Sex on the Brain: The Biological Differences Between Men and Women

by Deborah Blum

A Pulitzer Prize-winning science writer presents a provocative, humorous analysis of the biology of gender, handling such topics as why adolescents males and females gossip differently and why relationships break up. 25,000 first printing. Tour.

Genres: Science, Psychology, Nonfiction, Sexuality, Biology, Gender, Philosophy

329 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1997

About the author

Deborah Blum is a Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author.

As a science writer for the Sacramento Bee, Blum (rhymes with gum) wrote a series of articles examining the professional, ethical, and emotional conflicts between scientists who use animals in their research and animal rights activists who oppose that research. Titled "The Monkey Wars", the series won the 1992 Pulitzer Prize for Beat Reporting.

Reviews

[Orsolya · Rating 3 out of 5]

We all know that men and women are VERY different. The question that arises is, why? I mean, REALLY why? Moving past procreation, why do we even need procreation? Why not just be asexual? Is it merely to have good genes? I suppose the “why” question can’t ever truly be answered but I turned to Deborah Blum for some insight.

Sex on the Brain is instantly informative and “fun”, explaining behavioral biology and sex choice. Even by page 20, I already came across several tidbits of information which I will happily pass along to the next person. Books like these are the ones which cause you to never “look at things the same again”.

The text is very east to understand and smooth instead of having an overabundance of technical jargon. However, some of Blum’s passages do seem to repeat and (not-so) subtly try to “stick” information in your brain. Sometimes, it almost felt like Blum was trying to convince herself.

One of the annoying factors is that the book is filled with questions and scientific experiments which have proven inconclusive. Granted, the book was first published in 1997 but obviously this becomes very frustrating. Also, the point of the book is not necessarily always clear (the pseudo point seemed to be that boys are different for girls and boys try to spread their seed while girls prefer to be picky--- we know this already!). Sometimes, it merely seemed like a relaying of facts and experiments versus coming to a strong conclusion.

Another area which made me clench my fists was the over-extensive descriptions of experiments which involved chimps, birds, or mice. While I understand that scientist and anthropologists study these animals in order to learn more about human behavior (and that of our ancestors); this became frustrating as I felt I was reading a book on animal behavior versus that of humans.

Blum also tries too hard to speak on a friendly level and in a comfortable tone. Case in point? The use of the word “ain’t” on page 119.

Highlights: The best passages involved factoids and “That is SO true!” moments such as:

 Men map per miles and have strong spatial reasoning while women map using landmarks
 Females, even apes, naturally carry infants on their left sides closer to the heart perhaps to calm the infant with their beating hearts
 Theory exists that morning sickness derives from the body preventing cave-women from eating “anything” which could harm the growing embryo
 Males who were beaten as children tend to be politically conservative in the topic of corporal punishment while females also beaten as children tend to be liberal, demonstrating the empathetic traits of females

Interesting questions were also raised regarding homosexuality. Is this caused by a gene? How do hormones kick in for same sex preference? Blum describes how a possible location for same sex preference gene has been found (Xq28). Again, this book is outdated so the research is surely outdated, as well.

The book begins to lose its steam around the chapter on testosterone and started to overly annoy with the talk on monkeys but overall, Sex on the Brain is an interesting and eye-opening book.

[Sam · Rating 1 out of 5]

lots of bullshit written by a journalist. Too outdated to be of any help. Not worth the time at all.

[Andrea · Rating 4 out of 5]

Even though research in the area of behavioral sciences, hormones, and gender differences have been flourishing in the past two decades, this well-written book still poses questions relevant to our status nowadays.

Now I'm off looking for the answers and recent research on this topic (hopefully in a shortened version, such as in this book).

I would have definitely liked to read it earlier, especially during adolescence. Even though its target audience does not seem to be the young population, they could surely benefit from this book.

It's clearly written, the author intertwines opposing theories and brings arguments based on actual research, but her tone stays neutral.

