The Art of Loving (Revised Edition)

Author Erich Fromm · Publisher Munye Publishing Co. · Published 2026-07-10 · ISBN 9788931027068

About the Book

In an age overflowing with relationships but lacking genuine connection,
The most complete edition that re-examines the essence of love!

Commemorating the 70th anniversary of its publication and 50th anniversary of the Korean edition,
Erich Fromm's "The Art of Loving"
Reintroduced with a new translation by Kang Joo-heon.

“To love someone is
not merely a strong feeling.
It is a decision, a judgment, a promise!”

A 70-year classic, 50 years of publishing history
The most complete edition that re-examines the essence of love

In 2026, Erich Fromm's representative work, "The Art of Loving," will celebrate its 70th anniversary. Concurrently, the Korean edition of "The Art of Loving," first introduced in Korea by Munye Publishing Co., also marks its 50th anniversary. To commemorate this, Munye Publishing Co. has released a fully revised edition featuring a new translation by professional translator Kang Joo-heon and modern editing. First published in 1956, "The Art of Loving" has been translated into over 34 languages and read by millions worldwide, establishing itself as a classic of modern humanities. This book, which defines love not as an "emotion one accidentally falls into" but as an "art that must be learned and practiced," has fundamentally changed perceptions of human relationships and love since its publication. Munye Publishing Co. first introduced "The Art of Loving" to Korea in 1976, playing a pivotal role in Korean humanities publishing. This fully revised edition, commemorating the 50th anniversary of the Korean edition, is a definitive version that condenses a half-century of accumulated editing experience and contemporary sensibility. In particular, the existing translation has been thoroughly re-examined and newly translated to suit the linguistic sensibilities of modern readers, creating a text that, while retaining the depth of a classic, reads more intimately. In an age overflowing with relationships but lacking genuine connection, Erich Fromm's insights, which understood love as a capacity rather than an emotion, and as growth rather than possession, remain valid today. The newly released "The Art of Loving," celebrating its 70th publication anniversary and 50th Korean edition anniversary, will be the most definitive guide for readers yearning for genuine relationships, inviting them to re-examine the essence of love and move toward a deeper, more mature life.

Fromm's Voice Revived Through Kang Joo-heon's Translation
Capturing both the depth of a classic and modern readability

The most significant feature of this revised edition is the new translation by Kang Joo-heon. As a trusted professional translator in the humanities and social sciences for many years, Kang Joo-heon has meticulously preserved Fromm's unique psychological and philosophical concepts while restructuring them into a style that modern readers can naturally engage with. Concepts that might have felt somewhat difficult in previous translations have become clearer, and Fromm's intended practical and conversational prose has been brought to life with greater vividness. As a result, readers will not feel the distance of reading a classic written 70 years ago, but rather experience encountering a living book that addresses contemporary concerns.

“Love is not a spontaneous emotion, but a skill to be learned.”
The book that overturned the most famous misconception about love

The starting point of "The Art of Loving" is simple yet revolutionary. We often think of love as "an emotion that naturally arises when we meet the right person." However, Erich Fromm directly challenges this common belief. For Fromm, love is not a passively given emotion. Love, like music, medicine, or engineering, is an "art" that requires theory, practice, and application. The failure of love is not due to bad luck or not meeting the right person. It is because one has not sufficiently developed the capacity to love. Even 70 years after its publication, this insight remains valid. In today's world, where countless relationships are rapidly formed and dissolved through dating apps and social media, the importance of "the capacity to love" that Fromm emphasized feels even more urgent.

“Care, Responsibility, Respect, Knowledge”
The Four Pillars Supporting Love

Fromm describes love not as a vague emotion but as a concrete area of practice. He proposes four essential elements for genuine love: care, responsibility, respect, and knowledge. 'Care' is an active attitude of paying attention to the life and growth of the other person, and 'responsibility' means a willingness to respond to the needs of others. 'Respect' is an attitude of seeing the other person as they are, without subjecting them to one's own desires, and helping them to grow. 'Knowledge' is an effort to understand the depths of the other person's inner self beyond superficial understanding. Fromm states that these four elements are intimately connected. If any one of them is lacking, love can easily degenerate into domination, obsession, or possessiveness.

“There is no love for others without love for oneself.”
A timeless insight into self-esteem and relationship issues

One of the reasons "The Art of Loving" continues to be read today is its unique perspective on "self-love." Fromm rigorously distinguishes self-love from selfishness. Many people misunderstand loving oneself as an selfish attitude, but he argues that those who cannot respect themselves cannot truly love others either. Only those who can affirm their own life, growth, and happiness can respect the independence and individuality of others, and practice healthy love. Conversely, love that empties oneself and depends solely on the other carries a high risk of leading to symbiotic attachment relationships that deplete both parties. To today's readers who contemplate the balance between self-esteem and relationships, Fromm's message still resonates powerfully. This book is not only a philosophy of love but also a profound guide to self-understanding and human growth.

“Looking Beyond the Problem of Love to Society”
Fromm's diagnosis of human alienation in the capitalist era

“The Art of Loving” is not merely a dating guide. Fromm analyzes the problem of love by connecting it to social structures, not just individual psychology. He points out that even human relationships in modern capitalist society are being encroached upon by market logic. People evaluate themselves and others like commodities, and love is also viewed from the perspective of exchange value and efficiency. As a result, relationships become increasingly superficial, and individuals experience deep loneliness and alienation. To overcome these problems, Fromm argues that the entire human personality must grow in a creative and productive direction. True love, he contends, is not about possessing the other but about the process of coexisting and growing together, and it is the most crucial practice for restoring humanity.

“How did Erich Fromm actually love?”
Featuring a special essay by Dr. Rainer Funk

This book includes "Erich Fromm's Life and Love," an essay written by Dr. Rainer Funk, Fromm's last assistant and the official administrator of Fromm's literary estate, to commemorate the 50th anniversary (2006) of the publication of "The Art of Loving." In this essay, Dr. Funk, who was with Fromm during his final years, sheds light on Fromm not as a thinker but as a human being. He vividly recounts how Fromm put the principles of love articulated in his writings into practice in his own life, and how his philosophy of love and humanity was embodied in his attitude toward life.

Table of Contents

Foreword

1. Is Love an Art?
2. The Theory of Love
3. The Disintegration of Love in Contemporary Western Society
4. The Practice of Love

Notes
In Commemoration of the 50th Anniversary of Publication—Erich Fromm's Life and Love
Translator's Afterword