Sperm Wars: Infidelity, Sexual Conflict, and Other Bedroom Battles (Paperback)

by Robin Baker (Author) "The faces in the creased brown photograph stared impassively at the woman, their gazes spanning the hundred years between them..." (more)
Key Phrases: sperm warfare, climax during foreplay, seminal pool (more...)

Editorial Reviews

Product Description
Published to acclaim and controversy a decade ago, Sperm Wars is a revolutionary thesis about sex that turned centuries-old biological assumptions on their head.

Evolution has programmed men to conquer and monopolize women while women, without ever knowing they are doing it, seek the best genetic input on offer from potential sexual partners.

In this book, best-selling author Robin Baker reveals these new facts of life: ten percent of children are not fathered by their "fathers;" less than one percent of a man’s sperm is capable of fertilizing anything (the rest is there to fight off all other men’s sperm); "smart" vaginal mucus encourages some sperm but blocks others; and a woman is far more likely to conceive through a casual fling than through sex with her regular partner.

It’s no wonder that Sperm Wars is a classic of popular science writing that will surprise, entertain, and even shock.

About the Author

Robin Baker is a bestselling author in the field of sexual biology whose books include SPERM WARS (Basic, 1996), BABY WARS (Ecco, 1999), and SEX IN THE FUTURE (Arcade, 2000). From 1980-96 he was Reader in Zoology in the School of Biological Sciences at the University of Manchester, and he has over a hundred scientific papers and magazine articles to his name. His work and ideas on the evolution of human behavior have been featured in many television and radio programs around the world.

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Product Details Paperback: 400 pages Publisher: Basic Books (January 2, 2006) Language: English ISBN-10: 1560258489 ISBN-13: 978-1560258483 Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 1.1 inches Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies) Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews) Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,405 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books) Popular in these categories: (What's this?) #19 in  Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Sexuality > Human #29 in  Books > Professional & Technical > Medical > Basic Sciences > Physiology #45 in  Books > Science > Medicine > Basic Science > Physiology

Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Inside This Book (learn more)

First Sentence:
The faces in the creased brown photograph stared impassively at the woman, their gazes spanning the hundred years between them. Read the first page

Key Phrases - Statistically Improbable Phrases (SIPs): (learn more)
sperm warfare, climax during foreplay, seminal pool, younger sperm, mucus channels, next intercourse, orgasm during foreplay, routine intercourse, many more sperm, cervical crypts, routine sex, sperm retention, nocturnal orgasms, young sperm, killer sperm, climax during intercourse, foreplay orgasm, masturbatory orgasm, sperm wars, sperm waiting, fertile phase, female bisexuality, vulval lips, large testes, larger testes

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Front Cover | Table of Contents | First Pages | Back Cover | Surprise Me!

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Citations (learn more)

This book cites 2 books:

• Human Sperm Competition: Copulation, Masturbation and Infidelity by R.R. Baker in Front Matter
• Baby Wars: The Science of Parenthood by Robin Baker in Front Matter

 

5 books cite this book:

• Lifelines: Life beyond the Gene by Steven Rose in Back Matter
• Straight Science?: Homosexuality, Evolution and Adaptation by Jim McKnight in Back Matter
• Evolution in Four Dimensions: Genetic, Epigenetic, Behavioral, and Symbolic Variation in the History of Life (Life and Mind: Philosophical Issues in Biology and Psychology) by Eva Jablonka in Back Matter
• Straight Science?: Homosexuality, Evolution and Adaptation by Jim McKnight in Back Matter
• Mismatch: Why Our World No Longer Fits Our Bodies by Peter Gluckman in Back Matter

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Books on Related Topics (learn more)

Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler

Discusses:

• cervical crypts
• young sperm
• fertile phase

The Gift of Sex by Clifford L. Penner

Discusses:

• seminal pool
• routine sex
• fertile phase

The Evolution Of Desire - Revised Edition 4 by David M. Buss

Discusses:

• sperm retention
• killer sperm
• fertile phase

The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology by David M. Buss

Discusses:

• seminal pool
• sperm retention
• fertile phase

Adapting Minds by David J. Buller

Discusses:

• sperm retention
• killer sperm
• sperm wars

Seven Weeks To Better Sex by Domeena Renshaw

Discusses:

• routine sex
• nocturnal orgasms
• climax during intercourse

Taking Charge of Your Fertility by Toni Weschler Discusses: cervical crypts young sperm fertile phase The Gift of Sex by Clifford L. Penner Discusses: seminal pool routine sex fertile phase The Evolution Of Desire - Revised Edition 4 by David M. Buss Discusses: sperm retention killer sperm fertile phase The Handbook of Evolutionary Psychology by David M. Buss Discusses: seminal pool sperm retention fertile phase Loading...

