Why Is Sex Fun?: The Evolution of Human Sexuality

by Jared Diamond

Book Overview

From the New York Times bestselling author of Upheaval , a fun and wide-ranging exploration of why human sexuality is so different from other animals', and how it made us who we are To us humans, the sex lives of animals seem weird. But it's our own sex lives that are truly bizarre. We are the only social species to insist on carrying out sex privately. Stranger yet, we have sex at any time, even during periods of infertility, such as pregnancy or...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0465031269
• ISBN13: 9780465031269
• Release Date: September 1998
• Publisher: Basic Books
• Length: 176 Pages
• Weight: 0.44 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.5" x 5.4" x 8.0"

Customer Reviews

Why is sex fun - book review.

Why is sex fun - book review. Why? Because we all have just one biological reason to exist, and every time we have sex we are fulfilling our destiny - to pro-create. (Ironic sort of, that the one thing some religions consider blasphemous to discuss provides an alternative to the one thing they want to give credit to above for!) Jared Diamond's book on sex was a wealth of knowledge to me. I may have personally taken the time to understand how courtships work in my world, (Circa, New York, 2000 A.D.), but this book explains to me why I'm propelled to think and act the way I do. Using a plethora of the world's animals to draw scientific comparisons to how we behave, many topics you might not realize are a part of humanity fall into the discussion. From the Bowerbird's superb display of his genetic capabilities and presentation of himself as a prime choice for mating, to our own useless customs to judge a mate -- such as facial beauty, e.g. body fat proportions, muscle build, spending money, penis envy and menopause - this book takes the reader on a tour that explains why, definitively. Note: I've written this review after reading The 3rd Chimp & Why is sex fun?, back to back.

A Must-Read Book on Human Sexuality

Jared Diamond raises several questions relating to subjects most of us probably have never given a thought to-why men don't lactate, why human beings have recrational sex, why human females go through menopause, why most of the single mothers are women. As we read about the differences and similarities between human and animal sexual behaviour we learn more abour ourselves and the members of the opposite sex.

Do we need a reason?

Why don't we know for sure when it is possible for a human woman to become pregnant? Why do human women experience menopause? Why don't human men nurse children? Indeed, what use are human men to child rearing? The evolutionary answers to these questions are fascinating. Diamond's knowledge of other species mating habits really brings home the point of the pecularilities of human sexuality. Even in comparison with our close cousins, the chimpanzees and orangutans we have significant differences. One thing we all -- and I mean all -- share however is the sensation that reproduction is an enjoyable experience...that is, with the right partner.

great book!

Come on! How could a book with a title like that NOT get five stars? Why are there a bunch of swans on the cover?

A great read.

This is definitely the most entertaining and informative book I've read in a long time, both fiction and non-fiction. Why do some male species have harems and others only one lifetime sexual partner? Why are males more likely than females to have a harem? Why do some species display their sexuality overtly and others covertly? These and many more questions about animal sexuality are answered in very clear and entertaining language. The last chapter on that most discussed of male topics - is there any advantage to having a large phallus - had me rolling on the ground with laughter. Learn and laugh at the same time!