Amore

by Leo F. Buscaglia

Vivere amando se stessi e gli altri rappresenta una grande sfida, l'avventura più esaltante e creativa della nostra esistenza. Un sentimento senza età che per Leo Buscaglia porta a riconoscere nell'amore la forza più possente di ogni altra. Perché solo attraverso il reciproco amore, come capiremo leggendo questo volume, si può arrivare a tentare di comprendere l'infinito.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Self Help, Love, Philosophy, Relationships, Inspirational

Paperback

First published January 1, 1972

About the author

known as "Dr. Love"

Dr. Felice Leonardo Buscaglia Ph.D. was a professor in the Department of Special Education at the University of Southern California. He was a graduate of Theodore Roosevelt High School (Los Angeles).

Leo Buscaglia authored a number of New York Times bestselling inspirational books on love and human reticences on the subject, including The Fall of Freddie the Leaf, Bus 9 to Paradise, Living Loving and Learning, Love and My Father. In lectures he often protested, in outrage at the comparative absence of writings on the subject, "I got the copyright for love!!!"

Reviews

[Brian Johnson · Rating 5 out of 5]

“If he desired to know about automobiles, he would, without question, study diligently about automobiles. If his wife desired to be a gourmet cook, she’d certainly study the art of cooking, perhaps even attending a cooking class. Yet, it never seems as obvious to him that if he wants to live in love, he must spend at least as much time as the auto mechanic or the gourmet in studying love.”

“I hug everybody—just come close to me, you’re more than likely to get hugged, certainly touched.”

~ Leo Buscaglia from Love

I smile as I type these words—just having Buscaglia’s book, Love, open in front of me is enough to make me happy. :)

Seriously. This is hands down one of my favorite books. I’ve purchased at least 250 copies of it. We used to give it away to all of our partners at my last business (Zaadz.com) and I used to bring a copy with me to nearly every business lunch I had. (I’m a little wacky like that. :)

My hunch is you’ll fall in Love with Love as well. By the end of reading it, you’ll wish you could give Leo Buscaglia—a former Professor of Love at USC—a big ol’ hug.

Here are some of the Big Ideas:

1. Study Love - How else to master it?
2. Love Yourself - Rule #1.
3. Jump In! - Immerse yourself!
4. Say YES!! - And, yes! And, yes!
5. Grow in Love - To your highest self.

May I echo Buscaglia’s recommendation and suggest that we live for creating joy for others and sharing our greatest gifts in the greatest service to the world?!!?

-----

Here's my video review:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=8-HQJ...

And click here to find 250+ more of my reviews:
http://bit.ly/BrianReviews

Brian

[Kristen · Rating 4 out of 5]

ok, this book was published in the 70's - and it shows. But if you can overlook some of the obvious outdated slang and such, then there really is a lot of good stuff in there.

My favorite 70's line: "Sometimes I get up in the morning, and I feel so freaky and good, I can't stand it." :)

[Michelle · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is probably the third time I've read this book. I first received it in the eighth grade, and middle school being a particularly bleak time, I found it sort of inspiring. Leo Buscaglia's book was written some time ago. It includes anachronistic slang like the word "groovy" and the most recent text cited in it is copyright 1970, but the general message holds up well over time. Basically, Love runs the gamut from romantic love, to love of mankind through charity, and especially self-love. One of the central ideas of Buscaglia's framework is that can't give something you don't have, so you need to love yourself before you can really love others. In some ways, this text reminds me of Freud's On Narcissism, where Freud treats all love as a limited commodity which cycles between our selves and our loved ones.
However, Love takes a much more kind and gentle approach to its subject matter. This is a simple,unindulgent text that inspires one to love oneself and others to the fullest extent possible.

[George · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book was first published in the early 1970's and I read it a million years ago. Something else that I was thinking about a couple of weeks ago made me revisit this book and I have to say that I enjoyed it immensly reading it some 30 years after my first encounter with it. Basically, Dr. Buscaglia, who was an educator, taught a class on love at the University of the State of California. His colleagues would not allow it to be credited, so it was offered without any credit and he always had a full class. The book is a collection of his and his students observations on love that they shared in their class. It does have a granola crunch 70's feel to it, but it is a warm book that suggests we all need love and want love and should spend some time cultivating love in our lives and living loving lives. Very enjoyable and I highly recommend it.

