Sex, Time and Power: How Women's Sexuality Shaped Human Evolution Review

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(More customer reviews)For 25 years, "A Pattern Language" (C. Alexander, et al) has occupied first place in my "Most Human Wisdom In a Book Cover" category.Leonard Shlain's "Sex, Time, and Power" has just replaced it.Surely, even amongst the well educated, the relationship between men and women holds more misunderstanding than any other human endeavor.Dr. Shlain's insightful study sheds more light into this thorny area than the sum of all other similar books I have read.Although the writing style is personal and humerous, this book is a relatively slow read due to the sheer density of ideas presented and quantity of supporting documentation supplied.Every time I loan out this book, it proves very difficult to get back. It is a slooow read that borrowers do not want to relinquish until they have finished.After a few weeks rumination time, I find them asking me if the book is available again.Get your own copy!Anyone trying to make sense of "The Urge to Merge" will find themselves returning to this fertile well of ideas again and again.
As a related aside, attending a book store talk given by Dr. Shlain, I found him to be every bit an excellent speaker as he is an excellent writer.If given the chance to hear him speak, don't miss it!

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Blood Relations: Menstruation and the Origins of Culture Review

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(More customer reviews)This book was a revelation for me. Having struggled through numerousturgid anthropological works by the likes of Levi-Strauss, Roheim, etc., itwas thrilling to read such an ambitious clear-sighted and compellingaccount of the origins of human culture, together with an excellentcritique of much current anthropological thinking.
It's worth mentioningthat Chris Knight is a marxist, and by that I don't mean vaguely left-wingin the manner of, say, Eric Hobsbawm. He's a real believer...dialecticmaterialism, the whole works. Clearly Knight believes his marxism isessential to his thesis. I would argue that although this maybe enabled himto see through other anthropological schools - structuralism,functionalism, what-have-you - and to develop his own theories, in the endit's irrelevant to his conclusions. So, wade through the marxist stuff, youcan ignore it, it's not to my mind necessary to agree with his ideologicalbeliefs (I don't) to appreciate his arguments, and to agree with much ofwhat he says - or at least to find this a wonderfully stimulating book.

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This original and ingenious book presents a new theory of the origins of human culture. Integrating perspectives of evolutionary biology and social anthropology within a Marxist framework, Chris Knight rejects the common assumption that human culture was a modified extension of primate behavior and argues instead that it was the product of an immense social, sexual, and political revolution initiated by women.

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Woman: An Intimate Geography Review

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(More customer reviews)This is one of those books that I am considering buying for every woman I know: young, old, of all creeds, races, and religions.... even after completing it I am STILL floored by its appropriate, humorous, scientific,lyrical, and profound words.  It is empowering without any negativism. There is not a shread of male-bashing in this work of art.   Natalie Angieris a science writer for the New York Times and her work is infused withjust enough science to make all the fascinating issues she coverscomprehensible to any and everyone who reads this book.   She covers thefemale body like no one ever has, and I don't just mean the chapters onbreasts, the uterus, and the ovaries, but the hormones, the menstrualcycles, nursing babies, menopause, exercise, chemistry, and the psychologyof being a woman.  I wish so much that this amazing piece of work had beenaround when I was 18 and wondering what the hell was WRONG with me! (nothing. apparently.  But who can tell an 18 year old anything.... maybeif I could have read it.....).  Angiers carefully weaves together themyths, the legends, the cultures, and even the misogyny from where we ALLcome and gracefully and humorously meshes them with the studies, thesciences, the theories and the facts, and gives the reader an entire bodyof work on all of the issues about ourselves we are curious about.   It isbook that teaches you something fascinating about how and why you are andwork and play and love.  One of the themes that surrepticiously repeats inthis book is the completely normal, completely natural, "you are SO ok- it's laughable to think otherwise" theme.  Women are complex andcomplicated creatures and we owe that to this magnificent temple called thebody and we now have all the evidence and joy in this book to know that.

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Our Bodies, Ourselves: A New Edition for a New Era Review

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(More customer reviews)This book is by far the best ever. It is the first edition of OBOS which I feel really addresses the equally pressing healthcare needs of myself and younger generations of women.

I had used prior versions of this book, but still had felt that the authors of those versions assumed that the readers had been with them through the 1970's...etc. The tone of this book is very inclusive and non-presuming. Consequently the medical information presented does not get lost in the personal vingettes. Our own generational experiences are just as important.

Also, the authors take an enligthened approach to sexuality instead of segmenting off "LGBT/queer" issues into a couple of areas. This book is further commendable because it made more of an effort to tell the stories (and thus provide culturally sensitive health care) for different women.

Kudos to the people who suggested a redesign and updating of the book layout.

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