Earlier today, Chris posted a schedule for our C.P. Snow blog discussion. I’ll be participating in that of course, but am also hosting another conversation on Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, which I’m currently reading as part of the research for my next book. Here’s the plan…
First, those interested should get a copy. I’m not one for scheduling assignments so there’s no official calender on when sections must be complete. We’ll begin in a couple weeks and everyone is invited to contribute to the conversation–even if you’re not reading along.
I’ll write about some of the most interesting subjects from Roach’s book and from there, I hope you’ll offer ideas and insights on topic or suggest a different direction about something else you find particularly fascinating. We’ll develop an ongoing conversation that will evolve over several threads. Here’s the table of contents to give everyone an idea of what we’re in for:
- The Sausage, the Porcupine, and the Agreeable Mrs. G: Highlights from the pioneers of human sexual response
- Dating the Penis-Camera: Can a woman find happiness with a machine?
- The Princess and Her Pea: The woman who moved her clitoris, and other ruminations on intercourse orgasms
- The Upsuck Chronicles: Does orgasm boost fertility, and what do pigs know about it?
- What’s Going On In There? The diverting world of coital imaging
- The Taiwanese Fix and the Penile Pricking Ring: Creative approaches to impotence
- The Testicle Pushers: If two are good, would three be better:
- Re-Member Me: Transplants, implants, and other penises of last resort
- The Lady’s Boner: Is the clitoris a tiny penis?
- The Prescription-Strength Vibrator: Masturbating for health
- The Immaculate Orgasm: Who needs genitals?
- Mind over Vagina: Women are complicated
- Would Would Allah Say? The strange, brave career of Ahmed Shafik
- Monkey Do: The secret sway of hormones
- “Persons Studied in Pairs”: The lab that uncovered great sex
Unlike reading a lecture, Bonk is just as good out of order. I started with the prologue, which immediately raises questions about the unusual challenges related to conducting sex research. Just yesterday, I randomly opened the book and started at the nearest chapter, which happened to be #7. Without giving too much away, I’ll say it was a thought-provoking section. I learned that the first testicle transplants came from rather unexpected donors with some surprising results. Then I turned back to the beginning and discovered that artificial insemination of pigs involves far more preparation than one would expect.
So far Bonk is funny and very enjoyable, but make no mistake… This NYTimes bestseller is grounded in science, while providing the context, history, and meaning of some very common–but rarely discussed–behaviors.
April 13th, 2009 at 2:22 pm
I liked it, although I have to say that Stiff remains my favorite of her books. I would definitely place this one ahead of Spook.
April 13th, 2009 at 4:07 pm
Stiff is great. You should also read the original classics “Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male” and “Sexual Behavior in the Human Female”. They are both compelling and intellectually…umm…stimulating.
April 13th, 2009 at 7:32 pm
It’s a great read. Mary Roach has a terrific sense of humor and writing style. For an equally funny read with a perspective from the insect world, I recommend “Dr. Tatiana’s Sex Advice to All Creation” by evolutionary biologist Olivia Judson. I read both of those last year and then just recently watched “Kinsey”. Those three different takes on similar topic are a great ‘combo platter.’
April 13th, 2009 at 7:57 pm
Agreed. It’s delightfully fun.
April 14th, 2009 at 12:41 pm
For all the women out there (and more than one man) I would strongly recommend Elisabeth Lloyd’s “The Case of the Female Orgasm: Bias in the Science of Evolution” which demolishes 21 theories advanced to explain the function of the female orgasm.