Pre-order

The Intimate Animal

Already purchased

Click to open directly in the xigxag app.

Standard price shown. Sign in for personalised pricing.

Send as a gift Get in the xigxag app

Added to cart

Continue shopping or head to checkout

View cart
How does xigxag pricing work?

Listen to a sample

What to expect

Brought to you by Penguin.

Why do we love who we love? Why do we stay in unfulfilling relationships, or stray from rewarding ones? Why do some couples crash and burn while others stay madly in love?

In The Intimate Animal, Dr Justin Garcia - one of the world’s leading experts on the science of love and sex – reveals that the answer to these questions lies in our evolution. We are biologically wired to connect with each other, yet our inner intimate animal is often at odds with the way we live now.

Dr Garcia explains the multiplicity of human sexual and romantic behaviour using cutting-edge research from his team of researchers at the world-leading Kinsey Institute, including:

- Why we have evolved to live and die for love
- Why searching for ‘the one’ is futile
- Why we are wired for 'social monogamy’ but not necessarily ‘sexual monogamy’
- Why some people are more likely to cheat

With practical tips on love and lust – the two biological systems often in painful conflict – The Intimate Animal is the essential, research-backed guide for anyone who wants to forge deeper, more intimate connections in these disconnected times.

'Garcia brings us back to the animal inside to remind us that even when connection, love, and desire feel elusive, it’s exactly what we’re wired for' Esther Perel, bestselling author of Mating in Captivity

'I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! A real page turner' John Gottman, bestselling author of Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work

© Dr Justin Garcia 2025 (P) Penguin Audio 2025

Critics Review

Even when connection, love and desire feel elusive, Garcia reminds us that it's exactly what we're wired for
Esther Perel, psychotherapist and New York Times bestselling author of Mating in Captivity
I ABSOLUTELY LOVED THIS BOOK! So exciting to see a research-based book that gets to the real fundamentals in understanding what it means to be human. This book is a real page turner, so rare in non-fiction.
John Gottman, author of Seven Principles for Making Marriage Work
Evolutionary biologist Justin Garcia’s groundbreaking studies reveal the latest changes in human dating and mating as well as some of our most ancient needs and desires.
Scott Barry Kaufman, author of Rise Above and host of The Psychology Podcast
Brilliant. A must read for anyone curious about the deeper forces behind love, sex, and connection.
Dr Emily Morse, author of Smart Sex
Compassionate, data-rich, and radically hopeful. This book is a revelation. Garcia cuts through noise and shame to map how we bond, break, and begin again.
Lara Love Hardin, New York Times bestselling author of The Many Lives of Mama Love
A daring exploration of how our hunger for closeness shapes every stage of intimacy—and why learning to nurture that hunger may be the most important work we ever do.
Iris Krasnow, bestselling author of Surrendering to Marriage
A must read for anyone interested in the topic of sex, love and human relationships.
Kate Moyle, Psychosexual Therapist and author of The Science Of Sex

More from the same

Narrator

About xigxag

Experience the best audiobooks with xigxag, an innovative and user-friendly audiobook platform designed for seamless discovery, purchase, and enjoyment of your favorite titles. Our flexible pricing model offers bestselling audiobooks for less, providing affordable prices and the best audiobook deals without requiring a subscription. Perfect for gifting, xigxag also features convenient audiobook gift cards and in-app audiobook gifting options.

 

Beyond the listening experience, xigxag stands as an exciting alternative to big tech, embodying a strong commitment to sustainability and ethical practices. As the only B Corp certified UK audiobook service, we ensure a guilt-free listening experience from a leader in audiobook innovation.

 

Effortlessly search audiobooks, access honest audiobook reviews that evaluate both the content and narration, and easily discover hidden gems. Whether you prefer to download or stream top audiobook titles, xigxag provides the best possible listening experience anytime, anywhere, on the UK’s best independent audiobook app. Discover the future of audiobooks today.