Secure: The Revolutionary Guide to Creating a Secure Life

by Amir Levine

Amir Levine, MD, coauthor of the groundbreaking, multimillion-copy international bestseller Attached, presents a bold new promise—that anyone can learn to create a secure life—and offers practical cutting-edge tools to achieve it.

Years after revolutionizing our understanding of attachment styles, psychiatrist and neuroscientist Dr. Amir Levine returns with a brilliant, paradigm-shifting work on the science of secure human connection. As Dr. Levine explains in Secure, people with a secure attachment style are the most comfortable not just in their relationships, but also in their own skins. And remarkably, the latest research shows that anyone, regardless of how insecure they may feel, can learn to create a secure life.

The benefits of living in “secure mode” are people tend to be healthier and have a better relationship with their health care providers. When they do have a difficult illness, they have fewer symptoms and handle it better emotionally. If they’re looking for a job, they’re more effective in their search and their self-esteem doesn’t suffer as much. They are less susceptible to consumerism. They even navigate social media better and experience fewer negative impacts.

In Secure, Dr. Levine presents his pioneering approach, Secure Therapy and Coaching, offering practical, neuroscience-backed tools to help readers cultivate security so that they can thrive. Secure is the definitive guide for anyone looking to improve their emotional health, deepen their connections, and build more fulfilling lives.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Psychology

288 pages, Hardcover

Expected publication April 14, 2026

About the author

Dr Amir Levine, MD, is an adult, child and adolescent psychiatrist and neuroscientist. He has been conducting neuroscience research at Columbia University, New York, for several years under the mentorship of Nobel Prize laureate Eric Kandel.

Reviews

[Vicky McAfee · Rating 3 out of 5]

Thank you to NetGalley and the publisher for providing me with an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

I found this to be interesting and scientifically fascinating, and it helped me put some things into perspective about attachment, relationships, and self-regulation. The book is heavy on social interactions and really emphasises that we are creatures who rely on each other, which I can intellectually appreciate.

That said, for me, it didn’t go deep enough in certain areas. It doesn’t talk about real-life relationships, power imbalances, unavoidable connections where you can’t simply detach or disengage, or how past trauma can effect dynamics, which can make the advice feel a little too idealised.

The text occasionally leans toward the idea that your partner should “make you secure,” which felt counterintuitive; I believe that true security comes from within. Healthy boundaries and cultivating your own wellbeing seem essential, but sometimes the book downplays them in favour of relational strategies.

I liked the emphasis on self-reflection and the practical examples, and I agree that we should aim to be people we’d like to come into contact with, cultivating a sense of self that’s resilient and autonomous. I just wished there was more nuance around the complexities of human relationships, especially mismatched attachment styles or situations where contact can’t simply be removed.

Overall, I’d say it’s a thought-provoking read, particularly if you’re new to attachment theory or want a science-informed framework, but I personally wanted a bit more depth on real-world relational challenges.

[Julie · Rating 4 out of 5]

It's an interesting and educational read. I'm not sure it would work for everyone, in fact I'm pretty sure I know of at least one person for whom it would be ineffective. Regardless of that, I really liked that the book enables the reader to evaluate themselves using tools created by the author. And there is a link available within the book that enables the evaluation tool to be used on the authors website, thereby saving the need to do any mathematics.

The book is divided into three sections:- PART I: The Secure Brain; PART II: Living in Secure Mode and PART III: The Secure Mind. It is necessary to read the book in a linear fashion to understand how the system works and how to use it. There are examples throughout which help with comprehension and invite responses to consolidate the learning.

I anticipate that most people will be able to read through once and then dip into the various sections to refresh memory and learning as needed.

When I completed the assessment of my attachment to various individuals, it was very much as I expected, which was reassuring. And should I wish to make changes to my relationships, I now have the tools I need to work towards that goal.

I found the tone of the author to be compassionate and caring about the wellbeing of others. Something that is really nice to come across in a scientific book.

I am thankful to the author, Random House UK, Cornerstone | Cornerstone Press and Netgalley for allowing me to read this book for free.

[Vicky · Rating 5 out of 5]

I loved this and found it such an accessible read. It was so refreshing to see Amir Levine move away from the usual way attachment styles are talked about. I particularly related to the chapter on anxious attachment and loved how he framed it as “not a deficit or problem to be fixed but a unique set of perceptual superpowers - that when properly channeled - can be a tremendous asset to you and the people around you.” That perspective shift felt really empowering.

It was also really interesting to read that they now believe attachment isn’t just something "set in stone" during your first relationship with a caregiver, but something that can actually alter and evolve later in life. I appreciated that the book didn't just focus on romantic relationships, but looked at how these dynamics affect every area of our lives. There are plenty of real-life examples throughout that show not just how people are affected by their attachment styles, but the actual changes they made that started to make a real difference. This is a great, practical update to existing books on attachment theory.

[Morag Murray · Rating 5 out of 5]

This is a holy grail book - it starts by sharing the benefits of being ‘secure’ and then, wonderfully, it shares that there is a way to achieve secure attachment in adulthood (and how to achieve this!). Written by a psychologist who has a special interest in this topic (hence his previous book ‘Attached’), it is essential reading for anyone wanting to work on themself.

Part 1 is all about attachment, connections, science, and evidence, but backed up with interesting anecdotes - this is a deep dive, so much information, all explained very clearly.

Part 2 discusses the insecure attachment styles and how to help these become secure. For those who are unsure, there is a quiz to find their attachment style, then the attachment strategies are discussed. As an avoidant type I found CARRP so helpful, beautifully straightforward and yes - possible to implement!

I love how supportive and non-judgement this book is - it made me feel understood!

My thanks to NetGalley, author and publisher for the opportunity to review this book in exchange for an advance copy.

[Louise · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was an interesting read that explained the different types of attachment styles and how to build on these. It was careful to affirm and explain the positive reasons behind each of the attachment types and it gave practical ways to build on these.

However, there were some things about this book I found somewhat strange. It seemed to come from an assumption that people had a range of friends and that a key was to undertsand how to rework these. But some people don't have (m)any friends and those people aren't necessarily open to friendship conversations. So, what then?

I also raised an eyebrow at the therapist who made herself available 24 hours a day and that the author didn't see this as a problem. Maybe that's a more normal thing in the USA, but not having boundaries etc is surely not a great quality in a therapist. The author also offered and enocuraged live coaching sessions with clients during arguments with their partner- and encouraged readers to get input from others during their own arguments - which seemed a touch bizarre. What friend wants to get involved in a live argument between a couple? And unless a friend is willing and able to be objective and offer wise counsel surely it could just end up with the friends encouraging or reinforcing what the person wants to hear.

I thought the book had some interesting ideas and took a really positive approach, but was also a bit odd in places.

[Abigail T · Rating 5 out of 5]

I have found this book incredibly helpful. As someone who has an anxious attachment style , I have gained some great coping mechanisms that I will use in the future . Very easy to read with a lot of helpful information.

[CwtchUpBooks · Rating 4 out of 5]

Insightful. Important. Timely.