[KOMET · Rating 5 out of 5]

When I was a student in a summer program at the University of Minnesota in 1985, a dear friend (now deceased) introduced me to this book, telling me how much he enjoyed reading it.

Leo Buscaglia I had had some awareness of through the televised lectures he gave on public television. So, I came to this book with an open mind, curious to see what Leo had to say on this subject. One of the statements he made I found particularly profound, and it is this: "Man has no choice but to love. For when he does not, he finds his alternatives lie in loneliness, destruction and despair." Now that almost 40 years have passed and I've experienced much more of life, love and loss, I can say that no truer words were spoken.

[Μαρία · Rating 5 out of 5]

"Ο άνθρωπος δεν πρέπει να εξαρτιέται από κανέναν κι από τίποτα για ενίσχυση κι εξασφάλιση εκτός από τον εαυτό του.Αυτός ο δρόμος μπορεί να είναι μοναχικός,αλλά θα είναι λιγότερο μοναχικός αν ο άνθρωπος κατανοήσει τα παρακάτω:
1)Το βασικό του λειτούργημα είναι να βοηθήσει στην αναδίπλωση του αληθινού Εαυτού του.
2)Ισότιμο μ' αυτό το λειτούργημα είναι να βοηθά τους άλλους να γίνουν δυνατοί και να τελειοποιηθούν σαν μοναδικά άτομα.
3)Θα το κάνει αυτό καλύτερα δίνοντας σ' όλους την ευκαιρία να δείξουν τα αισθήματά τους,να εκφράσουν τις βλέψεις τους και να μοιραστούν τα όνειρά τους.
4)Πρέπει να βλέπει τις δυνάμεις που χαρακτηρίζονται "κακές" σαν να προέρχονται από άτομα που υποφέρουν και που,όπως ο ίδιος,είναι "ανθρώπινα",ζώντας μέσα στη διαδικασία της προσπάθειας να τελειοποιηθούν σαν "πλάσματα".
5)Πρέπει να καταπολεμά αυτές τις δυνάμεις του κακού,μέσα από μια δραστήρια αγάπη που βαθιά ασχολείται κι ενδιαφέρεται για την ελεύθερη αναζήτηση της αυτοανακάλυψης του κάθε ατόμου.
6)Πρέπει να πιστεύει ότι δεν είναι ο κόσμος άσχημος,πικρόχολος και καταστρεπτικός,αλλά είναι έτσιόπως ο άνθρωπος έχει κάνει τον κόσμο να φαίνεται.
7)Πρέπει να είναι ένα πρότυπο.Όχι πρότυπο τελειότητας-μια κατάσταση που δεν τη φτάνει συχνά ο άνθρωπος-αλλά ένα πρότυπο ανθρώπινου πλάσματος.Γιατί το να είναι ένα καλό ανθρώπινο πλάσμα είναι το σπουδαιότερο που μπορεί να είναι.
8)Πρέπει να μπορεί να συγχωρεί τον εαυτό του επειδή είναι λιγότερο τέλειος.
9)Πρέπει να καταλάβει ότι η αλλαγή είναι αναπόφευκτη και πως το να πορεύεται μέσα στην αγάπη και στην αυτο-υλοποίηση,είναι πάντα καλό.
10)Πρέπει να πειστεί πως τη συμπεριφορά για να τη μάθει,πρέπει να την δοκιμάζει-"ζω σημαίνει κάνω".
11)Πρέπει να μάθει ότι δε μπορεί ν' αγαπηθεί απ' όλους τους ανθρώπους.Ότι αυτό είναι το ιδανικό.Μέσα στον κόσμο των ανθρώπων,αυτό το ιδανικό δε βρίσκεται συχνά.
12)Πρέπει να γίνει ο πιο όμορφος καρπός που υπάρχει στον κόσμο,ώριμος,ζουμερός,γλυκός και να προσφερθεί σε όλους.Αλλά πρέπει και να θυμάται ότι θα υπάρξουν άνθρωποι που δεν τους αρέσουν αυτοί οι καρποί.
13)Πρέπει να καταλάβει πως αν γίνει ο πιο όμορφος καρπός του κόσμου και σε κάποιον τον οποίο αγαπά δεν αρέσουν αυτοί οι καρποί,έχει την επιλογή ν' αλλάξει και να γίνει ένας άλλος καρπός.Αλλά πρέπει και να τον προειδοποιήσουμε πως αν γίνει ένας άλλος καρπός θα είναι πάντα δεύτερης ποιότητας.Μόνο ο καρπός που πραγματικά είναι,θα είναι πάντα ο καλύτερος.
14)Πρέπει να συνειδητοποιήσει πως αν επιλέξει να είναι ένας δεύτερης ποιότητας καρπός,διατρέχει τον κίνδυνο αυτός που αγαπά ν ανακαλύψει το δεύτερο της ποιότητας κι επειδή θέλει μόνο το καλύτερο να τον απορρίψει.μπορεί τότε να σπαταλήσει την υπόλοιπη ζωή του προσπαθώντας να γίνει ο καλύτερος άλλος καρπός-πράγμα αδύνατο αφού είναι άλλος-ή μπορεί πάλι να ξαναγίνει αυτό που ήταν.
15)Πρέπει να προσπαθήσει ν' αγαπά όλους τους ανθρώπους,έστω κι αν όλοι δεν τον αγαπούν.Δεν αγαπάς για να σ' αγαπήσουν-αγαπάς για χάρη της αγάπης.
16)Δεν πρέπει ν' απορρίπτει κανέναν άνθρωπο,γιατί έχει συνειδητοποιήσει ότι είναι τμήμα του κάθε ανθρώπου κι αν απορρίπτει έστω κι έναν άνθρωπο είναι σαν ν' απορρίπτει τον εαυτό του.
17)Πρέπει να ξέρει πως αν αγαπά όλους τους ανθρώπους κι απορριφθεί από έναν,δεν πρέπει ν' αποτραβηχτεί με φόβο,πόνο,απογοήτευση ή θυμό.Δεν είναι λάθος του άλλου.Απλά δεν ήταν έτοιμος γι' αυτά που του προσφέρονταν.Η αγάπη δεν του προσφέρθηκε με όρους.Έδωσε αγάπη επειδή στάθηκε αρκετά τυχερός ώστε να έχει για να δώσει,επειδή ένιωθε χαρά δίνοντας και δεν έδωσε μόνο και μόνο επειδή θά' παιρνε κάτι σαν αντάλλαγμα.
18)Πρέπει να καταλάβει πως αν κάποιος απόρριψε την αγάπη του,υπάρχουν εκατοντάδες άλλοι που την περιμένουν.Η Ιδέα ότι δεν υπάρχει παρά μόνο μια σωστή αγάπη είναι αυταπάτη.Υπάρχουν πολλές σωστές αγάπες.
Το ζήτημα,λοιπόν,είναι ν' αγαπάς τον τρόπο με τον οποίο αγαπάς."

