"'The desire to love is not itself love. Love is as love does. Love is an act of will—namely, both an intention and action. Will also implies choice. We do not have to love. We choose to love.'"

this is just one of those books you come out on the other side a different person.  it's maddening to me that bell originally published this well over 20 years ago, yet all about love remains incredibly relevant. we still live in a very loveless society that denies that love is definable, that it's not as hard or confusing as we make it, and that this obsfucation of what it is only exists to further keep us away from its splendor. all about love is an essential guide to how we all can  make the love we want and deserve. my entire worldview has been changed.

i'll admit, though, some of the elements in AAL demonstrate that the book is definitely a product of its time, specifically the portion on Lewinsky which was very...cruel to me. i really wish it wasn't there as it truly detracted from what was otherwise a beautiful ode to the transformative power of love.