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art3mis9's review against another edition
4.0
I usually don't read non fiction books, as they are dry and boring and just say University of so and so did this, Something University did that. However, with this book, it was read as if someone was telling you a great story. The author is funny and witty though it was still very informative and interesting.
midici's review against another edition
4.0
This was a wonderfully funny, informative, insightful book on the science of sex. Or maybe more like the history behind sex research. Unlike several science non-fiction books, Mary Roach has no problem inserting her own opinions or hilarious impressions into the work, which I love. I also love the plethora of hilarious footnotes.
It's a subject matter that has been taboo for decades: delicate, difficult to fund, hard to discuss in general. Not to mention the difficulties in trying to get research subjects. Mary Roach travels all over, investigating all the bland, coy-sounding, near impossible to track down bits of scientific research and reveals it all in Bonk.
I'm definitely going to be on the look out for more of her books.
It's a subject matter that has been taboo for decades: delicate, difficult to fund, hard to discuss in general. Not to mention the difficulties in trying to get research subjects. Mary Roach travels all over, investigating all the bland, coy-sounding, near impossible to track down bits of scientific research and reveals it all in Bonk.
I'm definitely going to be on the look out for more of her books.
katieinca's review against another edition
2.0
There were some four star chapters, but there were more twos. Having already read [b:Come as You Are: The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life|22609341|Come as You Are The Surprising New Science that Will Transform Your Sex Life|Emily Nagoski|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1421037685s/22609341.jpg|42099345], there were lots of places I wanted her to keep pushing past the "what" or "how" of physiology and into more of the "why." And I liked the other Roach book I've read, [b:Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife|14990|Spook Science Tackles the Afterlife|Mary Roach|https://d2arxad8u2l0g7.cloudfront.net/books/1401287778s/14990.jpg|2398507], because I do like how she injects humor - and herself - into the subject. But too much of the humor fell flat here, either because the targets were problematic (people with unusual sexual proclivities mostly, and once a dead child), or they felt like a junior high response to discomfort. And there was a lot of "so what?" - as in "why did this not get left on the chopping block?"
meesheltx's review against another edition
challenging
funny
informative
slow-paced
3.0
I could've done without the entire chapter on pig sex.
Content Warnings
Graphic: Animal cruelty
book_concierge's review against another edition
4.0
Book on CD read by Sandra Burr
Like she did for death and digestion, Roach educates and entertains in her third book, this time focusing on sex. She recounts various studies, from Kinsey and Masters & Johnson, to those that are known mostly only in scientific or medical journals, and “sacrificed” by agreeing to participate in more than one procedure designed to investigate the most intimate of acts.
I found it both interesting and entertaining, not the least because Roach gives us ALL the information we could possibly want, but also because she includes some very witty asides (do NOT skip the footnotes!).
Sandra Burr did a fine job on the audio version. Her pacing is good and she gives just the right mix of gravity and light-hearted fun to the text.
Like she did for death and digestion, Roach educates and entertains in her third book, this time focusing on sex. She recounts various studies, from Kinsey and Masters & Johnson, to those that are known mostly only in scientific or medical journals, and “sacrificed” by agreeing to participate in more than one procedure designed to investigate the most intimate of acts.
I found it both interesting and entertaining, not the least because Roach gives us ALL the information we could possibly want, but also because she includes some very witty asides (do NOT skip the footnotes!).
Sandra Burr did a fine job on the audio version. Her pacing is good and she gives just the right mix of gravity and light-hearted fun to the text.
cyrenasea's review against another edition
3.0
I enjoyed this, though as far as the study of sex goes I thought Sex at Dawn was way more enlightening. This was entertaining, but I guess I can thank Sex at Dawn, Dan Savage, and general perviness for the fact that nothing in here was groundbreaking. Ultimately I guess I feel the same way about this book as the other Mary Roach book I've read, Spook. Light and amusing "sciencey" read that doesn't have much actual educational value.
sydney_jane's review against another edition
adventurous
funny
informative
inspiring
medium-paced
4.5