The author asserts that the kind of relationship we create is dependent on the kind of "story" we carry inside us. He identifies 26 of these love stories, each with distinct advantages and pitfalls, and many of which are clashingly incompatible, and shows how this guides our romantic choices.

Part I: Introduction ; 1. Love as a Story ; 2. Our Multiple Stories of Love ; 3. Story Elements ; 5. Where Do Stories Come from and Where Do They Go? ; 6. Stories We're Supposed to Tell: The Cultural Matrix ; Part II: Love Stories ; Art ; Business ; Collection ; Cookbook ; Fantasy ; Game ; Garden ; Government ; History ; Horror, House and Home ; Humorous ; Mystery ; Police ; Pornography ; Recovery ; Religion ; Science ; Science Fiction ; Sewing and Knitting ; Teacher and Student ; Theater-Script ; Travel ; Part III: Implications ; 7. Testing the Story View ; 8. What Is Love?

"Love is a Story comes to us from one of America's most insightful and clear-headed thinkers on the perplexing subject of love. I've long been a fan of Robert Sternberg, whose theories of relationships have proven enormously useful in my own work." -- Dr. Judith Sills, author of the bestselling Excess Baggage, and Loving Men More, Needing Men Less "A terrifically interesting and enjoyable book, one that will probably be read by married couples, singles, and the counselors who work with them."--Kirkus Reviews "This is an entertaining and thought-provoking look at the variety of love relationships. As usual, Sternberg takes an ancient, familiar problem and offers a novel, creative approach."--Roy F. Baumeister, author of Breaking Hearts: The Two Sides of Unrequited Love "Love is a Story comes to us from one of America's most insightful and clear-headed thinkers on the perplexing subject of love. I've long been a fan of Robert Sternberg, whose theories of relationships have proven enormously useful in my own work." -- Dr. Judith Sills, author of the bestselling Excess Baggage, and Loving Men More, Needing Men Less "In this illuminating book, one of psychology's most distinguished researchers brings clarity and insight to the topic of romantic love without stripping love of its romance.... Sternberg helps us identify and appreciate our own love stories, and he offers valuable suggestions about how to connect our stories to the stories of others, so that we may all live a little more happily."--Dan P. McAdams, Ph.D., Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Psychology and Human Development, Northwestern University

"Love is a Story comes to us from one of America's most insightful and clear-headed thinkers on the perplexing subject of love. I've long been a fan of Robert Sternberg, whose theories of relationships have proven enormously useful in my own work." -- Dr. Judith Sills, author of the bestselling Excess Baggage, and Loving Men More, Needing Men Less "A terrifically interesting and enjoyable book, one that will probably be read by married couples, singles, and the counselors who work with them."--Kirkus Reviews "This is an entertaining and thought-provoking look at the variety of love relationships. As usual, Sternberg takes an ancient, familiar problem and offers a novel, creative approach."--Roy F. Baumeister, author of Breaking Hearts: The Two Sides of Unrequited Love "Love is a Story comes to us from one of America's most insightful and clear-headed thinkers on the perplexing subject of love. I've long been a fan of Robert Sternberg, whose theories of relationships have proven enormously useful in my own work." -- Dr. Judith Sills, author of the bestselling Excess Baggage, and Loving Men More, Needing Men Less "In this illuminating book, one of psychology's most distinguished researchers brings clarity and insight to the topic of romantic love without stripping love of its romance.... Sternberg helps us identify and appreciate our own love stories, and he offers valuable suggestions about how to connect our stories to the stories of others, so that we may all live a little more happily."--Dan P. McAdams, Ph.D., Charles Deering McCormick Professor of Psychology and Human Development, Northwestern University

Robert J. Sternberg, Ph.D., is IBM Professor of Psychology and Education at Yale University. He is the coauthor of Satisfaction in Close Relationships, the author of Successful Intelligence, Thinking Styles and many other books and articles. He lives in Hamden, Connecticut.