Sex: A Natural History (Hardcover)

by Joann Ellison Rodgers (Author) "Unconcerned and unhampered by those watching them, Malko and Lana focus only on each other and what will happen now..." (more)
Key Phrases: sneaky sex, seminal pool, sperm warfare, Stone Age, Johns Hopkins, John Money (more...)

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly
The reduction of human sexual behavior to adaptations that ensure survival has become rather commonplace in the era of evolutionary psychology. Rodgers, deputy director of public affairs and director of media relations for Johns Hopkins and a lecturer in the university's School of Hygiene and Public Health, builds on this idea as she examines why human bodies and minds are almost constantly preoccupied by sex, often unconsciously. In the tone of a slightly suggestive sex-ed teacher, she examines the rituals accompanying sexual behavior, from the flirtatious touch to the French kiss to the climactic moment of orgasm. Humans, she argues, have developed each behavior to attract and keep the most desirable partner. In spite of the already flooded market for these kinds of books, Rodgers's entertaining anecdotes, her sometimes provocative prose (on the results of a one-night stand: "So he really wasn't the master of the universe he pretended to be? And she wasn't exactly the innocent, 20-something school teacher she presented to him? Big deal") and her notion that sexual behaviors and functions coevolved (that is, when a female desired a particular trait in a male, he eventually developed it) make this a fittingly exciting read. (Jan.)Forecast: Frank, funny and deft, this book will have to elbow its way past the competition to get attention, but Rodgers may have just the right stuff to do that. Her book tour will benefit from her years of media relations experience. Rodgers also spent 18 years as a science columnist for Hearst Newspapers, so her name may be familiar to reviewers.

Copyright 2001 Cahners Business Information, Inc.

From Library Journal
Sex is certainly one of humankind's major preoccupations, but how much do people really know about it? There are many books about finding true love, sexual technique, and relationships, but this is the first that really explains sex. Rodgers, a science writer and lecturer in epidemiology at the Johns Hopkins School of Hygiene and Public Health, looks at the science behind the behavior. Sex is an intricate combination of chemistry, genetics, biology, and psychology. By studying other species, scientists have discovered that humans are not unique. Attraction, arousal, courtship, and orgasm occur even in insects. Well researched and written with clarity and wit, Rodgers's book explains how and why sexual behavior evolved. It goes beyond the works of Masters and Johnson and The Joy of Sex to examine the role that genes, hormones, and neurons play in the process. This fascinating page-turner will both teach and entertain readers. Highly recommended for all public, academic, and health science collections. Barbara M. Bibel, Oakland P.L., CA
Copyright 2001 Reed Business Information, Inc.

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Product Details

• Hardcover: 544 pages
• Publisher: W. H. Freeman; 1st edition (January 15, 2002)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0716737442
• ISBN-13: 978-0716737445
• Product Dimensions: 9.6 x 6.5 x 1.7 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #808,473 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

7 of 9 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars Great Info, but a difficult read for those who don't know tons about the biosciences, August 16, 2005

By	feminist military spouse (Akron, OH) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Sex: A Natural History (Paperback)

How do I say this? I loved this book and I hated it. I am a scientist, but the book was written in a dryer style than many scientific papers I have read and it is about 20x as long. I think the book is worth reading, because it has some really fascinating information in it and if you think critically about the information presented, it can be very enlightening about the complexities of our brains, bodies, behaviors and how they come together to influence one of my favorite hobbies (sex). However, be prepared to read this book in small snippets, that is unless you can keep long lists of hormone, glands and other scientific names straight in your head.
Well worth the read in the end...four months after I started it.

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars uncontroversial, October 12, 2005

By	M. Peppard "distracted" (boston) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

This review is from: Sex: A Natural History (Paperback)

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.

8 of 12 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Evolutionary point of view, May 9, 2002

By	Elena Alperovich (Burlington, MA USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

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....