"[a] wide-ranging and fascinating study" –PD Smith, The Guardian
"Gioia's book covers a tremendous amount of ground and gives you something to remember on almost every page." –
The New Yorker "Gioia has constructed a mind-expanding, deep-focus piece of scholarship here..." –
The Atlantic "Gioia's is always an intellectual odyssey worth attending to." –
The Buffalo News "Taking a somewhat chronological approach to the subject, Gioia has used his extensive knowledge of love songs throughout time and human history to write an unorthodox examination of this topic. The reader is transported from bird song to ancient Rome, from the troubadours to folk songs, from crooners to contemporary rappers. This is a fascinating approach. Essential." –
Choice