Heartbreak cover art

Heartbreak

A Personal and Scientific Journey

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Heartbreak

By: Florence Williams
Narrated by: Florence Williams
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About this listen

In this intimate and voyeuristic audiobook, Florence Williams uses her personal voice diary and journals and conversations with experts, family, and friends to explore the fascinating, cutting-edge science of heartbreak while seeking creative ways to mend her own.

For fans of Wild and Lab Girl, Heartbreak "thrives as an audiobook" (New York Times Book Review), merging science and self-discovery in an immersive experience that changes the way we think about loneliness, health, and what it means to fall in and out of love. When her twenty-five-year marriage unexpectedly falls apart, journalist Florence Williams expects the loss to hurt. What she doesn’t expect is that she’ll end up in the hospital, examining close-up the way our cells listen to loneliness. She travels to the frontiers of the science of “social pain” to learn why heartbreak hurts so much and why so much of the conventional wisdom about it is wrong. Searching for insight as well as personal strategies to game her way back to health, Williams tests her blood for genetic markers of grief, undergoes electrical shocks in a laboratory while looking at pictures of her ex, and ventures to the wilderness in search of awe as an antidote to loneliness.

In the audiobook, Florence invites the listener to hear the entire experience - narrated by her, accompanied by in-the-moment diary recordings, and exclusive (astonishing) bonus material that can only be heard here.

©2022 Florence Williams (P)2022 Pushkin Industries
Divorce & Separation History & Philosophy Philosophy Relationships Science Health

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Critic reviews

"[A] show-stopping, offbeat story about the science of heartbreak.... Unflagging research - [Williams] even flies to London to interview Britain’s first 'minister of loneliness' - and the author’s vulnerability make for an impressive and moving survey. This is a courageous, whirlwind tale of healing and self-discovery." (Publishers Weekly, starred review)

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I thoroughly enjoyed this audio book. It has prepared me for the journey ahead. Human, scientific, funny, vulnerable, serious.

Engaging, comforting, informative, healing

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Really helpful, bringing understanding, insight and hope. I have cried and felt so much hope. I am going into my 7th year after separation (2nd since divorce) and a recent loss of a new partner and love. Only recently have I been able to mourn these losses. This book has helped me so much thank you xx…

Heartbreak is real and life changing

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I liked the authenticity of the piece and I learned a few things about heartbreak and the healing process

Heartfelt

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A forensic but messily human, personal but also universal study of what happens to your body and brain when you are left by someone you love – and how to heal. One of those rare books that is actually much better to listen to as an audiobook rather than read as there are interviews with experts and snippets of the conversations the author had with people – friends, her therapist, fellow broken hearteds. A compelling and oddly comforting listen for anyone going through the agony of divorce/breakup, especially if it is not what you wanted.

PS – Ennis is a douche

Audio

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Beautifully written, and read. So insightful, and relatable to anyone that's been through it

Loved this book

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Didn’t enjoy this Not much science as the title suggests just someone’s breakup story, a bit monotonous

Disappointed

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