Is the Esther Perel MasterClass Worth It? Esther Perel MasterClass Review

In this review, we’ll see if the Esther Perel MasterClass lives up to its promises and delivers a course worthy of your investment.

Esther Perel’s MasterClass about relational intelligence has been on my “to watch” list for the longest time. It wasn’t until I encountered one of her books, “The State of Affairs: Rethinking Infidelity” that I decided to finally sit down and take the time to immerse myself in her teachings.

Several pages of notes and a full rewatch later, I can honestly say that it’s one of the best and most insightful MasterClasses I’ve ever taken on this site. 

Among others, Esther Perel teaches you how to navigate and work on various challenges that you may encounter in your relationships. She dismantles preconceived notions about what’s good and what’s bad, encouraging a deeper exploration of various dynamics at play. 

In this comprehensive MasterClass review, I’ll discuss what I liked and disliked about Esther Perel’s class, and share insights into the overall learning experience I had to help you decide whether or not to take this course.

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In this MasterClass review, you’ll learn:

• What does this MasterClass promise?
• How much does Esther Perel’s MasterClass cost? 
• What’s included in the Esther Perel MasterClass?
• Structure of the class
• Key things I learned after taking the MasterClass
• Things I liked and didn’t like about the Esther Perel MasterClass
• Is Esther Perel’s MasterClass worth the money?

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Quick Q and A

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About Esther Perel

Esther Perel is a Belgian-American psychotherapist renowned for her insightful perspectives on modern relationships. Her expertise spans a wide range of topics, including sexuality, intimacy, and emotional intelligence.

In addition to her clinical practice, Esther Perel is a New York Times best-selling author, a speaker, and a consultant. She’s gained widespread acclaim for her ability to address complex and sensitive subjects with a blend of knowledge, empathy, and practicality. 

Esther is fluent in nine languages and consults Fortune 500 companies worldwide. Her TED Talks have collectively garnered over 40 million views, and her books in human psychology—Mating in Captivity and The State of Affairs—have been translated into over 25 languages.

Esther Perel’s work is deeply intertwined with her family history. Her parents, Icek Perel and Sala Ferlegier, were the sole survivors of Nazi concentration camps in their respective families. 

The trauma embedded in her family’s history is something she’s intimately familiar with, and serves as a profound inspiration for her work. It has fueled her exploration of the complexities of human relationships, intimacy, and connection.

Suffice it to say, Esther is an incredibly intelligent and perceptive individual, whose expertise and unique perspective continue to resonate with audiences across the globe. If anyone understands the complexities of human relationships, it’s her. 

“When two become one—connection can no longer happen. There is no one to connect with. Thus separateness is a precondition for connection: this is the essential paradox of intimacy and sex.”

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What does this MasterClass promise?

Esther Perel’s MasterClass promises an in-depth exploration of the intricacies of human connection. 

Her lessons offer practical insights into self-awareness, empathy, and effective communication, empowering you to forge stronger and more meaningful connections with people around you.

Esther presents her topics through one-on-one lessons, mini-exercises, and clips from her sessions. She uses real-world examples throughout the discussion, making the content reliable and applicable to everyday life. 

Esther says that her class is for everyone, and I couldn’t agree more. We’re social beings, after all; we need effective communication and emotional intelligence to navigate the complexities of our relationships.

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How much does Esther Perel’s MasterClass cost?

MasterClass doesn’t offer single-course memberships. To access Esther Perel’s MasterClass (and 180+ others), you need to subscribe to an annual plan that costs between $120 to $240, depending on the chosen plan.

Here’s a breakdown of MasterClass’s prices, billed annually: 

• Individual: $120 per year ($10 per month)
• Duo (two devices): $180 per year ($15 per month)
• Family (six devices): $240 per year ($20 per month) 

You get access to all of MasterClass’s offerings regardless of the plan you choose. 

This means that you’re not only paying $120 for a three-hour course; you’re paying $120 to access more than 180 top-tier lessons from well-known professionals across various fields. 

Among these experts include Kris Jenner, Mellody Hobson, and Noam Chomsky. I’ve written reviews for each of their MasterClasses, so check them out if you’re interested!

The only difference between the Individual, Duo, and Family plans is the number of people who can use and access the account simultaneously. 

The Individual Plan lets a single user watch, learn, and explore the entirety of MasterClass’s extensive library of courses. 

With the Duo Plan, two people can access the platform simultaneously, making it ideal for learning alongside a partner, friend, or family member. 

The Family Plan extends this accessibility to up to six people, accommodating the needs of large groups or families. 

When subscribing to MasterClass, keep an eye out for seasonal or holiday discounts. MasterClass often gives out two-for-the-price-of-one deals, so you can gift a friend or family member a complimentary subscription when you subscribe. 

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What is included in Esther Perel’s MasterClass?

Here’s a rundown of what you’re getting with Esther Perel’s MasterClass: 

Runtime:	3 hours and 6 minutes
Reviews:	5 out of 5 ⭐️
Lessons:	12 video lessons
Materials:	1 class guide, 40 pages

Runtime

Esther Perel’s MasterClass clocks in at 3 hours and 6 minutes, which is on par with other MasterClasses on cultivating meaningful connections. I preferred watching the course at 1.5x speed, which allowed me to finish the entire video course in approximately 2 hours. 

Supplemental material

Esther’s MasterClass comes with a 40-page class guide, which is a handy stand-alone resource that provides an in-depth exploration of less-discussed topics within the course. 