If you're thinking you might not like it because of the discussions on gender differences, still give it a try. You will find that all affirmations come with a question mark and an open mind.

[Ted Morgan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Even though this work is almost 20 years old and about a field that has progressed, and written at a time when some current concerns such as the ambiguity and modulations of gender assume rather immediate interest and concern, the book remains a fine foundational and introductory popular study.

One has to consider research and changing questions about the topic do date this boo. However, the then data on primatology and especially hormones explore the right areas of research and provide historical background that remains useful. The writing is journalistic and thus popular but the body of work is well researched. This is fine scientific journalism practiced at a high level with great integrity and skill. I still highly recommend it.

My almost 20 year old hardbound copy is well made. It is a lovely item in my personal library.

[Melissa · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really liked this. It gave a lot of strong evidence that the differences between men and women are not strictly biological or cultural (nature or nurture) but a mixing of the two, where biology effects culture, but also culture can change biology, interestingly enough. you'll have to read the book to find out how... Warning though, there is a lot of information that is thrown at you, and sometimes it's a bit much to wrap your mind around, but totally worth it in the end. A great addition to biological anthropology

[Lucas Haugen · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book that identifies the key differences between the genders is a fascinating read, and would receive a good review from anyone mature or understanding enough to handle the subject material. If you have biases entering this book about gender I don't reccomend it as this book is likely to break them which for a simple minded person might upset them. This book would be best for someone who's an expert on the subject of gender rather than someone looking to validate opinions. If this book doesn't give you the answers you're looking for perhaps you don't want them in the first place.

[dejah_thoris · Rating 4 out of 5]

When I started this one I was wondering what I was thinking because I've read far too much evolutionary biology over the past decade but Blum's book is still REALLY interesting! There's a strong focus on zoology in addition to primatology and anthropology, which is refreshing, but I really enjoyed the section on hormones most of all. If you have a passing interest in this subject, read this book. It's a little dated (mid-90s, pre-DNA sequencing) but still a good overview of the discipline and written for the layperson instead of the specialist.

[MJ · Rating 5 out of 5]

It's been a long while since I read this incredibly entertaining and informative book but it's one I recommend whenever I can.

The author is a science writer and says she realized when her toddler son pretended he was a dinosaur and tried to eat her up that there WAS TRULY A DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MALE AND FEMALE.

She set out to unearth information on evolutionary biology, chemistry and other fields to illuminate the differences.

[Daniel Sweeney · Rating 4 out of 5]

page 11: essentially opposites attract because the less alike a couple’s genes are, the more variability, the greater the ability to respond to genetic injury and less likely that defective genes will be inherited.
*hence marrying second cousins can cause “problem” children
**I think the basis of this, as cultural influences decrease, will lead to more and more interracial relationships eventually leading us towards “one race”

[Nadine · Rating 1 out of 5]

Some good points, but mostly his was an anecdotal book with lots of hyped up claims not backed by data. Bah! Oh, and a giant advertisement (albeit more tastefully done than some other books I've read. Blink was a much better sex-on-the-brain book.

[Rick4665 · Rating 1 out of 5]

Very biased author. Very informal logic. Not a good read.

[Nicholas · Rating 3 out of 5]

I don't know why but I don't think I was paying attention when I read this book. Right after I read it I couldn't think of a thesis that the book was pushing. Too bad. I should reread it.

I'm realizing that there was no real theme because the book was a pretty introductory book. A good place to start. There was no "theory" in it because it was just laying the groundwork.


Quotes:

"Remember, these questions refer to average behaviors. They are not individual predictions."

"The danger of leaning too hard on biological explanations is that they turn into excuses."

"He worries that our fascination with gender differences misses the main point, that we are mostly alike."

"A trespass, a failure of a trusted friendship, is apparently much harder for females to forgive."

"Males let go of disagreements more easily than girls; girls have s stronger emotional response to conflict."

"If you take loss and gried down to this chilly level of analysis, do you really understand them more anyway?"

