Marriage is a social institution that has existed for thousands of years but is constantly changing. What drives people to come together in marriage? How do love and sex influence this decision? Is it possible to be faithful and happy in the marital relationship? These are some of the questions that professor and historian Marcia Esteves Agostinho seeks to answer in her book “Why do we marry? Sex and love in life for two”, released by publisher Almedina Brasil.
A journey through the history of marriage
The author, who is a master and doctoral student in History at the University of Rochester, in the United States, proposes a journey through the history of marriage, from primitive societies to the present day. She shows how the marital bond was influenced by factors such as power, procreation, religion, culture and economics. In addition, she resorts to other areas of knowledge, such as evolutionary biology, neuroscience and psychology, to explain the biological, emotional and behavioral aspects involved in choosing a partner.
The book is divided in three parts. In the first, the researcher presents the evolution of the marital bond throughout history, and takes as a reference the models of social organization, from the jungle to civilization. The relationships between power and procreation, as well as the functions of love and sex, are also addressed. The second part, centered on themes of the present, discusses issues characteristic of modern marriages: union, infidelity, breakup and reconciliation. In the last segment, the author explores the possibilities for the future of marriage.
An invitation to critical thinking
Marcia Agostinho does not intend to give recipes or advice on how to have a happy and lasting marriage. She wants to instigate critical thinking on the subject, presenting multiple perspectives and questioning social standards. She also shares her own experiences as a wife and mother, balancing dedication to her family with her academic career for 30 years.
The book’s preface is signed by writer Deonísio da Silva, nominated for the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature, who praises the author’s work: “Whoever reads this book will not leave it as it entered. The author disarranges the feelings, hers and those of the readers, to rearrange them in other ways”.
“Why are we married? Sex and love in life as a couple” is a book that invites readers to reflect on their own choices and expectations regarding marriage. It is a work that combines scientific rigor with human sensitivity, offering a broad and up-to-date view on a subject that never goes out of style.
Datasheet
Title: Why are we married? Sex and love in a couple’s life
Author: Marcia Esteves Agostinho
Publishing company: Almedina Brazil
ISBN: 9786554271202
Format: 21x14x1,1cm
Pages: 280
Price: R$ 90,00
Where to find: Almedina Brazil, Amazon
About the author
Marcia Esteves Agostinho is married and the mother of two children. For 30 years, she has been combining dedication to her family with her academic career, acting as a teacher, advisor, researcher and author. She holds a PhD in Engineering from COPPE – Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, and a Master’s and PhD in History from the University of Rochester, NY, USA. Her research areas are the sciences of complexity and the history of emotions, the results of which she has presented in books and articles published internationally.
Marriage is a social institution that has existed for thousands of years but is constantly changing. What drives people to come together in marriage? How do love and sex influence this decision? Is it possible to be faithful and happy in the marital relationship? These are some of the questions that professor and historian Marcia Esteves Agostinho seeks to answer in her book “Why do we marry? Sex and love in life for two”, released by publisher Almedina Brasil.
A journey through the history of marriage
The author, who is a master and doctoral student in History at the University of Rochester, in the United States, proposes a journey through the history of marriage, from primitive societies to the present day. She shows how the marital bond was influenced by factors such as power, procreation, religion, culture and economics. In addition, she resorts to other areas of knowledge, such as evolutionary biology, neuroscience and psychology, to explain the biological, emotional and behavioral aspects involved in choosing a partner.
The book is divided in three parts. In the first, the researcher presents the evolution of the marital bond throughout history, and takes as a reference the models of social organization, from the jungle to civilization. The relationships between power and procreation, as well as the functions of love and sex, are also addressed. The second part, centered on themes of the present, discusses issues characteristic of modern marriages: union, infidelity, breakup and reconciliation. In the last segment, the author explores the possibilities for the future of marriage.
An invitation to critical thinking
Marcia Agostinho does not intend to give recipes or advice on how to have a happy and lasting marriage. She wants to instigate critical thinking on the subject, presenting multiple perspectives and questioning social standards. She also shares her own experiences as a wife and mother, balancing dedication to her family with her academic career for 30 years.
The book’s preface is signed by writer Deonísio da Silva, nominated for the 2022 Nobel Prize in Literature, who praises the author’s work: “Whoever reads this book will not leave it as it entered. The author disarranges the feelings, hers and those of the readers, to rearrange them in other ways”.
“Why are we married? Sex and love in life as a couple” is a book that invites readers to reflect on their own choices and expectations regarding marriage. It is a work that combines scientific rigor with human sensitivity, offering a broad and up-to-date view on a subject that never goes out of style.
Datasheet
Title: Why are we married? Sex and love in a couple’s life
Author: Marcia Esteves Agostinho
Publishing company: Almedina Brazil
ISBN: 9786554271202
Format: 21x14x1,1cm
Pages: 280
Price: R$ 90,00
Where to find: Almedina Brazil, Amazon
About the author
Marcia Esteves Agostinho is married and the mother of two children. For 30 years, she has been combining dedication to her family with her academic career, acting as a teacher, advisor, researcher and author. She holds a PhD in Engineering from COPPE – Federal University of Rio de Janeiro, RJ, Brazil, and a Master’s and PhD in History from the University of Rochester, NY, USA. Her research areas are the sciences of complexity and the history of emotions, the results of which she has presented in books and articles published internationally.