Each chapter is segregated into different parts. For example, in Part III of “Healing and Health”, the guide offers tips for fostering clearer conversations, insights on building and rebuilding trust, and an insider examination of miscommunication in action.

Community Access

Esther’s MasterClass has a small but active community, where you can discuss and exchange ideas with people who took the course. 

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About the structure of the class

Esther’s MasterClass on relational intelligence is divided into 12 lessons, with each lesson averaging between 15 to 20 minutes. The videos come with a playback button that allows you to watch the course at 1.5 and 2x speed. 

Lesson plan

1. Meet your instructor
2. Developing self-awareness
3. Developing empathy 
4. Establishing boundaries
5. Understanding power dynamics
6. Identifying roles and relationships
7. How to have difficult conversations
8. Understanding and resolving conflict
9. Effective listening for better communication 
10. Avoiding miscommunication 
11. Building trust
12. Cultivating intimacy 

Lesson summary

Esther Perel’s MasterClass on relational intelligence covers topics related to introspection, empathy, boundaries, and power dynamics. 

The course begins with Esther introducing fundamental concepts, setting the stage for a comprehensive exploration of self-awareness. 

She then moves on to more advanced topics like handling difficult conversations, effective listening, avoiding miscommunication, and cultivating intimacy. 

During the lessons, Esther offers useful tips and exercises to help you understand not only yourself but also the people around you. 

Side Note: Keep a notebook handy while watching Esther’s class. Jot down key concepts, questions, and your own reflections so you can review them later. I’ve written pages upon pages of notes by the end of Esther’s class, and it has helped me tremendously in retaining and applying the valuable insights she shares. I encourage you to do the same. 

My fast-track lesson plan

At three hours, Esther Perel’s MasterClass isn’t the typical short-course format. If you’re short on time, here are the lessons I found to be most impactful in this class:

• Developing self-awareness: 15:22
• Understanding power dynamics: 14:19
• How to have difficult conversations: 16:11
• Effective listening for better communication: 17:20
• Cultivating intimacy: 16:55

Total runtime = 1 hour and 20 minutes 

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Key Things I Learned

The entirety of Esther’s MasterClass was an eye-opener, but some lessons were more impactful than others. 

Below are a few key learnings that stood out during the MasterClass:

1. During difficult conversations, we often fear not the topic itself but the emotional reaction to what we need to say. Being empathic and emotionally supportive is key in these moments. Validating each other’s emotions creates a foundation for more productive discussions. 
2. Adopting a curious and open mindset creates a space for exploration, reflection, and acceptance, allowing you to connect deeper with yourself and the people around you. 
3. Three overarching themes underlie each conflict, particularly in the context of relationship fights: respect and recognition, power and priorities, and care and closeness. Each of these themes plays a significant role in shaping the dynamics and outcomes of conflicts within relationships.

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Things I liked about Esther Perel’s MasterClass

I watched Esther Perel’s MasterClass twice—that’s how much I loved it! 

Esther Perel’s MasterClass is informative and engaging. Esther’s communication style is both eloquent and concise, making the content easily digestible. 

Throughout the lesson, I found myself drawn to her intelligence and enigmatic personality. She does an excellent job of discussing difficult topics, using real-world examples to illustrate complex concepts. She takes clips from her previous podcasts and breaks them down, explaining the situation and the solution to the problems discussed.

There’s also a layer of practicality to her lessons. She encourages you to do things like asking something you wouldn’t typically ask for to see what happens. These “mini exercises” gauge how you feel and how the other person reacts when you start to shift an established dynamic.

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My favorite quotes from Esther Perel’s MasterClass

• When you enter a relationship—any relationship—you bring with you an entire history of relationships. Instead of just bringing our official résumé where we have all the places where we have studied and where we have worked, we also all have an alternative résumé that tells the story of all the other lessons of life.
• Trust is physical. It’s an embodied experience. It’s emotional. It’s mental. And, for many people, it’s also spiritual. 
• Sometimes there is this misconception that if people have boundaries, it prevents them from connecting. But actually, it is because there are boundaries between people that there is a sense of how the connection actually gets made as these people come closer to each other.
• The question always is, is it power over or is it power to? Power over you can be oppressive, can be dominant, can be exploitative. But power can be generative, can be inviting, can be active and collaborative. 

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Things I didn’t like about the Esther Perel MasterClass

There aren’t a lot of things I disliked about Esther Perel’s MasterClass. If I had to nitpick, I’d say the only thing I didn’t love is that it focused a lot on relationships and not as much on why people do the things they do from a psychological standpoint. 

There’s also the fact that most of the topics she covered in her MasterClass aren’t all that different from the topics she’s already covered on her website and YouTube channel. So if you’re already familiar with her works, the MasterClass may feel somewhat repetitive. 

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Does the class keep its promises?

Yes, it certainly has. Esther is undoubtedly one of the best MasterClass instructors I’ve encountered on the website, and she fully met my (admittedly high) expectations. 

Her class on relational intelligence offers practical insights into self-awareness, empathy, and relationship dynamics, most of which go beyond theoretical concepts. 

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Is Esther Perel’s MasterClass worth the money?

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Watch the video version of this review:

Watch here

Conclusion

Whether you’re looking to expand your emotional intelligence or simply want to navigate relationships better, Esther Perel’s MasterClass is worth your time and investment. 

Esther’s expertise and engaging teaching style make the learning experience both enriching and applicable to real-life situations. 

If you’re interested in learning more, here is a trailer for the class: