Customer Reviews

Why Is Sex Fun?: The Evolution Of Human Sexuality

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(8)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

A short, fun book from physiologist Diamond. Not up to the standard of the Third Chimpanzee or Guns, germs and steel, but a worthwile addition to the Science Masters series

I enjoyed this book far more than others I have read on the same topic. It doesn't pretend to be comprehensive but does highlight various issues in an almost topic essay style. The topics - why don't men lactate? why do women experience the menopause? why do human females have hidden ovulation (and associated continuous interest)? ......

However, I am disturbed by one aspect of this book - the thesis that evolution has developed a strategy for an outcome. My behaviour is certainly not one designed overtly to perpetuate the species or to pass on my genes. It seems to me that people - and far less animals - are very unlikely to have developed strategies that have resulted in us being where we are today. Much more likely is the possibility that we are here today - and the other animals - because we happen to have certain behavioural characteristics. Is it important? What if, as a species, humankind had behaved differently? My suspicion is that the variety of (successful) animal behaviours described by Mr Diamond and others, indicates that behaviour may not have such an important role as might have been suspected.

My other concern is that, for people anyway, Mr Diamond seems to suggest that human behaviour is consistent - that we don't change as we age, as we develop family ties and responsibilities. What is the role of parenthood in our behaviour and its changes? Perhaps someone needs to write 'Why Parenthood is Fun?' It is undoubtedly a terrific challenge to gestate and then rear a child, but it is also so rewarding even when it impoverishes other aspects of our life.

'Germs, Guns and Steel' - one of the worst titled books I think I've ever come across - was one of my top reads in 2000. I think that the book I am reviewing here shows again Mr Diamond's clear thinking style of prose that is a pleasure to read.

Why are others so impressed with this book? Beats the heck outa me - the book is *speculative* - and the author admits it right up front in the preface. Yet I have seen it referred to as an authority on sexuality - go figure.

Diamond spends much time discussing the sexual habits of other species but never really shows why this is relevant or instructive in connection with human sexuality. He demonstrates that human sexuality is different from that of other species: But so what? How does that advance our understanding of sexuality in humans? Diamond is unable or unwilling to elucidate. A strictly lightweight book suitable only as a coffee table decoration.

The bottom line: The author does not even answer his own question posed in the title. Why is sex fun? Read this and you will be none the wiser...

I have enjoyed many of Diamond's books. This book compares human sexuality to other species to find that we have the most bizarre and unique sexual behaviours in all the animal kingdom. It's funny and informative.

This short work by the author of the classic "Guns, Germs, and Steel" seeks to explain the evolutionary paths of distinctive human sexual characteristics. It does not, however, attempt to explain all sexual behavior in humans, focusing instead on general sexual behavior between men and women. Masturbation, homosexuality, and many other types of sexual behavior are not touched upon here, so if you find any of them fun, you will have to look elsewhere for reasons explaining why.

Humans have several sexual traits that, even if not unique, are still highly unusual in animal species -- concealed ovulation in females, near constant female receptivity to sex, recreational sex, and female menopause. Diamond shows the most likely evolutionary explanations for why humans possess these traits. Some of the explanations are more plausible than others, but almost all of the arguments are interesting to read.

As usual, Diamond writes well; the book is clear and concise and can be finished in an evening. Also, as usual, Diamond can't help but let his politics show in his writing; in one chapter, he gives a bizarre boost to male lactation and the notion that men might someday help their wives breastfeed their young.

There is a minor truth-in-advertising issue regarding Why Is Sex Fun?: The Evolution of Human Sexuality, by physiologist Jared Diamond: The title question is never really addressed. The true theme seems to be How Sex Came to be Sex as We Know It. Not that this isn't interesting in its own right, of course. It's just that the original question is worthy of discussion too.

Why is Sex Fun? reads like a lecture series rather than a book. Apparently intended to provide the reader with an overview of the latest thinking on the evolutionary aspects of the subject, this short work includes sections on different sexual (and mate) selection strategies employed by males and females (presumably based on unequal "investments" in the methods of getting one's genes into the next generation); lactation (why milk is produced by females, but not, as a rule, males); how and why humans, almost uniquely, came to engage in engage in recreational sex; the unequal domestic roles played by males and females, particularly in child rearing; female menopause (which is, again, nearly unique to humans); and sexual signaling (Diamond considers penis length in human males to be a prime example, but not necessarily a signal directed at females).

As fascinating as these subjects are, there is much more that is left out. Any full discussion of human sexuality, especially with the high-order concept of "fun" in its presumed abstract, needs to deal with that odd species' whole gamut of non-procreational expression: homosexuality, old-age love, and sex-as-power, for non-inclusive example. But Why is Sex Fun? treats the very large subject of recreational sex only from the "selfish gene" point of view. Even then, there is at least one major methodological criticism: Most evolutionary biologists and evolutionary psychologists go to great lengths to bring out the importance of "ancestral environment". That is, gene-based behavioral tendencies have evolved over a great deal of time, so it doesn't do a lot of good to consider them only from the standpoint of a modern participant. This problem crops up in Diamond's discussion of male hunting strategies. In a modern hunter-gatherer society, men typically go for the "big kill" (a large mammal, for instance), while women are more content to gather roots and so on. Diamond makes the point that the male strategy makes no sense nutritionally, so the answer must be found in differential sexual strategies. However, the possibility is not mentioned that hunting patterns may have evolved when big game was, in fact, rather more plentiful than it is today.

