Esther Perel’s first book, Mating in Captivity, her podcast Where Should We Begin?, and her 2013 TED talk entitled “The Secret to Desire in a Long-Term Relationship” (which was viewed by two million people in the first two weeks it was posted) have catapulted her to the status of couples therapist rock star. Now, Perel has turned her attention to infidelity in her new book, The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity. When it comes to desire within marriage, she notes that when there’s nothing left to hide, there’s nothing left to seek, and that can lead to people straying. Perel points out that people often cheat not because they are looking for another person, but because they are looking for another self. She wants to change the discourse around infidelity in America from one that emphasizes betrayal and trauma to one that emphasizes healing. You won’t want to miss this remarkable, compelling talk by Esther Perel. After her talk, Esther will be interviewed by award-winning documentary filmmaker and cohost of WBUR’s Here & Now, Robin Young.
