I like to kiss.
There’s something about brushing my fingers across her hand, her hair, her ears as I kiss her lips. Looking at her eyes like she is a birthday present I’m about to unwrap drives me crazy. My oxytocin rises, as do my dopamine and serotonin levels.
Leave it to internet readers of Sheril Kirshenbaum’s Discover magazine blog to be the collective inspiration for a book about the science of kissing.
Sheril speaks about the book in an Amazon.com author interview:
Looks like her first article on kissing was in February 2008, extracting a part:
Given up to ten percent of humanity doesn’t even touch lips, should we accept it’s actually a cultural phenomenon? I’m not convinced. You see, kissing undoubtedly allows us to find out all sorts of information about our partner. We’re exchanging pheromones. In fact, when we’re engaged, our bodies release a cocktail of chemicals related to social bonding, stress level, motivation, and sexual stimulation. We become, in effect, ‘under the influence.’ It’s powerful.
By the summer of 2009, she ran kissing experiments on Twitter that proved so popular that a book expanding everyone’s beliefs was a natural progression. Like any passionate blogger, Sheril updated her readers with progress updates and sneak peeks at book contents.
She used her Twitter account and more lately, a Facebook group for the book’s fans, to promote blog articles around the web like mine right here about her and her book.
Sheril is clearly accomplishing many of the bullet points on this list of how authors should use social media. I only wish these social experiments or blog links were evident in the LA Times’ interview with Sheril, which introduced me to her.
Geoffrey Chaucer was on to something when he popularized the celebration of Valentine’s Day. To the lovebirds reading this, I’m sure you will agree with me why kissing is so romantic and so hot.
I await reading Sheril’s book in the coming weeks.
About Ari Herzog
Hi, Ari. You always come up with great stuff and kissing is definitely among the bests in your list. Who does not like kissing? Even kids love to be kissed. Although I don’t want to consider it always as a science, I believe in the fact that kissing makes us feel good because of the chemical reactions it incites in our body.
- Wes -
Kissing is probably one of a few things that I like doing but I have never treated it as a science! Thanks, men, and Sheril ! I want to study it and become a professional in it as well!
I disagree with the word ‘science’, maybe ‘art’ would have been apt! just because there is much involvement of so many chemicals doesn’t make it scientific. That’s my personal view! But I would definitely want to lay my hands on a copy. Such education is a must needed knowledge today.
Loved the descriptive language used in the review! Everyone enjoys a passionate kiss. I yearn to learn render one too and will surely follow book. I am sure it will be more than a how to.. book.
Well, I if I knew what chemical changes are happening within me, while I’m kissing, maybe it won’t be as enterprising! Kissing as a natural act is more fun and a learning experience. At this ripe age, I’m still learning!
Interesting that people are emphasising the physiological reactions of kissing recently. It’s as though it’s become less about the experience than creating certain chemicals within oneself. I wonder if that cheapens the experience.
Pete