Patrick D. Goonan 2007-02-19

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

This book on the evolution of human sexuality is a classic. It packs a lot of material into a small place and the explanations hang together well. While it is dense, it is quite readable although there are several sections where I think concepts could be explained more clearly.

I've reviewed the literature quite a bit in this area and this book has a lot of knowledge packed into a small space. There are other books that are stronger in specific areas, but this book is a great general introduction. You might also want to try the EVOLUTION OF DESIRE by David Buss. This is also an excellent book in this genre.

Catalin Florea 2005-12-19

4 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

The author's goal is to research the problem of human sexuality as viewed through the prism of (darwinian) evolution. In the big picture of evolution and human nature, free will and ultimate causes are important issues and they are treated properly.

Sexual emancipation, female orgasm, copulation as a female service, sexual atractiveness, forcible rape are just a few of the well discussed subjects throughout the book. The author succeeds in bringing light in these area by systematic, scientific analysis of the data available and of the theories built upon that data.

The book is however rather poorly written, with a lot of empty filling, with some sloppy parts, and often times with the obvious brought up to the level of scientific truth. Nevertheless, significant effort is put into formulating the "obvious truth" in a scientifically coherent manner. The very good quotes from other authors and the graph (and its interpretation) presented in the sexual variety chapter are rather enligthing and a refreshing original contribution in a text dry in many places.

I will conclude with a beautiful quote from the Marquis de Vauvenargues as given in the book:
"Emotion has taught mankind to reason".

R. Charleson 2005-06-04

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

The understanding of human sexuality may be one of the most important issues in understanding ourselves as humans. In my professional life as a biologist, interested in evolution and the brain, this book has been an icon. Initially Symons received loads of criticism for appealing to sociological observations from the historical record. But, the fact is that his historical observations have stood the test of time. I highly recommend it.

A. G. Corona 2004-07-27

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

This book has more than 20 years, and, despite the fact that it provide a simple answer, beautiful and falsable in scientific terms, for the differences in the male and female sexuality, it has not entered in the mainstream of the human sciences as an accepted hypothesis in the arsenal of scientific theories. Sociobiology, and now the Evolutionary Psychology are sciences which cope with a strong resistance to be accepted by the scientific community. The fact is that both disciplines have more support by common people who are dissatisfied with the political correct answers to their most deep questions rather than with the professional Scientifics in sociology, psychology, anthropology and other human sciences.

The reason for this resistance is .. Politics. It's time to return to Reason and to reject the Inquisition of the political correctness in science, no matter what the facts are. Steven Pinker denounces that in "he Blank Slate"

2001-08-21

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

It's hard to believe this book is over twenty years old, so little has it dated. One of the very best of its genre. Current writers of thick easy paperbacks on the subject of human evolution have not matched this book for scholarship, relevance, or modest wit. Sprinkled with nicely chosen literary references that not only satisfy literary readers, but serve as an important and neglected source of data on human sexuality. Professional readers will have professional disputes and quibbles, but the average woman or man interested in their most basic interests will find this surprisingly readable academic book a revelation.