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David M. Buss

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The Evolution Of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating Paperback – June 26, 2003

by David M. Buss (Author)

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Evolution of Desire
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With two new chapters by the author.If we all want love, why is there so much conflict in our most cherished relationships? To answer this question, says noted psychologist David Buss, we must look into our evolutionary past. Based on the most massive study of human mating ever undertaken, encompassing more than ten thousand people of all ages from thirty-seven cultures worldwide, The Evolution of Desire is the first book to present a unified theory of human mating behavior. Now in a revised and updated edition, Buss's classic presents the latest research in the field, including startling new discoveries about the evolutionary advantages of infidelity, orgasm, and physical attractiveness.

Print length

368 pages
Language

English
Publisher

Basic Books
Publication date

June 26, 2003
Dimensions

5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
ISBN-10

046500802X
ISBN-13

978-0465008025
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An ambitious addition to the ever-growing shelves of books on sex wars.... Buss is refreshingly evenhanded." -- Elle

"Clear, coherent, and convincing...." -- Philadelphia Inquirer

About the Author

David M. Buss is Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, and the author of six books, including Personality: Domains of Knowledge about Human Nature and The Dangerous Passion: Why Jealousy is as Necessary as Love and Sex. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Product details

Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books; 3rd edition (June 26, 2003)
Language ‏ : ‎ English
Paperback ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 046500802X
ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465008025
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches

Best Sellers Rank: #329,217 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)
- #268 in Medical Psychology of Sexuality
- #406 in Psychology & Counseling Books on Sexuality
- #1,115 in Sex & Sexuality

Customer Reviews:
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David M. Buss

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After completing his doctorate in at the University of California, Berkeley, David Buss spent four years as Assistant Professor at Harvard University. He then migrated to the University of Michigan, where he taught for 11 years before accepting his current position at the University of Texas at Austin. His primary interests include the evolutionary psychology of human mating strategies; conflict between the sexes; prestige, status, and social reputation; the emotion of jealousy; homicide; anti-homicide defenses; defenses against sexual victimization; and stalking.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5

135 global ratings

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Joh

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2017

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Wow, this book changes the I interpret interaction with the opposite sex. I loved David Buss when I was in college, he was one of my favorite researchers. Whether you love or hate the results of the clinical studies he references, this book is food for thought and does not disappoint. It may not be written like a thriller, but the facts are so interesting that it makes for a compelling read.

3 people found this helpful

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BC

The Immaculate Truth.

Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2004

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Through his analysis of 37 cultures across all economic and geographic boundaries, Dr. David Buss has produced a masterpiece that provides extensive rationale for why we as humans act as we do. Buss uses reams of research (and also, obviously his own) to showcase what men want from women and what women want from men. They are certainly not the same thing, and the denial of this actuality has caused considerable friction between the sexes. I've found that when most people are exposed to the arguments of evolutionary psychology they immediately recognize it...as the truth. Read away, you'll never deny anything again.

4 people found this helpful

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Amanda Dahms

For psych lovers and everyone else

Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2016

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Intriguing non-fiction for those interested in psychology, especially having to do with evolution and mating. Lots of interesting facts and studies. You'll learn a lot about your species and yourself. Buss does tend to be a little repetitive with his writing at times and some topics are over done, but that is often how scientific writing works: say what you're going to say, say it, then say what you've said. You can definitely see this method in his writing but, overall it is well written and kept my attention. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I think it's important for us all to know what science has learned about our own species, our own minds and subconciences.

7 people found this helpful

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Dr. Scooter

OK

Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2012

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Who would think that a book melding sex and evolution would in the end be tedious? The work is well documented and comprehensive, but after a while reading about rape, infidelity, and "mate-poaching" (for example) as adaptive mating strategies gets dry. Interestingly the author's attempt to fit homosexuality into his thesis weakens the entire effort, since he utterly fails to offer any convincing "adaptive" functions for it. Fans of great books about evolution should stick with Matt Ridley and the master himself, Stephen Jay Gould.

2 people found this helpful

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Julie

Blew my mind!

Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2014

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What a great book - the author really encourages the reader to ask WHY men and women behave the way they do with one another. Already I have found myself explaining my SO's actions with ideas proposed in this book! If you ever feel like you don't understand the opposite gender, this is a great book to explain mating strategies and consequences of those strategies. GREAT READ!

2 people found this helpful

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Jasmine Dunn

INTERESTING READ

Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2017

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Dr. Buss was my professor and this was one of our required readings. I love this book so much, it's really informative and was one of the factors on why I chose to decide to study psychology!

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JoePat627

Great and Insightful book

Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2014

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When i was getting my Bachelors degree one of my professors recommended this book as an "insightful read" and it truly is. Very interesting and easy read.

One person found this helpful

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Richard E. Simon

Review of Evolution of Desire

Reviewed in the United States on March 18, 2015

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A truly insightful book! Absolutely a must if you have an interest in how relationships work. Very fast delivery!

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ferran

Excellent summary

Reviewed in Spain on March 6, 2016

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A wide and thorough vision of human mating available for everyone. If you want to understand how and why we are attracted to what kind of features, just read this book.

One person found this helpful

Bibiphoque

La bible

Reviewed in France on February 9, 2016

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La bible des relations hommes/femmes à travers les ages et les différentes cultures. A must have dans chaque bibliothèque. G

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Alex DiMattia

An overview of human psychology

Reviewed in Canada on November 24, 2013

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I give this book a 5. The reason being is that this book gives a very educational and detailed review of how humans and other species of life share similar mating patterns: very useful for learning how women think and why they are attracted to the men they find themselves attracted to. I haven't read the whole book yet, but from what I have, excellent read. I definitely recommend it for those who want to study female or male psychology.

2 people found this helpful

C. Ford

This book tells you how people work

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2014

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I bought this book because I didn't understand people well. That's changed a little. Now I see myself and the other fleshy 2 legs out there all shuffling around to the tune of ancestral genetic mating protocols. I think it's why we do what we do.

It has one downside - seeing everything laid out like this could take the romance out of the whole procedure. Then again, the knowledge in this book could stop you getting stung, badly. You only live once, so best not to spend it caring for someone else's babies or being a dispensable sex object / status object.

If you're human, I have to recommend you read this book.

4 people found this helpful

anozama

There's Reason in Romance

Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2011

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In a thorough analysis of human reproduction through the lens of evolutionary psychology, David Buss carefully examines a variety of its aspects.

Attraction, mating strategies, wooing, one-night stands, commitment, monogamy, fidelity, lifetime mating, jealousy, infidelity, abuse,divorce...it's all part of nature's meticulous design. So is (presumably) the female orgasm, and so is (presumably) homosexuality.

Throughout the approach is objective and scholarly. It's quite amazing to consider this array of hot topics in such a sober and scientific fashion.

I would unreservedly recommend this book to anyone.

3 people found this helpful

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The Evolution Of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating Paperback – June 26, 2003

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