Customer Reviews

Atlas of Human Sexual Behavior, The Penguin (Reference)

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I have bought several of these Penguin Atlases. They are very interesting and easy to read, with a lot of easily digestable material comparing countries around the world. They're fun for a quick browse but would also be good for a high school or college course. It covers topics ranging from sexual practices to how laws and religous customs affect sex. It also speculates on the future of sex. There are maps and graphics comparing world practices for many topics, such as homosexuality, adultery, divorce, infertility, sexually-tansmitted infections, prostitution and sexual harassment.

I have been buying the Penguin Atlas books for almost two decades and I love them. This is an astounding dissapointment. It has the same colorful and pleasing format as the others. However, the statistics in this atlas are terrible. If you read the small print you find out that many of the maps are based on "internet surveys". For statistical purposes this is one step above pure fabrication. Furthermore, the bias in this book is so thick that I would call it propaganda. The slant in favor of homosexuality and against assigned gener roles in traditional societies is overwhelming. It so happens that I am on the same side, but in a statistical atlas I would prefer, at least, the pretense of impartiality.