"Why are humans one of the few species to have sex in private? Why do humans have sex any day of the month or year - including when the female is pregnant, beyond her reproductive years, or between her fertile cycles?" These were some of the questions on the back of this book that made me interested in reading it.
The author did share some interesting tidbits of information - like how humans are in a small minority of the animal world because female ovulation (basically, when a woman can get pregnant) is almost impossible to detect. The author also explains signs that female animals of different species use to attract males; and how in humans those signs include large muscles on men and fatty deposits on women in "appropriate places" (breasts, butt).
This was an okay book, but it was clearly written by a guy with a Ph.D. in physiology and membrane biophysics." It's called The Evolution of HUMAN Sexuality - but he talked so much about baboons, seahorses, and all other kinds of random animals! I think he tried to make it sound "hip" by including Why is Sex Fun? in the title, but what was in the book didn't really match up. Even if it remained written from a scientific perspective, it would have been more readable if it had just focused on humans.
The author did share some interesting tidbits of information - like how humans are in a small minority of the animal world because female ovulation (basically, when a woman can get pregnant) is almost impossible to detect. The author also explains signs that female animals of different species use to attract males; and how in humans those signs include large muscles on men and fatty deposits on women in "appropriate places" (breasts, butt).
This was an okay book, but it was clearly written by a guy with a Ph.D. in physiology and membrane biophysics." It's called The Evolution of HUMAN Sexuality - but he talked so much about baboons, seahorses, and all other kinds of random animals! I think he tried to make it sound "hip" by including Why is Sex Fun? in the title, but what was in the book didn't really match up. Even if it remained written from a scientific perspective, it would have been more readable if it had just focused on humans.
HI AJ--
ReplyDeleteGreat review. You're really on target in getting it just right in your assessments of this stuff. Yeah, the guy just wanted a gimmicky title. Well, he found it. I'm wondering if you know of a title service? I have a book that I need a gimmicky title for. Thanks. Keep up the great blog.
S. M. Gordo, Esq.
This book was so interesting, it remains the only book of Jared Diamond that I could get through....
ReplyDeleteI hope all is well Alex!
-J