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What Do Customers Ultimately Buy After Viewing This Item?

	78% buy the item featured on this page: Sperm Wars: Infidelity, Sexual Conflict, and Other Bedroom Battles 4.4 out of 5 stars (16) $11.84
	9% buy The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature 4.4 out of 5 stars (70) $10.19
	5% buy The Selfish Gene: 30th Anniversary Edition--with a new Introduction by the Author 4.3 out of 5 stars (309) $13.57
	4% buy The Art of Seduction 4.1 out of 5 stars (239) $11.70

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Customer Reviews

16 Reviews 5 star:  (9) 4 star:  (5) 3 star:  (2) 2 star:    (0) 1 star:    (0)           Average Customer Review 4.4 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)		Share your thoughts with other customers:
Most Helpful Customer Reviews 14 of 16 people found the following review helpful: 4.0 out of 5 stars Humans as just another animal, June 26, 2006 By  S. Russell (Norman, OK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    Among animals, humans seem unusually obsessed with sex and thus a bit separated from the rest of the animal biology, which seems to feature a preponderance of 10-second sex acts. Robin Baker uses a lifetime of university study to try to explain human behavior objectively through case studies and discussions at at rate of one per chapter. It is a mixture of illumination, rationalization and sadly some repetition as the explanations seem to cycle through in the ~33 chapters. Most of the time, he hits his points, but sometimes he seems to miss obvious ones; for instance in the "rough sex" chapter, the woman's reproductive advantage in marrying a mate is discussed but the male perspective in such mate exploration is not. Mate selection by physical endowment is essentially entirely neglected, yet in human societies it is the norm that most people have multiple partners over a lifetime. In fact, in this book sperm wars really alludes to instances in which multiple matings occur in a short enough time span that sperm of different mates are selected in the woman's reproductive tract--a topic of a number of chapters. Practically every sexual combination is presented and explained, even when it is a bit stretched, as for instance the explanation as to why homo- or bisexuality, lesbian or gay behavior may contribute to reproductive success. In his role, the author is largely amoral--an observing biologist trying to explain a role for behavior in reproductive success rather than judging its societal context--though sometimes outcome of the occasional case study seem to bear moral shadings. For those who want to learn about the biology underlying human sexual behavior, this book has some interesting ideas. As a biologist, I found the absence of direct citation of experimental evidence was distracting, as I would prefer seeing whether conjectures withstand scientific analysis, but that is not what this book is about. The current book looks and feels a lot like a second edition of his best-selling book "Sperm Wars" of a decade before, but I do not know that to be the case; I am looking forward to seeing what readers of both volumes say on that point. 12 of 15 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening revelations, April 1, 2006 By  M. Kienker "1giant actor" (Aurora, Colorado) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)    I like to pride myself of having a good understanding of male-female sexual behavior and of sexual biology, but this book blew my mind! I had no idea sperm behaved in this way and the degree to which our urges are control by our biology. I usually find science-based books detailing studies and statistics to be a big bore. But the combination of fictional dramatization of scenes of people in specific sexual situations followed by the real-world scientific explanations behind such behaviors, made the book irresistable. I couldn't put it down!! 17 of 22 people found the following review helpful: 5.0 out of 5 stars Updated Book Even Better than the First!, January 10, 2006 By  StraightRazr.com: A Comprehensive Lifestyle C... (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews This updated version of Baker's landmark book has provided readers with updated statistics, new research that further proves that attraction and passion has less to do with flowers and more to do with chemical reactions actually taking place within the body. Baker's research and analysis will give men pause, and realize how important it is to integrate the best of the 'bad boy' into the terrific, redeeming qualities of a great, confident man! I wish these books were out 10 years ago! - GiddyupGuy.com		Ad feedback   Most Recent Customer Reviews 5.0 out of 5 stars GREAT Very informative book. I learned so much that I would've never guessed. The fictional stories in the book are well written and hot too! Published 7 days ago by DIGlassworks 5.0 out of 5 stars Infidelity academically defined The book is mind boggling. The book compels you to question what you believe determines human sexuality. Read more Published 4 months ago by Jude Nguyen 5.0 out of 5 stars Very informative This book is well researched and alternates between enticing stories and scientific explanations. A must read! Published 4 months ago by Annick De Zutter 5.0 out of 5 stars Great perspective I was suggested this book and happy that it was. Robin Baker explains sex and sexual behaviors in a more instinctual way. Read more Published 6 months ago by R. Schramm 4.0 out of 5 stars Astounding Biological Revelations in an Easy-to-Read Package This book is amazingly interesting. It reveals biological facts around sexuality that are astounding (and, for me, somewhat disconcerting). Read more Published 7 months ago by Caslon 4.0 out of 5 stars Whoa! Very interesting book. Highly thoughtful and well written. I dont agree with everything in here, but it was fun to read, and i will never think of sex quite the same again. Read more Published 8 months ago by Travel Hound 5.0 out of 5 stars programmed sexual robots Uncompromising, cynical and probably correct. Humans are robots programmed by evolutionary sexual strategies. Expect programmed behavior from others. Know thyself or be a robot. Published 14 months ago by M. Landers 5.0 out of 5 stars To those questioning the science, you're wrong. To those who are rather desperately clinging on to their world view despite this book (and it's 1996 earlier version) by criticizing it for lack of scientific rigor, you should... Read more Published 16 months ago by Mike Galos 4.0 out of 5 stars Stand By You have to be rather mature to be able to read this book without freaking out. It is so full of brutal honesty with regard to human sexual behaviour. Read more Published 20 months ago by Brendan Carl Clarke 4.0 out of 5 stars Excellent book for understanding how our sexual drives can often take control of us. Sperm wars dives into many fascinating aspects of our sexuality and how these inherent drives have evolved over time and still control us to a much greater extent than most of us... Read more Published 20 months ago by Ryan Randolph Search Customer Reviews Only search this product's reviews

