From the Bookshelf of Book Riot's Read Harder Challenge…

Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

Mary Roach

Start date: January 23, 2015

Discussion: Task Ideas/Resources/Discussions

Find A Copy At

Libraries

Group Discussions About This Book

Showing 2 of 64 topics — 5,978 comments total

Task Ideas/Resources/Discussions

This topic has been closed to new comments.

* Challenge Tasks: the Complete List
By Book Riot · 1 post · 5295 views

last updated Dec 16, 2014 09:22AM

Free copy of Proximity Factor this July, no reviews required. Just enjoy.
By S.S. · 1 post · 9 views

last updated Jul 18, 2024 06:08AM

showing 2 of 2 topics view all »

What Members Thought

Nov 12, 2009 Kristen rated it liked it

Contrary to what you might think, this is not a sexy book. In fact, on more than one occasion, it's the sort of crossing your legs in fear and horror kind of book that makes you never quite look at human sexual behavior the same way again. It’s a science book (or rather, a scientific book for lay people – no pun intended), and lord only knows what the people on BART or MUNI must have been thinking if they were reading it over my shoulder.

That said, this is also a damn funny book, and Mary Roach ...more

Like · see review

Jul 29, 2012 Lacey Louwagie rated it really liked it · review of another edition

Shelves: non-fiction

I listened to this audiobook in the car, and I was quite sorry to see (hear) it end. My drives to and from work suddenly became a whole lot more boring!

The forward to this book discusses how the author suddenly realized that, in order for us to know as much as we do about sex, scientists must have been studying it--in just the same way they study digestion, the immune system, and other wonders of our bodies. She then started to wonder about the subjects of this research, and the doctors who did I listened to this audiobook in the car, and I was quite sorry to see (hear) it end. My drives to and from work suddenly became a whole lot more boring!

The forward to this book discusses how the author suddenly realized that, in order for us to know as much as we do about sex, scientists must have been studying it--in just the same way they study digestion, the immune system, and other wonders of our bodies. She then started to wonder about the subjects of this research, and the doctors who did it. She learned that, because our culture still has such a bizarre relationship with sex, those who have studied it for the sake of science have often been ridiculed, disregarded, and shunnehttp://sedeara.livejournal.com/friends/d. Many of them do not openly admit to what they do, and they've learned to use euphemisms to describe their experiments so that most people just assume it's over their heads and don't inquire further. And because of assumptions made about the character or motives of sex researchers, it's been consistently difficult for them to receive funding.

I had to smile while listening to the intro, because I had just had my own experience of the stigma attached to a desire to learn more about sex. I saw this book while I was checking items in at the library; stashed it away rather than send it for reshelving; rushed off with it on my break, used the self checkout machine furthest from the desk, and then prayed that the security guard wouldn't want to chat as I dashed back to my locker and shoved the book inside. All because I was embarrassed about my coworkers knowing I wanted to listen to a book about the science of sex.

And yet, sex researchers have persevered, and thank goodness for that! Thanks to them, we have this wonderful book that details exactly HOW certain sexual facts were discovered, that is full of little-known and fascinating sex facts, and that will give you a lot more appreciation for those doctors who have dared to make this their life's work. And it all comes with a mischievous, bemused tone that, while not often being laugh-out-loud funny, did make me smirk and keep me amused the whole time. Sex is some funny stuff!

It is this tone that keeps the book from being voyeuristic, and Mary Roach's clear distinction between fact and myth and her own commentary (where she often says what the reader is surely thinking, thus dispelling any "elephant" that might be in the room between a book and it's reader/listener.)

Usually when I don't want a book to end, I automatically bump it up to five stars, because that doesn't happen very often with me even amongst the finest books. The reason I didn't give this book five stars is because there were some parts where I felt info about animal sex went on a little too long (researchers often had to study animal sexuality because of the taboo against studying human sexuality), and there were also moments when I really did learn a bit more than I wanted to know. Still, I recommend this to anyone who has a personal or academic interest in sex, or to anyone who wants to stockpile tidbits of fascinating, little-known information to whip out after a drink or two with friends (or, if you're me, over dinner.) Such fun! ...more

Like · see review

Aug 29, 2011 gwen g rated it liked it · review of another edition

This book was a lot of fun and definitely keeps your attention as an audiobook. No way could you fall asleep at the wheel while someone is describing... uh, stuff. Roach sensationalizes quite a bit, and you know she's putting in some details just to make people squirm, but it's worth it. ...more

Like · see review

May 30, 2008 Monica rated it liked it

Shelves: 2008, nonfiction, genrex

I really enjoyed this one for the first half, but (like Heather) my interest started to wane after the chapters all started to sound alike. Still, this is totally worth a read and *blush* I feel like I learned a lot.

Like · see review