[Ron Wroblewski · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo Buscaglia was a great teacher. He taught a course called Love at the University of Southern California. I enjoyed watching his videos, usually on PBS. Some quotes:
"So the individual, now fully grown, leaves our schools confused, lonely, alienated, lost, angry, but with a mind full of isolated, meaningless facts which together are laughingly called an education."

He didn't believe that schools prepared students for life.

Here is one I have always believed:
"There are degrees of love, but there's only one kind of love". It's like the volume button on a radio; the higher you tune it, the more you love.

I have read several of his books and loved them all.

[Susan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I found this old favorite while cleaning out bookshelves. It was like visiting an old friend. I also went to YouTube to watch some videos that were all the rage on PBS back in the 70s and early 80s. Leo gets a little wordy and it bogs down in spots for me, but overall, a great exploration that addresses the question, "What is Love?"

Favorite quotes:
Because love is too many things to be definitive about it, "The difference between saying, "I love you" to a friend or to a lover is that... the friend would know exactly what you mean."
and
"Love is always open arms... If you close your arms about love you'll find you are left only holding yourself."
and
"For if one expects nothing and asks nothing, he can never be deceived or disappointed. It is only when love demands that it brings on pain."
and
"Life is not the goal, it is the process. It is the getting there, not the arrival. Thoreau said, "Oh, God, to have reached the point of death only to find that you have never lived at all."
During Leo's childhood, his Papa demanded continual growth in education. After dinner each night, he would ask, "So, what did you learn today, Felice?"
and
"Love is always changing and always learning... accepting the person unconditionally for what he is at the moment, realizing that what he is today is not what he will be tomorrow."

