LOVE! VALOUR! EQUATIONS! Mathematics of the Couple

1 Of rabbits and men

2 The lovers of Verona

3 Laura and Petrarch

4 Cyrano and Roxanne, Rhett and Scarlett

5 Vortex of love

6 Doctor Love

7 Me

Biography

Laurent Pujo-Menjouet is a Professor of Mathematics at Claude Bernard University Lyon 1 (France). Trained in applied mathematics, he conducted postdoctoral research at McGill University (Canada) and was an Assistant Professor at Vanderbilt University (USA) before returning to France. His work uses dynamical systems to explore complex biological and medical phenomena, from epidemics and neurodegenerative diseases to radiobiology, bone formation, and blood disorders. More recently, he has turned his mathematical lens toward human behavior, including the dynamics of romantic relationships.

"Love! Valour! Equations! Mathematics of the Couple by Laurent Pujo-Menjouet, provides a mathematical description of personal relationships. Information is offered to understand personal interactions based on classical mathematical models of dynamic interactions. This work is intended for a general readership and does not require mathematical expertise. This work is most valuable for understanding the ways that humans interact."
~Prof. Glenn Webb, Vanderbilt University, USA

"Professor Pujo-Menjouet describes how human relations can be viewed from a mathematical point of view. He provides an insightful journey into, and brilliantly demystifies the model building process, incorporating an historical perspective. Cultural references abound in the many examples contained in this delightful book, which will be of interest to any person with social relationships."
~Prof. Jacques Bélair, Former President of the Canadian Applied and Industrial Mathematics Society, Université de Montréal, Canada

"It is amazing to see how seemingly complicated mathematics used to understand ecosystem of relation and interaction in grand ecosystems can be used to provide The Key to the fundamental concept of “love”. This book argues not that love can be reduced to equations, but that mathematics can illuminate recurring patterns in human intimacy. This is definitely a masterpiece that readers without science background can find reading enjoyment."
~Dr. Jianhong Wu, University of York, Canada

"The power of mathematics lies in its abstraction and that, ironically, is also its weakness because it is this very abstract nature of the subject that perplexes the majority of people. Through a range of scientific, cultural, artistic, and historical vignettes, this book creativity explains how mathematical terms can represent real world processes, be they birth, death, hunting, emotions etc and, in the later chapters, illustrates how mathematics can be used to model romantic relationships. It does not delve too deeply into the mathematics but gives the reader insights into the process of building and testing mathematical models. It is an unusual, and enjoyable, read."
~Prof. Philip K. Maini, University of Oxford, UK

"In this delightful little book, French mathematician Laurent Pujo-Menjouet takes us on a fun trip exploring our love lives through the lens of mathematics. Who would have thought!? Sit down and buckle up for a rip-roaring and surprising exploration of the most written about and sung about and talked about aspect of human behavior. And maybe even learn something about yourself."
~Prof. Michael Mackey, Emeritus Professor, McGill University, Canada