"In the 1920's, physicians grafted monkey testes onto aging men, trying to restore their virility. They literally had to turn away volunteers,"

"Did I want to know this. How much unpleasant reality do I actually need in my life."

"Someone else's reassurances, though, don't help that much if you're a teenage girl longing after willowy androgyny."

"In humans, there's a large sexual asymmetry in the minimal reproductive effort required for the production of offspring. The minimum for a man is a few minutes of time and an energetically cheap ejaculate; the minimum for a woman is none months of pregnancy and a long period of lactation."

"The sexually insatiable woman is to be found primarily, if not exclusively, in the ideology of feminism, the hopes of boys, and the fears of men."

"I think underneath all the conflict over gender differences is a tacit acceptance that male is 'normal.'"

"Whether women like it or not, they will have more of a physical impact on men than men will have on them."

[Donna · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book provided a journey into the biological influences that shape human relationships. I liked how the author explained ways in which males and females differ and the role that hormones play in attraction and mate selection. Far from a college textbook but not a pool-side read either. Despite the focus on hetero sex there is a good chunk of research on gay and lesbian relationships. This book helped me understand my lizard brain.

[Dan · Rating 3 out of 5]

The other gender differences book (I also read "Brain Sex"). This was a better book, though I don't remember why. Presumably more interesting stories and experiments, and more presentation of the complex nature of the world, less argumentation to a particular point.

[Margaret · Rating 5 out of 5]

Almost 20 years old now, this well-written, well-organized compilation of gender differences was fascinating. It gives footnoted underpinnings to some of the more headline-grabbing studies floating around today.

[Jocelyn · Rating 3 out of 5]

Easy to read and, as with every topic dealing with brains and behavior, fun for me to consider. Like Musicophila and The Blank Slate, only with the other two books the authors are/were scientists (Oliver Sacks and Steven Pinker) and the cover art is much better.

[Amanda C · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very Interesting book

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

This is one of the best textbooks I've ever read!

[Kathy]

Gender differences in attraction

[Ben King]

One of the best popular accounts of the biology of gender and sexuality.

[Lorie · Rating 2 out of 5]

It felt like reading a textbook, but I did learn some things. This one was a book club pick.

[Ike · Rating 3 out of 5]

One word = hormones

[Paul]

ryan holiday

[Balloon Bruce · Rating 1 out of 5]

She had dullness on her brain - couldn't finish it.

[Alex · Rating 5 out of 5]

Coming into this without a psychology/anthropology background, I found Blum's book fascinating. I learned so much about the biological differences between two sexes and how hormones/cultural upbringings can shape a human being. Blum does an excellent job of explaining all facts and theories surrounding each topic in the book, and identifies her biases, if any. I appreciated the evenhanded approach she took with this book and am interested to know what new knowledge about this subject have been uncovered since this book's published date of 1997.

[Henry · Rating 5 out of 5]

- In essence, the author noted that there are indeed various differences in terms of brain matters between male and female. However, the author caution that unlike prior of generations (that were dominated by male) who believes male brains are superior to female brains, the author noted that it's the specialization of the brain that makes brain in different sexes different, rather than "better" or "worse".

[Gabriela · Rating 4 out of 5]

Excellent book with great questions and scientific insights but narrated in an easy to read, very ‘approachable’ style. Interesting takes on nature-nurture but also the interplay of both... enjoyed it very much although I think I now have more questions on the subject than before reading it!

[KLS · Rating 4 out of 5]

4.0/5.0 - Some interesting points and a subject worth reviewing and being educated on, but take it with a grain of salt as this book was published back in 1998 and plenty of new studies have come out since.

[Sidnee Sawyer · Rating 3 out of 5]

“Broccoli doesn’t even incest.”

[Caroline Hirko · Rating 4 out of 5]

The book is a little outdated (1998) but an interesting look at sex and gender differences in the brain. Draws on neuroscience and comparative psychology (animal studies). The parts on monkey sex.