[Ghadeer Alkhenaizi · Rating 5 out of 5]

Before reading the book, I listened to one of Buscaglia’s lectures to get a feel of his style, voice and tone in order to read it “in his own voice”, as my friend advised me.
The book is based on a lecture he gave, the style of writing is more of a transcription to a lecture than a book. I felt that I was listening to a wise person who understands life very well, despite the differences we both have and the filters that make us see the world so differently.
Nevertheless, I appreciate how this book reminded me of experiences and nuances of love, and how broad the meaning is. We are so consumed by the romantic face of love that is overused in mainstream media and social media, that we took all other forms of love for-granted. I also liked how the author backed his arguments with theories of philosophers and sociologists, it helped me connect with his teachings on love and life and understand some of the episodes I have been through in the past.
This book is a good reminder of core values in humanity, a recharge to our love tank before giving others.

[léonna marie · Rating 5 out of 5]

"He must see the forces labeled as "evil" as emanating from suffering people who, like himself, are human ... He must believe that it is not the world that is ugly, bitter, and destructive, but it is what man has done to the world that makes it appear so."

half of this book was affirmation of all the things ive felt my whole life and the other half was a sizeable amount of self discovery. so many quotes in here opened my eyes i completely marked it up with stars and hearts and underlines and notes. only thing is that it was written 50 years ago so there is some uncomfortable use of language and a sprinkling of outdated views. apart from that it actually blew me away how universal this is and applies near perfectly 50 years in the future. i just loved it. and i loved that it was formatted as a "sharing" that you can take what you want from rather than a lecture, because even when i found myself disagreeing and finding buscaglia talking in circles, it was still a joy to read:D

tldr this is the biggest effect has had on me in a long time. i will be going back to this for the rest of forever

[Peri Morfosis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Η Αγάπη είναι ένα από τα πιο αναγνωρίσιμα και αγαπημένα έργα του συγγραφέα, που εξερευνά τη βαθιά και πολύπλευρη έννοια της αγάπης. Στόχος του είναι να μας βοηθήσει να κατανοήσουμε καλύτερα την αγάπη ως δύναμη που διαμορφώνει τη ζωή μας και τις σχέσεις μας.

Κεντρικά Θέματα

1. Η φύση της αγάπης: Ο Μπουσκάλια αναλύει την αγάπη σε όλες τις μορφές της, περιλαμβάνοντας την ρομαντική αγάπη, την οικογενειακή αγάπη και την φιλία. Υπογραμμίζει ότι η αγάπη είναι ένα βίωμα που πρέπει να καλλιεργούμε καθημερινά.
2. Η σημασία της αυτοαγάπης: Ένα από τα βασικά μηνύματα του βιβλίου είναι ότι για να μπορέσουμε να αγαπήσουμε τους άλλους, πρέπει πρώτα να αγαπήσουμε τον εαυτό μας. Η αυτοεκτίμηση και η αποδοχή του εαυτού είναι κρίσιμες για υγιείς σχέσεις.
3. Η αγάπη ως επιλογή: Ο Μπουσκάλια υποστηρίζει ότι η αγάπη είναι μια συνειδητή επιλογή που απαιτεί προσπάθεια και αφοσίωση. Δεν είναι απλώς ένα συναίσθημα, αλλά μια πράξη που ενώνει τους ανθρώπους.
4. Αντιμετώπιση του πόνου και της απώλειας: Ο συγγραφέας δεν παραλείπει να μιλήσει για τις προκλήσεις που σχετίζονται με την αγάπη, όπως η απώλεια και ο πόνος. Προτείνει τρόπους για να διαχειριστούμε αυτές τις δυσκολίες και να βρούμε την ομορφιά της αγάπης, ακόμη και σε δύσκολες στιγμές.

Το στυλ του Μπουσκάλια είναι φιλικό και προσιτό. Χρησιμοποιεί προσωπικές ιστορίες και παραδείγματα, κάνοντάς τον κατανοητό και προσιτό. Η γλώσσα του είναι γεμάτη από συναισθηματική ειλικρίνεια, με στόχο να αγγίξει την καρδιά του αναγνώστη.

