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Reviews
Delusions of Gender: How Our Minds, Society, and Neurosexism Create Difference by Cordelia Fine
dayofrebecca's review against another edition
informative
slow-paced
2.0
I’m not sure who the target audience was. Too high level science to be considered a pop sci book which made it hard to understand and enjoy. It got marginally better when I swapped from the physical book to audio but I think that’s just because I was trying to get through it. I really wanted to enjoy this book but I just couldn’t
meaghanjohns's review against another edition
4.0
"The boundary of the self-concept is permeable to other people’s conceptions of you (or, somewhat more accurately, your perception of their perception of you). As William James put it, ‘a man has as many social selves as there are individuals who recognize him and carry an image of him in their mind.’ ... This means that when their perception of you is stereotypical, your own mind follows suit."
Oh, this was a good one.
Cordelia Fine argues that the idea of "hardwired differences" between men and women isn't quite what some neuroscientists claim it to be. This is a remarkably well-research book, and Fine uses an abundance of evidence to debunk claims that the differences between men and woman are simply part of our genetic make-up.
Fine also convincingly argues that men and women's brains are not, in fact, so different on a genetic level. In the nature vs. nurture debate of gender, she lands on the nurture side, and provides plenty of examples and studies to prove the impact of emphasizing and stereotyping gender. In doing so, she reminds the reader of the danger of accepting a study (or a summary of a study) at face value without investigating and making an effort to really understand it and its data.
Although the neuroscience made this book very dense in parts, it was well worth the read, and I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in neuroscience, gender, feminism, and psychology.
Oh, this was a good one.
Cordelia Fine argues that the idea of "hardwired differences" between men and women isn't quite what some neuroscientists claim it to be. This is a remarkably well-research book, and Fine uses an abundance of evidence to debunk claims that the differences between men and woman are simply part of our genetic make-up.
Fine also convincingly argues that men and women's brains are not, in fact, so different on a genetic level. In the nature vs. nurture debate of gender, she lands on the nurture side, and provides plenty of examples and studies to prove the impact of emphasizing and stereotyping gender. In doing so, she reminds the reader of the danger of accepting a study (or a summary of a study) at face value without investigating and making an effort to really understand it and its data.
Although the neuroscience made this book very dense in parts, it was well worth the read, and I would absolutely recommend this book to anyone interested in neuroscience, gender, feminism, and psychology.
cmagapu's review against another edition
4.0
3.5
So gender roles are stupid as hell, and neuroplasticity can make you feel like you can do ANYTHING in the world.
(Obviously I've learned so much more than that, but if I had to go back in time and convince myself to read this book, that one sentence is all I need.)
So gender roles are stupid as hell, and neuroplasticity can make you feel like you can do ANYTHING in the world.
(Obviously I've learned so much more than that, but if I had to go back in time and convince myself to read this book, that one sentence is all I need.)
teoman753's review against another edition
dark
informative
medium-paced
4.5
Content Warnings
Graphic: Sexism
andy_acid's review
challenging
informative
4.25
One of the best books I've read this year. The author delves into many common and less common stereotypes through various case studies, highlighting how minor differences in brain functionality between sexes and their behavioral implications are much more complex than the outdated notion of gendered brain differentiation based solely on behavioral traits. While some readers might find the repeated mention of social conditioning off-putting, it's still worth the read.