The Evolution of Human Sexuality

by Donald Symons

Book Overview

Author Donald Symonds examines the differences between men and women in sexual behavior and attitudes, concluding that these differences are innate and that it is impossible to achieve identical sexualities in males and females. A central theme of this book is that, with respect to sexuality, there is a female human nature and a male human nature, and these natures are extraordinarily different, though the differences are to some extent masked by...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0195029070
• ISBN13: 9780195029079
• Release Date: February 1981
• Publisher: Oxford University Press
• Length: 368 Pages
• Weight: 0.83 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.8" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Terrific, a seminal work!

The understanding of human sexuality may be one of the most important issues in understanding ourselves as humans. In my professional life as a biologist, interested in evolution and the brain, this book has been an icon. Initially Symons received loads of criticism for appealing to sociological observations from the historical record. But, the fact is that his historical observations have stood the test of time. I highly recommend it.

The end of the political correctness as we know it

This book has more than 20 years, and, despite the fact that it provide a simple answer, beautiful and falsable in scientific terms, for the differences in the male and female sexuality, it has not entered in the mainstream of the human sciences as an accepted hypothesis in the arsenal of scientific theories. Sociobiology, and now the Evolutionary Psychology are sciences which cope with a strong resistance to be accepted by the scientific community. The fact is that both disciplines have more support by common people who are dissatisfied with the political correct answers to their most deep questions rather than with the professional Scientifics in sociology, psychology, anthropology and other human sciences. The reason for this resistance is .. Politics. It's time to return to Reason and to reject the Inquisition of the political correctness in science, no matter what the facts are. Steven Pinker denounces that in "he Blank Slate"

Standard Setting

It's hard to believe this book is over twenty years old, so little has it dated. One of the very best of its genre. Current writers of thick easy paperbacks on the subject of human evolution have not matched this book for scholarship, relevance, or modest wit. Sprinkled with nicely chosen literary references that not only satisfy literary readers, but serve as an important and neglected source of data on human sexuality. Professional readers will have professional disputes and quibbles, but the average woman or man interested in their most basic interests will find this surprisingly readable academic book a revelation.

You'll Profet By This Book

Let's not kid ourselves: we'd all like to know more about sex. Well, look no further. Dressed up as a so-called "academic" book about human sexuality, this is an extremely hot book about the steamy things dudes and ladies do. Okay, just kidding -- it is very acadmeic, and a lot of scholarly work went into it. But I dare you to say it didn't make you somewhat aroused. There's all kind of dirty stuff in it, and in my opinion, that's what makes a great book truly great. I look forward to the sequel.

The Battle Of The Sexes Is No Longer A Mystery!

The great mystery to me when I was growing up was- Why were women and men so different in the way they handled sex? Why the huge differences in their sexual instincts?In the book "The Evolution of Human Sexuality" these differences are explained in these terms: If evolution existed, then successful sexual strategies had to be different for men and women. Women openly acknowledge that they are attracted to men of wealth and power, with age a very distant secondary consideration if power and wealth are not to be had. This makes sense in terms of the fact that resources would have been available to raise her kids. Another example: A man who wed a middle aged wealthy woman would have been a genetic dead end because the fertility of human females declines very rapidly after the age of 30-35. Youth, beauty (the appearance of health), and some assurance of fidelity (in wife material) was critical if his resources were to be committed to a woman. With one night stands, men can be far, far less picky.The two sexes could not have evolved the same reproductive strategies. Success for one sex would have meant genetic oblivion for the other!The offspring that survive would tend to have the same instincts of those humans who reproduced successfully. The patterns outlined in this great book can also be seen all thoughout the animal kingdom as well as in all peoples in all times. You will understand what is going on with women and men after reading this book- it will not be that easy to discuss this with members of the opposit sex, however. This is a book for people who want to understand reality- not political correctness!