Είναι ένα βιβλίο που εμπνέει και παρακινεί τους αναγνώστες να εξερευνήσουν τη δική τους σχέση με την αγάπη. Μέσα από τις σελίδες του, ο Μπουσκάλια προσφέρει πολύτιμες γνώσεις για την αγάπη, αναδεικνύοντας τη σημασία της στην ανθρώπινη ύπαρξη. Το έργο του λειτουργεί ως οδηγός για να ζούμε με περισσότερη αγάπη, κατανόηση και αλληλεγγύη, τόσο προς τον εαυτό μας όσο και προς τους άλλους.

[Μιχάλης Παπαχατζάκης · Rating 3 out of 5]

Μάλλον ό Μπουσκάλια είναι ο πρόδρομος των βιβλίων «καλυτέρευσης». Όπως όλα του είδους έχει μια συναισθηματική γραφή, εκτεταμένη χρήση του (αρνητικού ή θετικού) προσωπικού παραδείγματος του συγγραφέα και έντονο δασκαλίστικο ύφος. Όμως το συγκεκριμένο είναι καλογραμμένο, ρέει από το ένα κεφάλαιο στο άλλο, παρότι έχει συγκεκριμένη δομή-τίτλους κεφαλαίων. Είναι μια μεγάλη και -σε σημαντικό βαθμό- πλήρης διάλεξη.

Ο σκοπός του Μπουκάλια ήταν να προσεγγίσει την αγάπη επιστημονικά, όπως έγραψε. Σαν πεδίο που πρέπει να μελετηθεί και στο χώρο του πανεπιστημίου. Ως προς αυτό απλώνει και μια κριτική προς το εκπαιδευτικό σύστημα. Στις ΗΠΑ μάλλον κάτι τέτοιο ήταν εφικτό, λόγω της μεγάλης αυτονομίας που απολάμβαναν τα κρατικά πανεπιστήμια, τουλάχιστον την εποχή που αυτός δίδασκε. Ένας απόφοιτος κοινωνιολογίας στη Νέα Υόρκη μπορεί να είχε μάθει πολύ διαφορετικά πράγματα από έναν του Σηάτλ. Έτσι, το βιβλίο αυτό ήταν και μια εισαγωγή-διαφήμιση αυτού που ήθελε να κάνει: Μαθήματα για την αγάπη στο πανεπιστήμιο.

[Γι' αυτό κι η αγάπη σαν θέμα εξέτασης αφέθηκε στα χέρια των αγίων που την καθορίζουν μιλώντας για μια κατάσταση έκστασης• στα χέρια των ποιητών που τη βλέπουν σαν μια ακραία κατάσταση χαράς ή απογοήτευσης• στα χέρια των φιλοσόφων που προσπαθούν να την αναλύσουν με το λογικό, σημείο προς σημείο, συχνά σκοτεινό τρόπο τους. Η αγάπη όμως φαίνεται ότι δεν ταιριάζει απόλυτα σε κανένα απ' αυτά τα καλούπια, γιατί μπορεί να είναι όλα αυτά μαζί• μια κατάσταση έκστασης, μια κατάσταση χαράς, μια κατάσταση απογοήτευση, μια λογική ή, τέλος, μια παράλογη κατάσταση.
Η αγάπη είναι πολλά πράγματα, ίσως πάρα πολλά, για να μπορέσουμε να την καθορίσουμε.] (σελ.77)

Οι προσεγγίσεις του είναι ενδιαφέρουσες.

[Skyluv · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the first book I have ever read after Sweet Valley High and Nancy Drew file’s. I still have the highlighted marks on it. I have highlighted the quotes that I go back to reading every now and then to remind myself of how beautiful life is. Sometimes, I read it when having such a busy, stressful day. It’s a wonderful book about love, the best one for me. Highly recommended. Read it. Learn from it. ❤️

“Too often we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.”

~ Leo F. Buscaglia

[Brandon · Rating 4 out of 5]

Leo Buscaglia may have the sickest nickname ever: Dr. Love. After reading, he seems worthy of it. While by no means perfect, I think Love is a compelling and helpful book for advancement with regards to love, loving, and being loved.

Quotes:
- "First of all the loving individual has to care about himself. This is number one. I don't mean an ego trip. I'm talking about somebody who really cares about himself, who says, "Everything is filtered through me, and so the greater I am, the more I have to give. The greater knowledge I have, the more I'm going to have to give. The greater understanding I have, the greater is my ability to teach others and to make my self the most fantastic, the most beautiful, the most wondrous, the most tender human being in the world." (p. 18)

- Zinker: "I only know this: I exist, I am, I am here, I am becoming, I make my life and no one else makes it for me. I must face my own short comings, mistakes, transgressions. No one can suffer my non-being as I do, but tomorrow is another day, and I must decide to leave my bed and live again. And if I fail, I don't have the comfort of blaming you or life or God."

