationship, but Perel asks us to look beyond the hurt, betrayal and preconceptions to see what really lies beneath.

Warm, full of compassion and honesty, Esther Perel has proven again exactly why she is one of the most recognizable authorities when it comes to relationships and intimacy. A brilliant, intelligent book that guides us through this forbidden subject, The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity is as intriguing as it is important.

For more information on the author, please visit her website at www.estherperel.com