C.S. Lewis, The Four Loves: In this candid, astonishingly wise, and warmly personal book, C.S. Lewis  describes  the four  basic kinds of human love- affection, friendship, erotic love, and the love of God. He explores the possibilities and problems of the love between parents and children; the love of men for other men, and women for women; the love of men and women  for each other; and  the love of God that enriches all  love.

Lewis also explores the questions of sex, possessiveness, jealousy, pride, false sentimentality, good and bad manners in loving, and the need for more laughter between lovers. There are risks that accompany the rewards of love, the author cautions, but he recommends taking them, since “hell is the only place outside heaven where we can be safe from the dangers of love.” “We shall draw nearer to God,” says Lewis, “not by trying to avoid the sufferings inherent in all loves, but by accepting them and offering them to him; throwing away all defensive armor.”