TEN LAWS OF LASTING LOVE

How to achieve the blessed state of ``High Monogamy'' by following principles allegedly derived from quantum physics. Pearsall (Making Miracles, 1991, etc.) reaches for the sky here, even for the laws of the universe, in order to explain the ``ten laws of lasting love'' by which one can achieve High Monogamy—which he describes as a spiritual union in which partners transcend the ability to think for themselves and learn to think, feel, and grow together. Rule three, the ``Confident Uncertainty Law,'' is said to be derived from Heisenberg's uncertainty principle, while rule five, the complementary ``Love Law,'' claims its roots in Neils Bohr's principle of complementarity. After discussing the theory of High Monogamy, Pearsall gets down to practice, providing advice on how to make a ``miracle marriage.'' He devotes a chapter to each of the ten laws, with most chapters ending with five ``Home Love Assignments,'' often some form of discussion to be conducted with one's spouse. There are assorted quizzes and tests as well—an ``Uncertainty Quotient Quiz,'' a ``Test of Thermodynamic Love,'' and so on. Pearsall has a gift for thinking up acronyms and catchy phrases—``DIDS'' for ``Divorce Immune Deficiency Syndrome''; ``MIMS'' for ``Marital Investment Minutes''—and his text is studded with pithy quotes and intriguing headings. And though he claims that his ideas are based on hard science, he adds to the four basic forces recognized by science a fifth one that he calls ``love energy.'' Pretty standard self-help, dressed up in the language of nuclear physics but with New Age jargon peeping through.