The Sexual Brain

by Simon LeVay

Written with the same clarity, directness, and humor that have made Simon LeVay one of the most popular lecturers at Harvard Medical School and at the University of California, San Diego, The Sexual Brain examines the biological roots of human sexual behavior. It puts forward the compelling case that the diversity of human sexual feelings and behavior can best be understood in terms of the development, structure, and function of the brain circuits that produce them. Discarding all preconceptions about the motivation and purpose of sexuality, LeVay discusses the scientific evidence bearing on such questions as why we are sexual animals, what the brain mechanisms are that produce sexual behavior, how these mechanisms differ between men and women and how these differences develop, and finally, what determines a person's sexual genes, prenatal events, family environment, or early sexual experiences? The Sexual Brain is broad in scope, covering evolutionary theory, molecular genetics, endocrinology, brain structure and function, cognitive psychology, and development. It is unified by LeVay's thesis that human sexual behavior, in all its diversity, is rooted in biological mechanisms that can be explored by laboratory science. The book does not shy away from the complexities of the field, but it can be readily appreciated and enjoyed by anyone with an intelligent interest in sex.

Genres: Nonfiction, Psychology, Science, Biology, Neuroscience, Gender Studies

Paperback

First published January 1, 1993

About the author

Dr. Simon LeVay is a writer and lecturer with a background in neuroscience. He is best known for his research on the brain and sexuality, but has also spent many years studying the visual system. He has written or co-authored several books on sexuality, and coauthored books on such diverse topics as earthquakes and volcanoes, extraterrestrial life, and Parkinson's disease. He has even written a novel. Dr. Simon LeVay lives in West Hollywood, California.

Reviews

[Audrey · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was published fifteen years ago, and I read it ten years ago. It's by the scientist who did the study however long ago that found that gay men had differently sized hypothalymuses than straight men. This book is great - an argument for homosexuality's being nature, not nurture, using animal studies as support - the animal studies are fascinating.

[Broodingferret · Rating 4 out of 5]

This book, while interesting, was a bit dry and not quite as accessible as a pop science book ought to be. LeVay managed to keep it from sounding completely like a text book by dropping in a few quips here and there, but on the whole this book wasn't as enjoyable a read as Queer Science, his later book that discussed the history of scientific inquiry into homosexuality. Regardless, this book was quite interesting and is a must read for those with an interest in the subject, though I would suggest that possessing at least a basic familiarity with brain physiology and genetics will keep a reader from floundering on the modest amount of technical lingo.

[Aaron Ambrose · Rating 4 out of 5]

Clear writing on a muddy subject, modest in claims, and powerful in its commitment to question simple theories. I need to follow up on this research to learn how much further it’s advanced, but the big takeaway is an education on how the main tools of sexuality - external genitalia, internal genitalia, and various neighborhoods of the brain - each develop at different times, by different means, under varying conditions. Hence you can send a thousand people down the same salad bar, and end up with a thousand different salads. Life is rich and amazing.

[Jade Aslain · Rating 2 out of 5]

It really pisses me off when someone documents a lot of good research such as contained in this book, and yet presents it with an extremely unscientific and ideologically biased interpretation. That's what you get in this book.

[Ronald Wilcox · Rating 3 out of 5]

Interesting book to those with a medical background but probably dry as heck to others. LeVay discusses studies looking at the effects of hormones on the differentiation if the body during pregnancy and after birth as well as later in life. He also discusses scientific examinations of possible differences that could explanation the differences between gay and straight individuals, looking at the size of brain structures as well as theorizing on the hormonal influences versus environmental factors. I found it interesting but doubt would be to most readers.

[Holly Brazier · Rating 3 out of 5]

Good book - interesting animal studies

[Ogi Ogas · Rating 4 out of 5]

My ratings of books on Goodreads are solely a crude ranking of their utility to me, and not an evaluation of literary merit, entertainment value, social importance, humor, insightfulness, scientific accuracy, creative vigor, suspensefulness of plot, depth of characters, vitality of theme, excitement of climax, satisfaction of ending, or any other combination of dimensions of value which we are expected to boil down through some fabulous alchemy into a single digit.

[Chris · Rating 4 out of 5]

Worth reading, for those who like studies of why we are who/what we are.

[Zamarripa Huerta]

not bad