Sex: A Natural History

by Joann Ellison Rodgers

Book Overview

How much do you really know about sex? In "Sex: A Natural History," Joann Ellison Rodgers unearths both the roots of our sexual nature and the expression of our primal urges, explaining what it is... This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0716737442
• ISBN13: 9780716737445
• Release Date: January 2002
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman
• Length: 544 Pages
• Weight: 2.05 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.7" x 6.5" x 9.6"

Customer Reviews

uncontroversial

The book explains why we know so little about sex then goes on to teach a great deal about sex. I'd highly recommend this book to anyone curious about sex and having the desire to read a book that at times is textbookish. The theories presented are mainstream 1990-2000 and as uncontroversial as you can get. She mentions at times the more controversial theories, such as the application of Red Queen to humans, but always in context and with forwarning that the theory is interesting, but debate exists. Some theories are a bit dated, as any pop book covering any research subject is, so I'd like to see her fix the three errors I found and update the book a bit. I'd read the sequel! It's a book you can give your teenager without fear that they will get some wierd misapplied ideas. They will also come away from the book with a rather comprehensive understanding of a complex topic that you might find startling.

Entertaining and Didactic Romp about Sex.

Sex. Sex. Sex. Now that I've got your attention, Joann Ellison Rodgers, winner of the Lasker Award for medical journalism, has authored "Sex: A Natural History." The topic is stripped down. The biology, genetics, psychology, and so on of sex are examined. Why do men have a propensity for sleep after an orgasm? Why is the brain the engine of sex? How does smell play a part in a woman's choice of a mate? Rodgers discusses numerous theories. Scientific studies on animals, insects and humans are used frequently. Careful attention and rereads are par for the course for the lay person. Some of the text seems more at home in medical journals. However, she sustains our attention with humor and an upbeat tone. Getting to "yes" with the right people is an amazingly more subtle and complex process than one would imagine. Rodgers carefully examines the many aspects that entail sex: attraction, flirtation, arousal, love, and fidelity. The author's scientific treatise on sex is not dumbed down and still remains accessible. At times, the countless studies of fruit flies, monkeys and other hapless creatures went overboard for my taste. Nevertheless, the data presented confirms the notion that sex coevolved through cooperation, not conflict. In conclusion, Rodgers successfully showcases sex and its evolutionary wonders. But she admits, "No, we don't know (yet) exactly why sex evolved, or why there are thorns among the roses." Attempting to answer questions about the history of sex is akin to untying the Gordian knot. Some questions may remain unanswered for awhile or perhaps forever. Overall the romp through "Sex" was didactic and entertaining. Bohdan Kot

Good Info

This Book is not meant to be an incredible mind bending guide, or an extremely dull informative textbook. Instead this is a book in the middle of both extremes, it provides interesting information without being boring about the evolutionary process sex has take over history. This book is not some Hopper guide to great sex, but rather an interesting historical/scientific view of sex. For those who are interested in love, touch, relationships, and sex.

Evolutionary point of view

Great book, highly recommend; Evolutionary history of sex. If you want to know why things work the way they work. A book you might want to own instead of borrowing in the library. Open in the middle and read any chapter....