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Product Details

• Paperback: 400 pages
• Publisher: Basic Books (January 2, 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1560258489
• ISBN-13: 978-1560258483
• Product Dimensions: 7.4 x 5 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8.8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,405 in Books (See Bestsellers in Books)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #19 in	Books > Health, Mind & Body > Psychology & Counseling > Sexuality > Human
  #29 in	Books > Professional & Technical > Medical > Basic Sciences > Physiology
  #45 in	Books > Science > Medicine > Basic Science > Physiology

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

14 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Humans as just another animal, June 26, 2006

By	S. Russell (Norman, OK USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Among animals, humans seem unusually obsessed with sex and thus a bit separated from the rest of the animal biology, which seems to feature a preponderance of 10-second sex acts. Robin Baker uses a lifetime of university study to try to explain human behavior objectively through case studies and discussions at at rate of one per chapter. It is a mixture of illumination, rationalization and sadly some repetition as the explanations seem to cycle through in the ~33 chapters. Most of the time, he hits his points, but sometimes he seems to miss obvious ones; for instance in the "rough sex" chapter, the woman's reproductive advantage in marrying a mate is discussed but the male perspective in such mate exploration is not. Mate selection by physical endowment is essentially entirely neglected, yet in human societies it is the norm that most people have multiple partners over a lifetime. In fact, in this book sperm wars really alludes to instances in which multiple matings occur in a short enough time span that sperm of different mates are selected in the woman's reproductive tract--a topic of a number of chapters. Practically every sexual combination is presented and explained, even when it is a bit stretched, as for instance the explanation as to why homo- or bisexuality, lesbian or gay behavior may contribute to reproductive success. In his role, the author is largely amoral--an observing biologist trying to explain a role for behavior in reproductive success rather than judging its societal context--though sometimes outcome of the occasional case study seem to bear moral shadings. For those who want to learn about the biology underlying human sexual behavior, this book has some interesting ideas. As a biologist, I found the absence of direct citation of experimental evidence was distracting, as I would prefer seeing whether conjectures withstand scientific analysis, but that is not what this book is about. The current book looks and feels a lot like a second edition of his best-selling book "Sperm Wars" of a decade before, but I do not know that to be the case; I am looking forward to seeing what readers of both volumes say on that point.

12 of 15 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Eye-opening revelations, April 1, 2006

By	M. Kienker "1giant actor" (Aurora, Colorado) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I like to pride myself of having a good understanding of male-female sexual behavior and of sexual biology, but this book blew my mind! I had no idea sperm behaved in this way and the degree to which our urges are control by our biology. I usually find science-based books detailing studies and statistics to be a big bore. But the combination of fictional dramatization of scenes of people in specific sexual situations followed by the real-world scientific explanations behind such behaviors, made the book irresistable. I couldn't put it down!!

17 of 22 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Updated Book Even Better than the First!, January 10, 2006

By	StraightRazr.com: A Comprehensive Lifestyle C... (Oakland, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This updated version of Baker's landmark book has provided readers with updated statistics, new research that further proves that attraction and passion has less to do with flowers and more to do with chemical reactions actually taking place within the body.

Baker's research and analysis will give men pause, and realize how important it is to integrate the best of the 'bad boy' into the terrific, redeeming qualities of a great, confident man!

I wish these books were out 10 years ago!

- GiddyupGuy.com