A Comedian's Review
27/08/10 10:13
I’ve really not read a book this provoking in a long time. Where do I stand on the issue? I honestly still haven’t made up my mind… but that’s why I want you to read it. I want to have discussions with everyone I know about this book.
“Sex at Dawn”… This Book Blew My Brain
Posted by Dru Johnston on August 19, 2010
Everyone remember that old phrase that “Men think about sex every seven seconds?” Well that’s probably not true, that’s a lot of sex to be thinking about. With the exception of seventh grade I can’t remember a time when I thought of sex every seven seconds. I have, however, been thinking about the book Sex at Dawn with alarming regularity since finishing it Sunday night.
Originally recommended to me by my good friend Alden, I brought it up for consideration in our Sandino book club, and since then it’s jumped from the lowly status of the book I’m reading on the train to the all powerful, “Oh my God that was so weird, I never thought that, does science really prove that, how accurate could that be, this kinda makes sense, but it’s so different from what I’ve grown up thinking, SCIENCE!, oh man I forgot to do this expense reports.” In short, judging by the amount I’ve thought or talked about it, Sex at Dawn is to 25 year old me what Sex was to 14 year old me.
The book, however, is probably more controversial than anything I’ve ever read, specifically because it’s a non-fiction, scientifically supported book to defend the primary thesis that homo-sapiens aren’t meant to be monogamous… that we’re supposed to be having sex with multiple different people, all of us, males and females. Now the common argument is obviously, “oh these authors just want to have sex with everyone… so they made a book about it… duhhhhhhhhhhh.” But it’s more than that. It’s an analysis of our species history of sexuality, mixed with in-depth analyses of our anatomies compared to other species’ anatomies (both monogamous and polyamorous) and topped off with a rich dose of our social conventions and how they affect both our modern and ancient perceptions of our species’ sexual activities. The sociological arguments, mixed with the scientific support contained within, are amazing… a truly well thought out, intriguing and constantly mind blowing analysis. And I can’t stop thinking about it.
For it’s specific point of view this book is going to be pretty touchy for almost everyone I know (it was with me when I first heard about it), and I’ve even had friends of mine tell me they refused to read it because it would get them too anxious and/or upset. These are all fair points. I know that I don’t read certain books because I know they will get me way too riled up… but for this book I encourage all of you to put those thoughts aside and pick it up. I’ve really not read a book this provoking in a long time. Where do I stand on the issue? I honestly still haven’t made up my mind… but that’s why I want you to read it. I want to have discussions with everyone I know about this book. Especially while I’m out at a bar. SO LET’S GET READING ABOUT THESE SEXY THINGS! Maybe, contrary to this book’s philosophies, we as a species aren’t supposed to be loving a bunch of other people and be sexually engaged with everyone. We’re just supposed to be socially engaged. Well then read this book and I guarantee you everyone will be talking about it. Talk to me, I’ll let you borrow it.
Sincerely,
Dru
Source
Posted by Dru Johnston on August 19, 2010
Everyone remember that old phrase that “Men think about sex every seven seconds?” Well that’s probably not true, that’s a lot of sex to be thinking about. With the exception of seventh grade I can’t remember a time when I thought of sex every seven seconds. I have, however, been thinking about the book Sex at Dawn with alarming regularity since finishing it Sunday night.
Originally recommended to me by my good friend Alden, I brought it up for consideration in our Sandino book club, and since then it’s jumped from the lowly status of the book I’m reading on the train to the all powerful, “Oh my God that was so weird, I never thought that, does science really prove that, how accurate could that be, this kinda makes sense, but it’s so different from what I’ve grown up thinking, SCIENCE!, oh man I forgot to do this expense reports.” In short, judging by the amount I’ve thought or talked about it, Sex at Dawn is to 25 year old me what Sex was to 14 year old me.
The book, however, is probably more controversial than anything I’ve ever read, specifically because it’s a non-fiction, scientifically supported book to defend the primary thesis that homo-sapiens aren’t meant to be monogamous… that we’re supposed to be having sex with multiple different people, all of us, males and females. Now the common argument is obviously, “oh these authors just want to have sex with everyone… so they made a book about it… duhhhhhhhhhhh.” But it’s more than that. It’s an analysis of our species history of sexuality, mixed with in-depth analyses of our anatomies compared to other species’ anatomies (both monogamous and polyamorous) and topped off with a rich dose of our social conventions and how they affect both our modern and ancient perceptions of our species’ sexual activities. The sociological arguments, mixed with the scientific support contained within, are amazing… a truly well thought out, intriguing and constantly mind blowing analysis. And I can’t stop thinking about it.
For it’s specific point of view this book is going to be pretty touchy for almost everyone I know (it was with me when I first heard about it), and I’ve even had friends of mine tell me they refused to read it because it would get them too anxious and/or upset. These are all fair points. I know that I don’t read certain books because I know they will get me way too riled up… but for this book I encourage all of you to put those thoughts aside and pick it up. I’ve really not read a book this provoking in a long time. Where do I stand on the issue? I honestly still haven’t made up my mind… but that’s why I want you to read it. I want to have discussions with everyone I know about this book. Especially while I’m out at a bar. SO LET’S GET READING ABOUT THESE SEXY THINGS! Maybe, contrary to this book’s philosophies, we as a species aren’t supposed to be loving a bunch of other people and be sexually engaged with everyone. We’re just supposed to be socially engaged. Well then read this book and I guarantee you everyone will be talking about it. Talk to me, I’ll let you borrow it.
Sincerely,
Dru
Source