The State of Affairs - Esther Perel

“The State of Affairs” by Esther Perel is a bold and compassionate exploration of infidelity—why it happens, what it means, and what it reveals about modern relationships. Rather than treating cheating as simply betrayal or moral failure, Perel asks a deeper question: what are people really looking for when they stray? Often, it’s not just sex—it’s desire, freedom, lost identity, or a version of themselves they feel they’ve lost.