Categories: book-review
Tags: book review
Date: 27 January 2012 21:19:43
I recently finished the book "Bonk: the curious coupling of science and sex" by Mary Roach. Roach's background is journalism, which I think shows in the accessibility of the writing. She took it upon herself to look at the (very curious) world of sex research, and has come up with a fascinating (and often very funny) account. The whole sex research scene comes across as faintly absurd and often rather dubious, but she gives a great overview and I really enjoyed the book. It is one of those books where I kept thinking "well I didn't know *that*!" (for example, did you know that the only other mammal apart from the human where the male fondles the female's breasts is the pig? There's one for your next pub quiz). It is also one of those books which sometimes made me wince - the section on the various contraptions over the years which have been designed to 'treat' erectile dysfunction had me eternally grateful I don't have to ever worry about that particular affliction! (Mind you, seeing the various gynaecological instruments in hospital museums certainly proves the girls don't get off scot-free in the wince-inducing department).
Towards the end I came across a sentence which delighted me so much I marked where it was so I could come back to it. I think it proves I have spent too long in the research community, that I loved this so much: "The bottom line is that men's armpit secretions are unlikely to serve as an attractant to any species other than the research psychologist" (p.292). That made me laugh, but I also realised that I totally *got* it - it doesn't matter how obscure or ridiculous your subject is, the passion for research and the need to know seems to override the ridiculousness of it all.
A highly recommended book, easy to read and entertaining, I really enjoyed it.