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3.48 AVERAGE
3.48 AVERAGE
Pretty cool for a scientific book. Most ideas were discussed thoroughly. However, from time to time the attention of the narrator seemed to drift away and touch other topics that were vaguely in connection to the initial subject. Therefore I think I would have probably liked the book better if it had some sort of system of chapters that corresponded to shorter essays.
The title suggested a book I could really curl up in bed with, but when I tried to do so I felt nothing stirring beyond the familiar sense of betrayal. Rather than a stimulating romp this was simply a biologist sliding into my bed to bang on about lactation, concealed ovulation, men's purpose in society, and menopause. Although more sciencey than sexy, it was easy enough to read for the lay person and the continual three-way comparisons with the behaviour of other species tickled my fancy well enough to get me to the finish line.
http://nhw.livejournal.com/22397.html[return][return]Still no really satisfying answer to the question of why men don't lactate, except that we don't.
funny
informative
medium-paced
While sort of dating somebody that was very, very ill suited for me...so much that I was absolutely certain that we had no future, he would never be introduced to my family, et cetera et cetera, I really started being interested in the subject of sex. Attraction. The difference between women and men's approaches to it, the difference between pure physical attraction and what people call "chemistry." Pure, simple sexual attraction and then the kind of attraction that develops. While ultimately I didn't place much stock in the relationship, the undercurrent of sexual tension that buzzed between us was undeniable. I would find myself gazing at him in total awe, body abuzz. And then I'd wonder... why? Sure, I'd found him gorgeous at first sight but it was being in each others company that had done it, now my feelings/opinions had multiplied and it seemed like there had never been anybody MORE gorgeous. the first time he reached for my hand I was buzzin. And I couldn't make sense of it, it was totally out of my hands. Whether or not I wished to be attracted to him this way, I was. Of course I am a human being and with my evolved brain am able to grasp the weight of my choices and their consequences so I am not a slave to my body, but it was my body's reaction that piqued my interest. Like why this person? I'd been around beautiful men plenty, men technically more beautiful than he, why so enamored with this one? And so I've picked up a few books on sex, this one being the 2nd I've read, Bonk by Mary Roach the 1st. So, the fact that I had been looking to learn about something that was kind of specific, this book was a little bit of a let down. But only in the sense that there wasn't enough info on what I wanted to know. Sure, there was a brief mentioning of pheromones and how they are potentially responsible for the "chemistry" thing. I guess I wanted them to be a little more specific, like explain what's happening.. draw me a diagram of the route these pheromones take thru me, the synapses and nerves, the brain waves and activity. Maybe I'm just crazy for wanting an explanation for my attractions! There was a lot of random educational info, stuff I am less inclined to care about like the sex lives of animals and the anomalies and rarities that exist in them. An entire one out of the 6 chapters in the book is devoted to animal sex actually, including gems like listing other animals that enjoy sex, others that partake in same sex sex, others that have sex in private like humans instead of out in the open. There was a chapter on menopause (which according to this book is something that happens only to human females.) A chapter on breast feeding and the supposed non-evolution of male lactation, A chapter on gender roles in sex, yadda yadda. It's all interesting enough to read about, but that's because SEX in general is interesting to read about. I still prefer this book to Mary Roach's Bonk because it reported facts in an interesting and witty way without laying on the lame jokes so heavily and "breaking the fourth wall" constantly the way Roach does. Also Mary Roach isn't a Dr. or professor on the subject, or any subject, which causes me to mistrust a little more. Jared Diamond (who also wrote Guns, Germs, and Steel) is both a Dr. and Professor of human sexuality. That lends him a little more credibility in my eyes, and it shows in his writing which isn't amateurish the way Roach's is.
SO. For anyone looking for a quick and interesting read, sort of random facts about sex/human sexuality this shouldn't disappoint. It's short, and mostly interesting... and written in a manner that an average person can enjoy it. You don't have to be a dr or a scientist to understand it, is what I mean. Tho, it won't explain to you why you just can't seem to get enough of your new gf/bf, or why the sex with your plain jane neighbor is soo much more amazing than with your smoking hot ex. Or why you aren't attracted to Mr. Perfect with the body like a greek god, and yet you are borderline obsessive about the cute cater waiter from last night's dinner. I have two more books on the subject but something tells me that searching for an explanation of my attraction to a man is like searching for the meaning in life...destined to be fruitless forever... but at least reading about sex is never dull ;)
Lot's of interesting facts and tidbits, but overall kind of lackluster. Lots of evolutionary biology, but not a lot of cultural explanations for the same things. Also absolutely no mention of LGBTQ folks? Why do we have sex? - it's not for procreation, I can tell you that.
(I listened to the audiobook, but that is not an option in Goodreads for this book.)
(I listened to the audiobook, but that is not an option in Goodreads for this book.)
informative
reflective
medium-paced
informative
reflective
fast-paced
It was a good wrap up on evolutionary aspects of human and other animals' sexuality. We are the odd ones among mammals and almost all animals when it comes to sexual traits, from the way children are born and cared for to burden of responsibility, bonding and marriage patterns and female menopause!
For quick take away: men can lactate and share the chore of feeding the children.
For quick take away: men can lactate and share the chore of feeding the children.
A lighter read from Jared Diamond, but not as the title might suggest. The author of Collapse and The Third Chimpanzee now provides us with a look into human sexuality from an evolutionary perspective. He makes reference to research that allow us to investigate the origins of our sexual behaviour and our cultural attitudes towards forming partnership. This is an interesting way, one could say obvious, to complete the study of the spectrum of our sexuality.