All this is a pity, because we know, from the author's other works (especially the wonderfully told Guns, Germs, and Steel), that he is quite capable of a fully formed presentation. Sex deserves it.

While reading this book, one cannot help but compare it with Diamond's earlier works, in particular, Guns, germs and steel (GGS). While GGS comes across as a work of a life time, this book seems hastily written, to cash in on GGS's fame. Now, don't get me wrong, there are a lot of interesting trivia that you end up learning about sexuality: both human and animal. However, the fundamental theme of "Why sex is fun?" seems to be lost amidst all the interesting trivia. The facts, theories and hypotheses about sexuality in the book resemble more a program on MTV with fast and random style editing and closeup shots that lacks a principally sound story. Having said all this, I would still recommend that the book be read, since it throws interesting light on a topic that occupies a good part of human thought and behavior: Sex.

As an opposite to the previous wordy reviews, if you found the and enjoyed The Rise and Fall of the Third Chimpanzee with its fluid writing and thought provoking insights you will enjoy this as well. For those who have not, the material disscusses ideas on why and how we are the way we are and what we do. Looking at the wide ranging impact our sexual behaviour has in shaping ourselves from an ecologists perspective. The title is a little sensationalist and the book provides a more widely accesible version some of the some of his books. It is shorter and has several chapters covered already in that book. With all that said though, after I had finished this book, it renewed my interest again I went and looked his earlier work. Anyway a brilliant introduction to the new reader and a refreshing reminder of his ealier work to the already familiar.

Giving stars to rate this book is misleading. The book deserves five for style, but no more than three for content. Diamond is a convincing writer with an excellent prose style. He delves fully into his topics, presenting them lucidly, demonstrating an ability to think deeply before presenting his ideas to the reader. His GUNS, GERMS AND STEEL deserved every accolade it received. THE THIRD CHIMPANZEE was a fine example of innovative thinking, presented with clarity. He deserves full marks for challenging readers to consider their opinions and reflect on options previously unconsidered. You don't need to be a scientist to read him, you only need an open mind.

Diamond's theme is that human sexuality is not just different from that of the other animals, but almost drastically so. Reproductive strategies range from 'r' [sow 'em and forget 'em] through 'K' [no sacrifice is too great] with humans almost the ultimate K practitioners. Evolutionary pressures on a creature that wasn't a good predator but fine prey led us down a path resulting in a massive investment in raising offspring.

What are the implications of our version of sexual techniques? Human beings have evolved in a way that natural sexual signals have been buried out of sight. It's called concealed ovulation and methods of pinpointing when a woman was likely to conceive weren't developed until this century. Fish, birds, and other mammals [particularly baboons] exhibit colours, engage in ceremonial displays or have other visible indications that the time is right! But humans keep it a big secret. Is there a valid reason?

And when a sexual coupling has generated a foetus, we put more time, energy and resources to its birthing and upbringing than nearly any other animal. Almost from the instant of conception the foetus and the mother are at war over resource allocation. Mum and babe each want the calcium, iron and other factors required by the one for survival and the other for growth. All this is pretty draining on Mum, who still has a life to lead while carrying that powerful parasite in her womb.

And where's Hubby during all this? That is a major part of Diamond's account of human sex relations. Males invest minimal resources in producing offspring and in most mammal species, decamp after coupling. Human males, however, form part of the renowned 'nuclear family'. In the chapter "What Are Men Good For?" Diamond shows how and why human males are bonded to mates in a way few other species exhibit. One major aspect of this bond, of course, is the nearly constant availability of a sexual partner [NOT 'object']. From that derives that since human women can conceal their ovulation so well, he'd better stick around to ensure any other offspring are indeed his. Since she is receptive all the time and can conceive at some indeterminate time, he'd better be there at the right time. That this situation doesn't always keep males in line is exemplified by the study showing that up to 20 per cent of British babies were conceived by someone other than the purportive parent.

Diamond goes to some effort to make human males more captive to their familial role than they might wish. As stated, the minimal expenditure of some sperm to occupy a mate for a year or so isn't always enough to foster a strong sense of responsibility in men. However, Diamond's proposed solution is one of the most astonishing ideas submitted by anyone yet. He suggests that hormonal treatments for men, inducing lactation and giving men the chance to learn the meaning of nurturing. How much more 'politically correct' can one be? One hopes this chapter was written because of Marie adopting a Lysistratian role, witholding favours until Diamond acceded to her demand for its inclusion. That, or some life- threatening gesture are the only acceptable reasons for a man of Diamond's qualifications trying to reverse the whole course of evolution and make humans even more unique among the animals than they already are. There are enough feminists out there trying to reverse the status evolution has given us. Diamond's suggestion nearly invalidates an otherwise captivating and informative book.

Come on! How could a book with a title like that NOT get five stars? Why are there a bunch of swans on the cover?