The Intimate Animal cover art

The Intimate Animal

The Science of Love, Fidelity and Connection
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The Intimate Animal

By: Justin Garcia
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About this listen

Brought to you by Penguin.

Why do we love who we love? Why do we stay in unfulfilling relationships, or stray from rewarding ones? Why do some couples crash and burn while others stay madly in love?

In The Intimate Animal, Dr Justin Garcia - one of the world’s leading experts on the science of love and sex – reveals that the answer to these questions lies in our evolution. We are biologically wired to connect with each other, yet our inner intimate animal is often at odds with the way we live now.

Dr Garcia explains the multiplicity of human sexual and romantic behaviour using cutting-edge research from his team of researchers at the world-leading Kinsey Institute, including:

- Why we have evolved to live and die for love
- Why searching for ‘the one’ is futile
- Why we are wired for 'social monogamy’ but not necessarily ‘sexual monogamy’
- Why some people are more likely to cheat

With practical tips on love and lust – the two biological systems often in painful conflict – The Intimate Animal is the essential, research-backed guide for anyone who wants to forge deeper, more intimate connections in these disconnected times.

'Garcia brings us back to the animal inside to remind us that even when connection, love, and desire feel elusive, it’s exactly what we’re wired for' Esther Perel, bestselling author of Mating in Captivity

'I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! A real page turner' John Gottman, bestselling author of Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

© Dr Justin Garcia 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

 Biological Sciences Evolution Evolution & Genetics Gender Studies Human Sexuality Love, Dating & Attraction Personal Development Psychology Psychology & Mental Health Relationships Science Social Sciences

Critic reviews

Even when connection, love and desire feel elusive, Garcia reminds us that it's exactly what we're wired for
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! So exciting to see a research-based book that gets to the real fundamentals in understanding what it means to be human. This book is a real page turner, so rare in non-fiction.
Evolutionary biologist Justin Garcia’s groundbreaking studies reveal the latest changes in human dating and mating as well as some of our most ancient needs and desires.
Brilliant. A must read for anyone curious about the deeper forces behind love, sex, and connection.
Compassionate, data-rich, and radically hopeful. This book is a revelation. Garcia cuts through noise and shame to map how we bond, break, and begin again.
A daring exploration of how our hunger for closeness shapes every stage of intimacy—and why learning to nurture that hunger may be the most important work we ever do.
A must read for anyone interested in the topic of sex, love and human relationships.
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