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The Dawn Of The Deed: The Prehistoric Origins Of Sex (2012)

by John A. Long(Favorite Author)

3.33 of 5 Votes: 4

languge

English

genre

Nonfiction

publisher

University of Chicago Press

review 1: I get a kick out of ordering books for the library. Sometimes its the cover image, and sometimes its the title, but usually every magazine I use to order books has at least one really funny nonfiction item in it. A couple months ago I stumbled across this one, Dawn of the Deed with appropriately colored male and female dinosaur skeletons getting down and dirty. As I read more about the book, it actually sounded really interesting and posed several interesting questions. Notably, how did sexual copulation develop? When did it develop? and why do different species have different adaptations for sexual dimorphism and reproduction? Those might sound like some heavy questions, but John Long does an excellent job at keeping the terminology he uses at a layman's level and d... moreefines words that might be challenging to the average reader. Since this book is told partly as a memoir of Long working with prehistoric fish skeletons, the language is actually very easy to follow, and has that personal attachment that make the subject less dry and boring and more amusing to follow. Long also gets really into explaining how sexual selection and mating rituals for animals like spiders, frogs, and echidna are far more deviant or fetish-like that have been given credit. Humans aren't the only ones with creativity in the bedroom. However, Long has done his part to make me even more freaked out by spiders and bed bugs which apparently have penises that have a sharp spike on the end used for STABBING THE FEMALE IN THE OVARIES! Basically bypassing the whole uterine tracts and such to get the sperm directly into the ovaries as quickly as possible. Uh, yuck, but at the same time, fascinating.I am a firm believer that conversations about sex are should not be secrets and should not be something that cause shame, so I am always excited to see scientific books about sex and reproduction that make the learning fun, interesting and open. With his funny premise and entertaining anecdotes, you'll be surprised at all the information you are really learning.
review 2: I bought the book after listening to an interview with John Long on Quirks & Quarks and this is a good one. Although there is some excellent science in the book, the author never misses a chance to add some humour. Mainly focused on his discovery that a prehistoric fish had sex - you have to read the book - it was the description of how sex has evolved in different animals that is amazing, bizarre, and sometimes somewhat disconcerting. A great read. less

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