Have you ever wondered why we fall in love? What is the background of the human ability and need for love? Is love something stronger than cultural norms or something entirely shaped by society?

This book will take you on an inspirational journey – from different scientific notions of love through intriguing personal stories, offering an unique view on the evolution, the origin and the development of the concept of love throughout history, taking in account its different forms as well as its’ social and personal significance.

An intimate essay, a travel diary and an ethnographic study – all in one, this book presents an inspirational exploration that takes readers on a passionate journey through different aspects of the meanings that love has in today’s world.


This is a truly magnificent book—packed with touching and fascinating stories of love around the world. The people, the settings, their words: it’s elegant, authentic, charming and hopeful. And what an astonished achievement by the authors–to capture romance in so many corners of the globe.

– Dr. Helen Fisher



The book has sold in over 13.000 copies in its first year and was the No. 1 bestseller in Croatia in 2021!

Literary reviews of ‘Love Around the World’ have been published on renowned Croatian literary platforms such as Moderna vremena and Booksa.

On Goodreads, ‘Love Around the World’ has a high rating of 4.7, making it one of the highest rated books in contemporary Croatian literature.


GOODREADS REVIEWS

I think everyone should read this book because I believe that we all have different experiences with love and sometimes it is comforting to see that we share same or similar thoughts or even love troubles with someone who is perhaps on the other side of the planet, when we thought that whose aches are only ours and that we are completely alone in them.

– Petra Maltarić


I must admit I did not expect much from the book, because the topic can hardly be more difficult and it is sometimes too easy to wander into idealistic spiritual nonsense. However, the book is excellent!! Rostuhar wrote down over a hundred personal experiences of romantic couples (including his own), summarized leading scientific literature, and made a rich historic overview while asking all the right questions. In my opinion, he succeeded in creating an ideal combination of objective scientific approach and of subjective experiences. His style is simple and clear, but the content shows deep contemplation and wide and thorough education and preparation. Definitely worth the read, and I would like to add that I was thrilled with how the writer tells of his own love experience with brutal honesty. It truly leave an impression of him completely exposing himself on the page.

– Eric Milisavljević


TABLE OF CONTENTS

  1. WHAT IS LOVE?
  2. THE LANGUAGE OF LOVE
    Does love exist when a language has no word for it?
  3. THE HISTORY OF LOVE
    What path did love take from the African savannahs to the urban metropolises?
  4. THE SOURCE OF LOVE
    Does love have its source in nature or nurture?
  5. MARRIAGE – THE INSTITUTION OF LOVE
    Why are arranged marriages more resilient than love marriages?
  6. POLYGAMY
    Are we monogamous or polygamou­s by nature?

    INTERMEZZO 1 – A PARADISE WITHIN

  7. THE PSYCHOLOGY OF LOVE
    How much have our parents predetermined our relationships?
  8. ASSUMPTIONS ABOUT LOVE
    What lies behind our firmly held beliefs, and can a person change?
  9. LOVE AND IDENTITY
    Do we seek a partner who is a reflection of ourselves?
  10. THE SOCIOLOGY OF LOVE
    How does society shape our choices?
  11. ROMANTIC LOVE
    Is love the new religion?
  12. FORBIDDEN LOVE
    Why does love sometimes survive impossible conditions?
  13. THE END OF LOVE
    Why does love so often fail when all seems to be well?

    INTERMEZZO 2 — THE HELL WITHIN US

  14. MODERN LOVE
    How does the paradox of choice undermine us?
  15. POLYAMORY and new forms of love
    Is the modern form of polygamy the ‘new normal’?
  16. THE BOUNDARIES OF LOVE
    What about the extreme cases?
  17. THE FUTURE OF LOVE
    Is there hope for us?
  18. IS LOVE THE MEANING OF LIFE?
  19. IS LOVE UNIVERSAL?
  20. WHAT IS LOVE?

    INTERMEZZO 3 — PURGATORY