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katykelly's review against another edition
5.0
Thought-provoking anthropology/evolution.
Loved this as an audiobook. A short read, and I would definitely have liked more (the ending seem a bit rushed, just when I was getting into the topic!), but a number of fascinating concepts and told with verve and consideration.
Lots here about the differences between humans and almost every other animal - with female menopause, secondary sexual organs and their uses, and a lot of thought about early man and how evolution and selection pressures might have caused the sex and relationship features we see as 'normal' now but are quite unique a lot of the time in nature.
I loved the competing theories and how Diamon presenting them with evidence, examples and critiques.
Books like these are the reason I did a degree in psychology/anthropology, and I adore considering the wider implications of our behaviours and physiques.
Loved this as an audiobook. A short read, and I would definitely have liked more (the ending seem a bit rushed, just when I was getting into the topic!), but a number of fascinating concepts and told with verve and consideration.
Lots here about the differences between humans and almost every other animal - with female menopause, secondary sexual organs and their uses, and a lot of thought about early man and how evolution and selection pressures might have caused the sex and relationship features we see as 'normal' now but are quite unique a lot of the time in nature.
I loved the competing theories and how Diamon presenting them with evidence, examples and critiques.
Books like these are the reason I did a degree in psychology/anthropology, and I adore considering the wider implications of our behaviours and physiques.
mrbear's review
3.0
I read this some time ago, and I guess I forgot to rate it. It wasn't terribly insightful, and even though I was just looking to see what such a famous guy had to say on such a dubious topic, I felt a little disappointed. I don't think I learned much.
lannthacker's review
3.0
It’s embarrassing how long this book has been on my “to read” list. Not my Goodreads to read list, but my “I actually own this book because I intend to read it” to read list. Anyway, I finally got around to it and though I’m unsure how some of this research has been updated it was a compelling read. Short and sweet. The title is the most scintillating thing about it (publishers are still trying to sell books I suppose). My favorite chapter explored theories on female menopause (SPOILER: it has to do with the importance of elders in pre-literate human societies).
lauragill's review
4.0
Very good, but very anthropological for those who don't like that sort of thing; Diamond provides many examples from the animal kingdom, especially from his own personal experience as an ornithologist in New Guinea.
One thing I would have liked was some (however brief) discussion of the hymen and whether or not it ever had any biological function; it certainly has had plenty of social function! I was also baffled by a similar lack of discussion about the role of the clitoris, or how, for some species like the domestic cat, sex is NOT fun for the female.
One thing I would have liked was some (however brief) discussion of the hymen and whether or not it ever had any biological function; it certainly has had plenty of social function! I was also baffled by a similar lack of discussion about the role of the clitoris, or how, for some species like the domestic cat, sex is NOT fun for the female.
clarareads1000books's review against another edition
3.0
This book was published in 1997 and you can tell from using outdated terms or perspectives, and it is important to remember while reading. I found some chapters interesting, especially those limiting themselves to physiological or biological aspects of human sex and their evolution (e.g. the evolution of menopause or lactation). I think the book becomes more speculative and simplistic in chapters about social aspects of human sex, as Diamond tries to explain them evolutionarily, and this is problematic.
I do think it can be interesting to learn about some basic evolutionary thinking and the diversity of sex systems in the animal kingdom, but I would refrain from buying too much into his evolutionary explanations of human society and certain injustices between the sexes.
For example, he seems to argue that because of our reproductive nature, men can't be entirely sure of their paternity of the children of their wives, and this may explain some horrific practices used to confine women, e.g. restricting their freedom of movement, female circumcision, etc. This sounds like a very extrapolated conclusion with no regard for other possible reasons why such practices may have arisen - and it also sounds to me like Diamond is almost saying that repression of women in society is a biological trait (therefore inevitable). You can maybe see why I raised my eyebrows at this book a couple of times.
I also found some of the arguments rather unscientific, for example talking about "beauty" as a correlation of health. Beauty is a totally subjective concept and not something you can measure, unless you find some kind of proxy for it. So to me, many arguments based on male or female "beauty" seemed superfluous. I also couldn't help but grimace at certain phrases, for example: "Unfortunately, the evolutionary lengthening of the male human penis was obstructed by the size of female vagina's". This doesn't sound very objective to me, almost reproachful. Maybe Diamond meant it as a joke, but it would only be funny to male readers, so...
Another issue is the fixation on the "uniqueness" of the human animal. Diamond argues that the whole reason he wrote his book is becausee humans are so weird (meaning special) in their sex and reproductive systems. But then he goes on in every single chapter to mention other animal systems which share some of those ultra-special characteristics (even menopause). Turns out humans aren't any more special than other animals, then.
I do think it can be interesting to learn about some basic evolutionary thinking and the diversity of sex systems in the animal kingdom, but I would refrain from buying too much into his evolutionary explanations of human society and certain injustices between the sexes.
For example, he seems to argue that because of our reproductive nature, men can't be entirely sure of their paternity of the children of their wives, and this may explain some horrific practices used to confine women, e.g. restricting their freedom of movement, female circumcision, etc. This sounds like a very extrapolated conclusion with no regard for other possible reasons why such practices may have arisen - and it also sounds to me like Diamond is almost saying that repression of women in society is a biological trait (therefore inevitable). You can maybe see why I raised my eyebrows at this book a couple of times.
I also found some of the arguments rather unscientific, for example talking about "beauty" as a correlation of health. Beauty is a totally subjective concept and not something you can measure, unless you find some kind of proxy for it. So to me, many arguments based on male or female "beauty" seemed superfluous. I also couldn't help but grimace at certain phrases, for example: "Unfortunately, the evolutionary lengthening of the male human penis was obstructed by the size of female vagina's". This doesn't sound very objective to me, almost reproachful. Maybe Diamond meant it as a joke, but it would only be funny to male readers, so...
Another issue is the fixation on the "uniqueness" of the human animal. Diamond argues that the whole reason he wrote his book is becausee humans are so weird (meaning special) in their sex and reproductive systems. But then he goes on in every single chapter to mention other animal systems which share some of those ultra-special characteristics (even menopause). Turns out humans aren't any more special than other animals, then.