Social anthropologist, consciousness researcher, Professor at Sofia Univ, and curious explorer of culture, science, and the wonder of it all.

Marilyn Schlitz, Ph.D., M.A.

Dr. Schlitz is an acclaimed social scientist, award-winning author, and charismatic public speaker. She has conducted clinical, laboratory and field-based research into consciousness, human transformation, and healing. Her books include Living Deeply: The Art and Science of Transformation in Everyday Life; Consciousness and Healing: Integral Approaches to Mind Body Medicine; and Death Makes Life Possible (and companion film by same title). Having taught at Stanford, Harvard, and Trinity University, she is currently Chair of the doctoral program in Transpersonal Psychology at Sofia University, CEO/President Emeritus and Senior Fellow at the Institute of Noetic Sciences. Schlitz has published hundreds of articles in scholarly journals and popular publications, and has lectured extensively in diverse venues, including the United Nations, Smithsonian Institution, Commonwealth Club, and community groups across the world.

Love Study a Novel

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Love Study – A Novel by Marilyn Schlitz

What is Love?

Does love know no bounds? Poets have long said that this is so, but what does science tell us about the mysteries of the heart-felt emotion that leads us to both ecstasy or despair?

Dr. Grace Merrill is a mid-career scientist who, amid life despair and struggles with personal romantic relationships, takes the lead on a scientific study of romantic love to prove exactly this. Confronting her challenges in the love department, Grace quickly realizes she is in over her head. She becomes entangled in sorted lab politics, scientific misconduct, conflicting metaphysics, and international espionage. Brought to a high-tech lab in Southern California from Texas by her closest colleague and friend who designed and obtained initial funding for the love study, Grace was looking forward to a world of new possibilities. But after the unexpected death of this friend and her new responsibilities as the lead researcher, Grace finds herself falling for an off-limits colleague while fighting off old threats.

Will Grace find love, or will the harsh new reality of the lab send her back into the arms of what she traveled so far to escape from? Find out – purchase your copy on Amazon

Praise for Love Study

  • "Love Study by Marilyn Schlitz is a captivating exploration into the heart of love, weaving together modern scientific insights with engaging real-world experiences. Schlitz's work reveals the transformative power of love by blending rigorous research with a compelling narrative. As a 'scientific romance novel,' Love Study sheds light on the art and science of love in a way that is profoundly moving, making it a delightful (and informative!) journey for anyone intrigued by the mysteries of the heart."

    Dean Radin, Senior Scientist, Institute of Noetic Sciences & Author of The Conscious Universe

  • "Love Study is an absorbing story of love, loss, and emotional breakthrough. The edges of science and relationships meet in this wonderful tale. Dr. Schlitz has brilliantly written a delightful, unpredictable, and quirky portrait of human foibles. Looking forward to seeing this on the big screen."

    Linda Mendoza, Film and Award-Winning Television Director

  • "Love Study is a rare and engaging novel about the science and nature of love, by someone with the actual chops to craft it. An inspiring story by a rare breed of writer."

    Claudia Welss, Board Chair, Institute of Noetic Sciences

  • "Schlitz, the forward-thinking scientist upon whom Dan Brown modeled his heroine in The Lost Symbol, has created her own fast-paced, provocative novel that combines intrigue with deep ideas. The reader is taken on a fascinating journey that weaves thoughtful explorations of love, AI, and consciousness with the unfolding adventures of a researcher who is personally grappling with the very issues she is trying to scientifically understand."

    Jonathan Schooler, Distinguished Professor of Psychological and Brain Sciences, University of California, Santa Barbara | Director, Center for Mindfulness and Human Potential

  • "In Love Study, readers are taken on a gripping journey through the intricate tapestry of human experience and scientific exploration. Grace Merrill's pursuit of understanding love, set against the backdrop of a rain-soaked Los Angeles, weaves a story as compelling as it is profound. The narrative is a masterful blend of emotional depth and intellectual vigor, exploring the nuanced interactions between individuals in the quest for connection. A must-read for anyone fascinated by the intersection of science, psychology, and the timeless dance of human relationships."

    Arnaud Delorme, Why Our Minds Wander

  • "Marilyn Schlitz deftly reveals intrigue at the forefront of science. As a private institute's projects on AI, consciousness, and the 'Love Study' begin to overlap, the reader shares the researchers' entanglement in new ideas as much as in the politics of science. Full marks to Dr. Schlitz for making the science accessible and the scientists human."

    Richard Hammerschlag, PhD, Research Director, Consciousness and Healing Initiative

  • "Embark on a journey through the frontiers of science, peeking behind the curtain to catch the backstage intrigue and discover the true inspiration driving the research. A pioneer in this field herself, Dr. Marilyn Schlitz's literary creation isn't just an enticing ride – it's a prophecy of an evolving consciousness that I believe is crucial for human survival. Cheers to igniting our transformation!"

    Garret Yount, Why Vibes Matter