Go to Hachette Book Group home

Search

The Intimate Animal

The Science of Sex, Fidelity, and Why We Live and Die for Love

Coming Soon
The Intimate Animal Open the full-size image

Contributors

By Justin R. Garcia, PhD

Formats and Prices

On Sale
Jan 27, 2026
Page Count
288 pages
Publisher
Little Brown Spark
ISBN-13
9780316594035

Price

$30.00

Price

$40.00 CAD

Format

Format:

  1. Hardcover $30.00 $40.00 CAD
  2. ebook $14.99 $19.99 CAD
  3. Audiobook Download (Unabridged) $24.99
  4. Trade Paperback (Large Print) $32.00 $42.00 CAD

Buy from Other Retailers:

In an eye-opening exploration of the most powerful force that drives our species, Kinsey Institute Director Dr. Justin Garcia illuminates the mysteries of how we date, mate and navigate our love lives.

“The best book on modern mating.” – David M. Buss, author of The Evolution of Desire.
 
Why do we love who we love? Why do we stay in unfulfilling relationships, and stray from rewarding ones? Is it ever a good idea to open a relationship? How has the digital age impacted courtship? And why do some long-time couples crash and burn while others stay madly in love?
 
In The Intimate Animal, one of the world’s leading experts on the science of love and sex answers these questions and more, taking readers on a journey through the lifecycle of a romantic relationship, from the thrill of first attraction to the devotion that lasts decades.
 
Intimacy is core to the human condition, a key pillar of a loving relationship, and an evolutionary drive. In fact, Dr. Garcia reveals that the need for intimacy –even more than sex drive– is key to our species’ survival and flourishing.
 
But therein lies the challenge. We evolved for social monogamy but not for sexual monogamy, yet these impulses are often at odds. Understanding this tension is the key to aligning our romantic choices with our true desires.
 
Whether you’re seeking that special someone, recovering from heartbreak, or trying to keep the passion alive, The Intimate Animal is the essential, research-backed guide to forging deeper, more intimate connections in these disconnected times.

Genre:

  • “As technology fundamentally shifts how we experience intimacy, Garcia brings us back to the animal inside to remind us that even when connection, love, and desire feel elusive, it’s exactly what we’re wired for."
    Esther Perel, psychotherapist, author of Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs, and host of Where Should We Begin?
  • “I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! So exciting to see a research-based book that gets to the real fundamentals in understanding what it means to be human. This book is a real page-turner — so rare in non-fiction."
    John Gottman, author of Fight Right
  • “The Intimate Animal promises to be the best book on modern mating for the next decade. It is scientifically sound, yet conversational in style — highly accessible and informative to everyone. It’s sure to be a smashing success.”
    Dr. David M. Buss, author of The Evolution of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating
  • “A provocative and inspiring tour of human relationships, illuminating both the alluring mysteries and the hard science of love and sex — and how their intertwinement is the central force that binds us as humans. …A daring exploration of how our hunger for closeness shapes every stage of our romantic lives — and why learning to nurture that hunger may be the most important work we ever do.”
    Iris Krasnow, author of The Secret Lives of Wives
  • “From Nevada brothels to neuroscience labs, [Garcia’s] storytelling is compassionate, data-rich, and radically hopeful. This book is a revelation — honest, nuanced, and deeply compassionate. Garcia cuts through noise and shame to map how we bond, break, and begin again.”
    Lara Love Hardin, author of The Many Lives of Mama Love
  • “A brilliant exploration of why we love, connect, and sometimes stray. …Insightful and eye-opening, The Intimate Animal will make you stop, reflect, and say, ‘Oh, that is why I do that.’ A must-read for anyone curious about the deeper forces behind love, sex, and connection.”
    Emily Morse, Doctor of Human Sexuality, founder of Sex with Emily and author of Smart Sex: How to Boost Your Sex IQ & Own Your Pleasure
  • “Does a remarkable job of explaining why we live and die for love and the great conflicts that exist in our biology. …There is an intimacy crisis happening around the world, and Garcia's work can help us to understand how we can address the issue — and why we must."
    Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Rise Above and host of The Psychology Podcast

You May Also Like

Thank You, More Please
Thank You, More Please $29.00 $38.00 CAD
Get The F*ck Out Your Own Way
Get The F*ck Out Your Own Way $30.00 $39.00 CAD
This Is Supposed to Be Fun
This Is Supposed to Be Fun $28.00 $35.00 CAD
The Hold Me Tight Workbook
The Hold Me Tight Workbook $26.99 $35.99 CAD
Drawn Together
Drawn Together $28.00 $35.00 CAD

Justin R. Garcia, PhD

About the Author

Dr. Justin R. Garcia is an evolutionary biologist and sex researcher. He is Executive Director & Senior Scientist at the Kinsey Institute, Ruth N. Halls Professor in the College of Arts and Sciences, and Adjunct Professor of Medicine at Indiana University, Bloomington. He also serves as Chief Scientific Advisor for dating company Match, providing expertise to the annual Singles in America study. Dr. Garcia has appeared on CNN, MSNBC, HBO, The Dr. Oz Show, Netflix, and National Geographic, and his research has been featured in outlets like The New York Times, The Wall Street Journal, USA Today, TIME, Cosmopolitan and Vanity Fair. While working on this book, he fell in love, and recently got married.

Learn more about this author