[Jamie Huston · Rating 2 out of 5]

Pretty disappointing. Near the beginning of this book, Buscaglia says that we can't really define love, but that all love is the same, anyway, so his reflections on it apply to romance, friendship, family, and all other social situations. This framework *doesn't* work. His frequent use of words like "lover" and "fondle" are too distracting in most of those contexts.

It's not bad as a mantra to inculcate in ourselves a mindset that love, in general, is a priority, but I wish there were more anecdotes and fewer axioms. As a manual for improving relationships of any kind, it fails.

Buscaglia is a teacher, and he often refers to his new age pedagogical theories which, with a half century of hindsight now, have been a disaster ("let the student lead the way" and "the purpose of school is to find yourself" kinds of things).

There are a number of good quotes about living well, though, so that was something.

The worst section is the rambling introduction. Skip it.

[Liquidlasagna · Rating 5 out of 5]

Buscaglia was a great public speaker and writer of books...
and it was about his ability to connect to people, very well in lectures on PBS, and equally through his books.

The only possible problem is that society was friendlier in the 70s and 80s when he wrote these books, and the stresses on life were less. And well, if your life doesn't feel crushed by financial or health you can probably best 'open up to his outlook'

of how you can enpower yourself with 'awareness'

and how it does something on the level of listening and appreciating

friendships, family, strangers
and discover there can be a joy of life, through a touch of awareness

and being aware, is what makes you connected to the neat stuff in life, and that is the root of humanity, where a heightened awareness, makes you listen, and makes you appreciate things,

and love is, in a way, an appreciation of quality

in yourself,
and what is outside yourself.

---

He was someone that i think people looked up to if you wanted the 'ideal' father or uncle, and basically he shows people how just a touch of caring about people, and to listen, and a small compliment, actually influences people around you. People you might not see again, people you work with, people you're friends with, or just live with.

He had exceptionally deep insights into life, but you could say that this book gives interesting thoughts about loving friends, loving in relationships, how to care for yourself, and how to care for others. I think all his writings offer people a very patient, diplomatic and flexible outlook towards self and others.

One interesting thing he impresses on people, is that people aren't perfect, and neither are you, and that shouldn't be a reason not to care about yourself and others.

The concept of love might sound silly, but in actually this is how I explain the 'real' concept of the book.

It is an intelligent discussion about how society is constructed, and it shows how we can use that to find inspiration for yourself and others.

In that we actually have a gift of modifying the moods and thoughts of other people by listening more, and seeing how others can appreciate little things, even if it took you less than a few seconds to do.

That with you being 'more aware', you can actually make other people 'more aware'.

---

Buscaglia's key thought was:

a. If you can recognize something
b. You can appreciate it

c. It can work for you
d. and more interestingly, it can work on other people, through your own actions

e. The most sneaky thing Buscaglia does is teaches the ordinary person, how you can approach life like a philosopher.

f. Three things are never perfect in life, yourself, your family, or your society. But awareness cultivated in yourself and others, can make it better.

---

The other important thing about the book is that you can learn about one man's very insightful study of what human relationships are about, and what they could be like.

I think the lessons of mysticism could apply here too, Freemasons talk about 'building stuff through architecture, and how it also applies to constructing a better self and a better society or better humanity or the 'new city'. It is not different than all those mystics who talk about being a Magus (like the Golden Dawn) where your emotions can shape reality, and your emotions can make the environment more harmonious. Human beings are unique, and your unique awareness, is a potential gift to the world, as long as you have self-awareness from noticing life, and getting some understanding from it.

Buscaglia says that a true community comes from a simple connection with people.

That connection has lessons like compassion and being charitable to other people.
Awareness is what creates that shift in man, the higher self kicks in.

What stops people from those connections?
Fear and Pride, or the lower self, which limits our potential to be 'much more'.

You could summarize the book as one that shows you how that love is merely a higher form of sharing your feelings, and expressing your emotions, and through awareness you can connect with people, and get around your own egotism and the egotism of others.

