Ralph D. Hermansen 2008-10-04

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"The Red Queen" by Matt Ridley. A review by Ralph Hermansen.
I would buy Matt Ridley's next book without hesitation, no matter what the topic. He is one of the few authors who thoroughly researches his subject and understands the science underlying it. He then delivers the information to you in an interesting way. You certainly get your money's worth in his books.

"The Red Queen" is about the evolutionary forces which has shaped us as human beings. The significance of Lewis Carroll's Red Queen from the book, "Alice in Wonderland", is that we have to run just to stand still. So it is with evolution. We have to improve our survival skills over the generations to keep pace with the other plants and animals which are also advancing in their survival skills.

Much of what we are as humans has to do with sexual selection. Charles Darwin introduced the concept of natural selection in his book, "Origin of the Species", but he devoted an even greater deal of space to his concept of sexual selection in his book, "The Descent of Man". No matter how superior you are in survival abilities, it is all for naught if you do not pass those traits on to your offspring. Therefore mating is vitally important. You must be attractive to the opposite sex and this manifests itself in diverse ways amongst the animals. Moreover, sexual selection may create traits that seem to work against survivability. The peacock would certainly be better served with a smaller, less ornate tail, which makes him a more obvious target for predators.

Ridley picks up where Darwin left off and explores the sexuality of humans as they have evolved from apes and gradually became a big brained animal over millions of years of evolution. He has incorporated most of the ideas of modern scientists related to this subject. Men are attracted to beauty and women are attracted to powerful men, who can provide for them. In the animal kingdom, the female selects the male with the best traits and the males are willing to mate with most any female in heat. The case has become different for modern humans because human babies are helpless far longer than in normal in the animal kingdom. This is a consequence of out massive brain, which must continue developing outside the womb.

One part of the book did leave me surprised. Ridley got so caught up in his analysis of what women would do in selecting men that he surmised that women would rarely engage in opportunistic sex as it is against their self interest. Mr. Ridley, if you had been single and dating in California in the 1970's, you would soon realize how very mistaken you are. Many women had decided that they were now equal to men and could enjoy the same pleasures and they did. A few years later, fear of AIDS put an end to this libertine period. Alas!

Aside from that mistaken projection, the Red Queen book is excellent and I think you will enjoy reading it. Ralph Hermansen 10/04/08

Luis E. Lao Gonzalez 2008-09-21

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This book gives us a glimpse of our true nature. It explains us many urges that we have and destroys many myths that we have. Matt Ridley have made a significant contribution toward mankind. Thanks!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Supafly Fresh 2008-08-24

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With a casual disregard for political correctness, the post-feminist generation is reintroduced to basic human nature. What for millenia was taken for granted as so fundamental that it needed no explanation, became the height of impropriety to mention in polite company. In fact, it's been a bizarre inversion of reality that's taken hold as the popular opinion in society. Because it's soft and cuddly and non-offensive and doesn't threaten to hurt the feewings of the poor widdle wadies out there.

There is no greater testament to our ability to suspend disbelief then the denial of human nature on such an elemental, such a rudimentary level. When Ridley dropped this book like a bomb in the mid-90's at the height of the PC movement, it was like the lone voice of reason in a sandstorm of blather. That we should have to go to such lengths - all the way down to the DNA, just to demonstrate common sense is nothing short of absurd.

A magnificent work of popular science. Instantly a modern classic. Eminently accessible to the laity, well written, engaging and entertaining. Any sex education curriculum would stand to benefit more from the inclusion of this book, then any other save a text on health and safety. Don't expect to see it on your school district's reading list any time soon though. But that doesn't mean you can't give it to you adolescent age child.

Jean-Pierre Lara A 2008-06-14

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The quality of this book I think is very good, the way in which the history is related and the content of the book are very good. The subject is developed very well and the way in which we learn the importance of the sex in the combat with parasites and virus is amazing. In general, the content of the book is very good and interesting.

Though, the quality of paper in the book that I received is very bad, the impression is not clear and the book is very fragile, is a shame because the book is very good but with this quality of book the interest in read it decrease.

May be is my version, but I have not found another version in paperback.

Jennifer Woo 2008-02-08

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This book is a fascinating analysis of research regarding human evolution. It puts together different theories of how we became the way we are, and reports both the supporting and rejecting evidence for each theory. Additionally, it is well-written and highly engaging.