The Evolution Of Desire - Revised Edition 4 by David M. Buss

by David M. Buss;

Genres: Sexuality, Relationships

Paperback

Reviews

[Meg]

I found this book very interesting and therefore super easy to read. The book is built up of a lot of stats and data, but there were a lot of stats taken from university students - so you’d think their answers around sex and relationships would differ so much compared to people older who have more life experience (that would be interesting to read in itself actually…).

I’m drawn to topics about human nature and psychology but especially personality which it briefly touched on (saying essentially the more similar, and therefore compatible, two people are the more successful and harmonious the relationship tends to be), so this kinda book ticks a lot of my boxes and I found it very engaging!


4.5 ⭐️

[Gonzalo · Rating 4 out of 5]

The Evolution of Desire is a clear introduction to the evolutionary psychology of human mating. Buss argues that many of our romantic and sexual preferences are not random or purely cultural, but shaped by long-term evolutionary pressures. The book is compelling because it turns everyday experiences—attraction, jealousy, commitment, and mate choice—into understandable patterns with an adaptive logic behind them. It offers a structured and empirically grounded framework that makes human relationships seem less chaotic and more intelligible.

Although some readers might find evolutionary explanations reductive, the book itself is more careful. Buss largely avoids moralizing or drawing simplistic normative conclusions, and he does not endorse the kind of “red pill” or deterministic views often associated with evolutionary psychology in popular discourse. The book feels balanced and intellectually honest: it explains an important biological dimension of desire without pretending to exhaust the full complexity of human love.

[Marjorie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I think the subtitle is more accurate in what the book is about. They kind of start by stating common knowledge then go more in depth into the whys, exceptions, how it changes under different circumstances and with time. It was intriguing and I admire the depth and thoroughness of the studies conducted. This revised version talks about dating apps and connects these modern customs to the threads that connect us to neanderthals. Very cool book!