The Art of Loving by Eric Fromm
The Art of Loving is a 1956 book by psychoanalyst and social philosopher Erich Fromm, which was published as part of the World Perspectives Series edited by Ruth Nanda Anshen. In this book, Fromm develops his perspective on human nature, love, and morality. He argues that love is an art, one that can be developed and cultivated. He also argues that love is an active concern for the life and growth of the other, and that it is not merely a feeling of sentimentality. Fromm also discusses the various types of love, such as motherly love, brotherly love, erotic love, self-love, and the love of God. He also examines the obstacles to love, such as fear, narcissism, and the inability to give and receive. The book concludes with a discussion of the need for a new ethic of love, one that is based on reason, justice, and respect.
By Eric Fromm · First published 1956 · Genre: Psychology, Philosophy, Self-Help · 7 chapters · 39,618 words
First lines
He who knows nothing, loves nothing. He who can do nothing understands nothing. He who understands nothing is worthless. But he who understands also loves, notices, sees... The more knowledge is inherent in a thing, the greater the love... Anyone who imagines that all fruits ripen at the same time as the strawberries knows nothing about grapes. -Paracelsus
Is love an art? Then it requires knowledge and effort. Or is love a pleasant sensation, which to experience is a matter of chance, something one "falls into" if one is lucky? This little book is based on the former premise, while undoubtedly the majority of people today believe in the latter.
What this Textopian page supports
The Art of Loving is listed on Textopian as an essay by Eric Fromm, dated 1956 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Essay
- Author: Eric Fromm
- Date: 1956 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Psychology, Philosophy, Self-Help, Romance
- Length: 39,618 words
- Structure: 7 chapters, 843 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Difficult (College Level)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for The Art of Loving by Eric Fromm
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering The Art of Loving?
- How does this essay by Eric Fromm fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Psychology first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
- Beyond Good And Evil by Friedrich Wilhelm Nietzsche
- A Vindication Of The Rights Of Woman by Mary Wollstonecraft
- Love Marriage Birth Control by Viscount Bertrand Edward Dawson Dawson
- Christ In Flanders by Honore De Balzac
- A Psychological Counter Current In Recent Fiction by William Dean Howells
- The Myth In Marriage by Alice Hubbard
Genres
- Psychology — The book is written by a psychoanalyst and explores the psychological aspects of love.
- Philosophy — The book is a philosophical exploration of the concept of love.
- Self-Help — The book provides practical advice on how to love and be loved.
- Romance — The book explores the romantic aspects of love.
Tags
Erich Fromm, 1900-1980 · Human Nature · Relationships · Self-Help · Separatedness · Sociology · Solitude · art · character · child · children · concept
Contents
- Is Love an Art?
- The Practice of Love
- Foreword by Eric Fromm
- Love, the Answer to the Problem of Human Existence
- Love and Its Disintegration in Contemporary Western Society
- Love Between Parent and Child
- The Objects of Love