---

Because I Am Human (1972)
Love (1972)
The Fall of Freddie the Leaf (1972)
The Way of the Bull (1973)
The Disabled and Their Parents (1975)
Personhood (1978)
Living, Loving and Learning (1982)
Loving Each Other (1984)
Leo Buscaglia's Love Cookbook (1984)
Bus 9 to Paradise (1986)
Born For Love (1987)
Seven Stories of Christmas Love (1987)
A Memory for Tino (1988)
Papa My Father (1989)

[Vanessa G · Rating 4 out of 5]

“Love and the self are one and the discovery of either is the realization of both.”

This book was published in 1972, so the language is outdated in some ways. Throughout the book, Leo Buscaglia refers to “men” when he means “people” or “humans” though he is addressing all individuals. Many of the lessons are ones I had already thought about before, but they are lessons that need to be taught repeatedly.

My main takeaway is that love is to be learned and practiced. Love is becoming closer with others by coming closer to oneself. Love is growth and the discovery of endless possibilities of becoming. In relationships love is joy and growing hand in hand but separately. Unfortunately Love is most often reserved for special occasions and people and therefore not practiced enough - as love should be practiced in every moment, with full intention and toward all humankind.

[Lisa Barrett · Rating 4 out of 5]

Picked up this book because my son was supposed to be reading this for English class in his senior year of high school. A little outdated but still very meaningful. Not a book for a high school student! Quite thought provoking.

[Jodi · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good enough book - a tad dated but it got me thinking about the subject of love. Buscaglia made a good point that we are taught to drive a care, we prepare for our jobs, a teacher helps us learn to read but nobody ever teaches us about love.

Quotes I liked:

"It's only love when given without expectation." p. 66

Love lives in the moment; it's neither lost in yesterday nor does it crave for tomorrow. Love is Now!" p. 74

"Just because the message may never be received does not mean it is not worth sending." - Segaki p. 83

"To love other you must love yourself." p. 95

I liked the experiment with helping a family in Africa have enough food, helping a student finish his education at the school, or buying a copy machine to help themselves and how the students chose the copy machine because it directly impacted them. Definite statement on the human condition.

[sarah mcGonagle · Rating 3 out of 5]

i picked this up at a used bookstore years ago after a series of old love letters fell out of the front (a sign i had to buy it); i have thought about this love story for years. a stephen gifted this to a valeria who had just moved to south america post breakup- christmas of 1975- and no longer believed in love. he hoped this book would change her mind on the matter

finallyyy got around to reading it and was pleasantly surprised:) buscaglia’s love is a sweet short philosophical inquiry into love which, despite its goofy outdated 70s language, made my heart smile. it’s like a sugary, long-winded, sillier cousin to all about love (which you’d think would make me roll my eyes but !)

(stephen and valeria i hope u found love, if not with each other <<33 )

[Julie · Rating 5 out of 5]

I love this man. I love the way he writes and the way he thinks. A sentence that he wrote in the forward made me completely connect. He said "Sometimes I get up in the morning, and I feel so freaky and good, I can't stand it." Who hasn't had a morning like that.

It's a short read, a good read, based on his original Love Class. There's so much more to learn about love but this is his class. How I wish I could have attended. What an amazing person. Teacher. Lover of life.

The world is a better place because he was born. This I am sure. I am always transformed by his work. His gift to this world.

I devoured this book inside 4 hours. I must have really needed it.

[Giorgos Vachtanidis · Rating 5 out of 5]

Εξαιρετικό βιβλίο!
Απλό στη δομή, καθώς δεν προϋποθέτει κάποιο γνωστικό ή φιλοσοφικό υπόβαθρο, αλλά σύνθετο στη σκέψη και τα νοήματα. Δίνει μια γνωστική διάσταση στην αγάπη και την ερμηνεύει και εξηγεί ως μια διαδικασία σε κίνηση και δυναμική και όχι ως κάτι στατικό που απλά συνέβη και μένει ή παύει και φεύγει. Ως γνωστικό αντικείμενο, γίνεται κάτι που το μαθαίνεις και το εξασκείς. Δίνει στην έννοια της αγάπης μια εξελικτική φύση και την καθιστά έννοια που είναι και νοητική/πνευματική και όχι μόνο συναισθηματική, αν και σε βαθύτερα στάδια και το ίδιο το συναίσθημα θα μπορούσε να πει κανείς ότι ανάγεται σε κάτι νοητικό.
Πολλοί μπορεί να αποφύγουν ένα βιβλίο με τίτλο "αγάπη'' γιατί ίσως θεωρήσουν από πριν ότι θα είναι ένα από εκείνα τα "γλυκανάλατα" και "ανορθολογικά", όλο συναίσθημα, κείμενα, γεγονός που και ο ίδιος ο συγγραφέας τονίζει μέσα, πως έτυχε τέτοιων αντιδράσεων απέναντι στο εγχείρημα του αλλά και στην ίδια την έννοια της αγάπης. Ωστόσο, κάθε άλλο, είναι μια φιλότιμη και αξιόλογη προσπάθεια πάνω και γύρω από μια έννοια που ενώ είναι η πιο θεμελιώδης στη ζωή μας, παραμένει και μια από τις πιο πολύπλοκες και μυστήριες, αν όχι η πλέον δύσκολη απ' όλες.

