Esther Perel

Esther Perel

Psychotherapist & Relationship Expert

Belgian-born therapist known for exploring modern relationships, desire, and infidelity through a cross-cultural lens.

Authors & Thinkers

Esther Perel is a psychotherapist and bestselling author renowned for her work on contemporary relationships and desire. She gained international recognition through her books and popular podcast "Where Should We Begin?," where she counsels real couples. Her approach draws on psychology, philosophy, and her multilingual background to illuminate how people navigate love and commitment.

22 Books Recommended by Esther Perel

Ranked by popularity across all reading lists on this site

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#2

Crime and Punishment

by Fyodor Dostoevsky

10 people recommended

You can reread the Russians. They are timeless.

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Also recommended by: Brian Dean, Christopher Hitchens, Ernest Hemingway, Jack Edwards, Jim Carrey, Jim Cramer, Jordan Peterson, Larry King, Pewdiepie

Nonviolent Communication book cover
#3

Nonviolent Communication

by Marshall B. Rosenberg

5 people recommended

I think that this book is a classic for anyone who is thinking relationships.

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Also recommended by: Dustin Moskovitz, Neil Strauss, Satya Nadella, Derek Sivers

Sex at Dawn book cover
#4

Sex at Dawn

by Christopher Ryan

5 people recommended

Esther Perel suggested this book as an answer to "What are some [resources] for couples who want to explore having a more β€œmonogamish” relationship?

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Also recommended by: Naval Ravikant, Aubrey Marcus, Joe Rogan, Noah Kagan

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#5

You Can Be Right (or You Can Be Married)

by Dana Adam Shapiro

3 people recommended

I felt as if [the author] were eavesdropping in my office. A grand reportage of marriage and its discontents.

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Also recommended by: Aj Jacobs, Elizabeth Gilbert

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#6

If This Is a Man and The Truce

by Primo Levi

2 people recommended

One of the most powerful books one ought to read.

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Also recommended by: David Blaine

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#7

Love Rules

by Joanna Coles

2 people recommended

For those looking for a smart, no-bullshit, effective guide to finding love.

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Also recommended by: Sarah Jessica Parker

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#8

Liquid Life

by Zygmunt Bauman

I came one way and I finished the book and left another way.

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#9

The Erotic Mind

by Jack Morin

I reread.

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#10

Breaking the Male Code

by Robert Garfield

I recommend for many of you.

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#11

The Art of Loving

by Erich Fromm

I recently reread.

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#12

Family Healing

by Salvador Minuchin

It will change your whole way of understanding relationships.

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#13

Can Love Last?

by Stephen A. Mitchell

Was part of the spine of my book 'Mating In Captivity.'

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#14

Fighting for Your Marriage

by Howard J. Markman

On its surface, it’s a book about marriage of course, but you just go one layer deeper and it’s a study of the underlying issues that shape the way that we relate.

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#15

The Art of Gathering

by Priya Parker

A powerful tool for connection.

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#16

Taking Sexy Back

by Alexandra H. Solomon

On my top list of recommended sexuality readings.

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#17

How to Fix a Broken Heart

by Guy Winch

Provides the validation, comfort, and hope anyone who is heartbroken desperately needs.

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#18

Rekindling Desire

by Barry McCarthy

One of my go to books on sexuality, consider it yours.

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#19

The New Monogamy

by Tammy Nelson PhD

As crisp and clear as it is hopeful and realistic.

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#20

Marriage Confidential

by Pamela Haag

Timely and thought-provoking analysis of modern coupledom.

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#21

Sync Your Relationship, Save Your Marriage

by Peter Fraenkel Ph.D.

recommended 2x

You must take the time, read this timely book and find out how you can redeem your relationship from the time crunch.

You must take the time, read this timely book and find out how you can redeem your relationship from the time crunch.

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#22

The Return of Desire

by Gina Ogden

recommended 2x

Probes the intricacies of female sexuality with subtle depth and understanding.

Probes the intricacies of female sexuality with subtle depth and understanding.

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