What will I learn about: why outsourcing your romantic choices to dating algorithms threatens true love by eliminating the essential element of risk?

Understand why outsourcing your romantic choices to dating algorithms threatens true love by eliminating the essential element of risk.

What will I learn about: how common modern myths—like viewing love as just disguised sexual desire or a fleeting honeymoon pleasure—cause people to sabotage their relationships?

Discover how common modern myths—like viewing love as just disguised sexual desire or a fleeting honeymoon pleasure—cause people to sabotage their relationships.

What will I learn about: Learn to embrace true love not as a safe, hedonistic pursuit, but as a life-changing, existential adventure that radically shakes up your worldview?

Learn to embrace true love not as a safe, hedonistic pursuit, but as a life-changing, existential adventure that radically shakes up your worldview.

What will I learn about: why fleeing from relationship obstacles in favor of endless dating app matches closes you off to life's most profound and rewarding experiences?

Find out why fleeing from relationship obstacles in favor of endless dating app matches closes you off to life's most profound and rewarding experiences.

What will I learn about: Explore the philosophical idea that love is an entirely new way of thinking that breaks you out of your self-obsessed bubble by fully incorporating another person's perspective?

Explore the philosophical idea that love is an entirely new way of thinking that breaks you out of your self-obsessed bubble by fully incorporating another person's perspective.

In Praise Of Love

An Ode to Romance, Relationships, and Sex

Alain Badiou

★ 4.3 / 5(260 ratings)

Start ListeningDownload QR code that opens AudiobookHub on the App Store

Try free on iPhoneScan to start in 5 seconds

Categories:

Politics Sex & Relationships Philosophy

If You're Curious About These Questions...

You should listen to this audiobook

💡Did you know that our modern obsession with "risk-free" dating apps might actually be the very thing making true love impossible to find?
💡Have you ever wondered why our culture’s focus on individual striving and instant gratification is secretly setting our most intimate relationships up to fail?
💡What if the secret to a lasting bond isn’t about finding the "perfect match," but about embracing a radical new way of seeing the world through two sets of eyes instead of one?

Listen to In Praise Of Love — Free Audiobook

Loading player...

Key Takeaways from In Praise Of Love

✓Understand why outsourcing your romantic choices to dating algorithms threatens true love by eliminating the essential element of risk.
✓Discover how common modern myths—like viewing love as just disguised sexual desire or a fleeting honeymoon pleasure—cause people to sabotage their relationships.
✓Learn to embrace true love not as a safe, hedonistic pursuit, but as a life-changing, existential adventure that radically shakes up your worldview.
✓Find out why fleeing from relationship obstacles in favor of endless dating app matches closes you off to life's most profound and rewarding experiences.
✓Explore the philosophical idea that love is an entirely new way of thinking that breaks you out of your self-obsessed bubble by fully incorporating another person's perspective.

Learning Tools

Reinforce what you learned from In Praise Of Love

Mind Map

In Praise Of Love

The Modern Crisis of Love+

The Threat of Risk-Free Dating+

Love as an Existential Event+

The Power of Declaration+

Love as a Subversive Force+

Reinventing Love Narratives+

Actionable Advice+

Quiz — Test Your Understanding

Question 1 of 7

Why does Badiou criticize dating platforms like Meetic?

A. They charge too much money for what should be a natural, free human experience.
B. They threaten true love by attempting to eliminate the risks and uncertainties of dating.
C. They focus too heavily on physical appearance rather than intellectual compatibility.
D. They encourage people to stay in the 'honeymoon phase' indefinitely without committing.

Question 2 of 7

According to the text, what is the primary flaw of the modern myth that views love merely as a form of pleasure?

A. It assumes love is just an evolutionary trick to perpetuate the human species.
B. It causes individuals to view long-term commitment as an unnecessary financial burden.
C. It leads people to falsely equate true love with the initial, fleeting ecstasy of the honeymoon period.
D. It forces couples to rely on dating algorithms to maintain their happiness over time.

Question 3 of 7

How does Badiou define an 'event' in the context of his philosophy?

A. A predictable continuation of our everyday habits and social routines.
B. The exact moment a couple decides to get married and settle down.
C. A cultural shift that moves society away from romance and toward hedonism.
D. A chance encounter that erupts from the outside and injects something new into our thinking.

Question 4 of 7

What is the true significance of the phrase 'I love you,' according to Badiou?

A. It transforms a fragile, random encounter into a significant bond that gives meaning to a life.
B. It is a polite social convention that signals a couple is ready to end the honeymoon phase.
C. It proves to the state and community that a relationship is ready for the institution of marriage.
D. It guarantees that a relationship will no longer face obstacles, temptations, or doubts.

Question 5 of 7

Why has love historically been viewed as a danger to the established social order?

A. It distracts citizens from contributing to the economic productivity of the state.
B. It is indifferent to social boundaries and has the power to unite people across different classes and nationalities.
C. It often leads to a cynical view of long-term commitment and family life.
D. It encourages individuals to outsource their decision-making to algorithms rather than community leaders.

Question 6 of 7

What does Badiou believe modern artists and storytellers need to change about their depictions of love?

A. They need to focus more on the intense passion and ecstasy of the initial romantic encounter.
B. They should write more tragedies to show the inevitable pain that comes with modern romance.
C. They must create new narratives that highlight the value and hard work of enduring, long-term love.
D. They need to revive classic stories like Romeo and Juliet to promote youthful rebellion against parents.

Question 7 of 7

What actionable advice does the book offer regarding modern dating apps?

A. Avoid dating apps entirely, as they are fundamentally incompatible with true romance.
B. Seek out partners who share your exact tastes and political views to ensure long-term stability.
C. Delay saying 'I love you' until you are absolutely certain there are no risks involved in the match.
D. Embrace uncertainty by using apps or features that introduce you to people outside your usual profile.

In Praise Of Love — Full Chapter Overview

1Recommendation
21 — Dating-app culture threatens love by removing much of the risk.
32 — A shallow understanding of love leads people to sabotage their relationships.
43 — Love is an encounter with another person that transforms how you think and live.
54 — Saying "I love you" turns a simple moment into one that gives life meaning.
65 — Love can bridge divides and connect different social groups.
76 — Artists can support love by telling stories about love that endures.
87 — Final summary

In Praise Of Love Summary & Overview

In Praise of Love (2012) is a passionate defense of love in an age when romance is threatened from all directions. The product of a dialogue between French philosopher Alain Badiou and journalist Nicholas Truong, the book lays bare how our sex-obsessed media, our individualistic striving, and our online-dating culture are all setting love up to fail. Its thesis: love needs to be reinvented for the modern world.

Who Should Listen to In Praise Of Love?

Restless singles afraid of commitment
Hopeless romantics longing for more than just shallow hook-ups
Long-term couples who want to rekindle their bond

About the Author: Alain Badiou

Alain Badiou is a prominent French philosopher who holds the René Descartes chair at the European Graduate School. He’s considered one of the most important voices in the area of continental philosophy who is still living today. He has written many other works including Being and Event, The Meaning of Sarkozy, and Ethics: An Essay on the Understanding of Evil.

Nicholas Truong is a journalist and regular contributor to the French daily newspaper Le Monde.