[Haktan · Rating 4 out of 5]

Bu kitap, yani Türkçe çevirisiyle 'Sevgi', hem hediye olduğu için hem de önemli konusu sebebiyle benim icin çok değerliydi. Nitekim okuduğuma memnun da oldum. Kitapta üzerine düşünülmesi gereken sevgi kavramıyla ilgili önemli tespitler var. Sevgi konusuna biraz kafa patlatmak isterseniz, seni seviyorum ne demektir düşünmek isterseniz, sevgi nasıl oluşur, nasıl biter ya da biter mi üzerine akıl yürütmek isterseniz bu kitabı sevebilirsiniz.

Sevgi konusuyla ilgili olarak okuduğum ve çok sevdiğim bir diğer kitap Eric Fromm'un Sevme Sanatı kitabıdır. Onu da şiddetle tavsiye ederim. Konuyu biraz daha teknik ele alan etkileyici bir kitaptır.

Biraz konu dışı da olsa paylaşmak istediğim bir nokta daha var. 3-4 sene önce Sevme Sanatı'nı okuduğumda sevmeyi iyi anladığım ve öğrendiğim hissine kapılmıştım. Fakat geçen 3-4 yıldaki yaşadığım bir sürü duyguyla beraber Sevgi kitabını okurken fark ettim ki Sevmek kitaplardan okuyarak öğrenilen bir kavram değil. Her iki yazarın da belirttiği gibi, sevmek aktif bir eylemdir ve çaba gerektirir!

[reader7727 · Rating 5 out of 5]

to begin i just gotta say this was the best two dollars spent. hands down. this book from the beginning left me with such empowering emotions that i just felt purely inspired with every flip of a page. it’s even inspiring me to write a serious review!
like i’ve said to my friends before, the forward to the book was the best 50 pages i’ve read. the flow and the examples used were so amazing to take in. i really loved it. as for the chapters following, i wish leo buscaglia kept his personality and casual tone but the chapters were still informative. informative feels wrong to say because as the author said, these were notes from his love class. and i love that. i love the whole concept of this tiny book.
i knew i wasn’t drawn to it for nothing.

[Sarah Rasmussen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Beautiful book about love. I had never really thought as deeply about what love actually is, but this book helped me to start an important journey of discovery within myself about the meaning of love.

[Koutsi Maria · Rating 5 out of 5]

Πόσο δροσιστικό για το μυαλό και την καρδιά μπορεί να 'ναι ένα βιβλίο! Σα να φυσά θαλασσινό αεράκι μέσα σου, θυμίζοντάς σου όσα ήδη γνωρίζεις κι όσα αξίζει ν΄αγαπάς! Buscaglia, την αγάπη μου.

[Claudia Budzyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

this is the most beautiful, guileless, and true book i have ever read. wish i could give it 6/5 stars.

[Roslynn · Rating 5 out of 5]

ugh I love love and this broke it down in so many ways! eye-opening and engaging and I will most definitely be going back to reread sections bc damn, it really brought it all together for me.

[Darrin Rottell · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book should be required reading for everyone. It truly is a warm and wonderful book about the largest experience in life. Leo Buscaglia shares actionable steps to be more loving to ourselves and others <3

I’ve never underlined so many sentences in a book!

[Lisa Zhang · Rating 5 out of 5]

The sweetest book that I have ever read. Full of important reminders on love, and thus the human experience, compassion & empathy, and societal impacts. 10/5 would recommend.