John Bowe's 6 favorite books on love

John Bowe is the editor of the new book Us: Americans Talk About Love.

For The Week magazine, he named his six favorite books on the subject. One title on the list:

The Dark Night of the Soul by St. John of the Cross

Whether it’s God or fleshlier love one craves, there’s usually an enormous buzz-kill after the initial romantic, sexual, or spiritual transport. This book—the best love poem ever written by a virgin—is no one’s idea of a fun read in 2010. But it prompts years of delectable digestion: Having gotten a taste of love/God/the Ideal, how do I now cope with the stultifying hum of everyday life?

Read about another book on Bowe's list.

--Marshal Zeringue