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Testosterone: Sex, Power, and the Will to Win
We inherit mechanisms for survival from our primeval past; none so obviously as those involved in reproduction. The hormone testosterone underlies the organization of activation of masculinity: it changes the body and brain to make a male. It is involved not only in sexuality but in driving aggression, competitiveness, risk-taking - all elements that were needed for successful survival and reproduction in the past. But these ancient systems are carried forward into a modern world. The ancient world shaped the human brain, but the modern world is shaped by that brain. How does this world, with all its cultural, political, and social variations, deal with and control the primeval role of testosterone, which continues to be essential for the survival of the species? Sex, aggression, winning, losing, gangs, war: the powerful effects of testosterone are entwined with them all. These are the ingredients of human history, so testosterone has played a central role in our story.
In Testosterone, Joe Herbert explains the nature of this potent hormone, how it operates in mammals in general and in humans in particular, what we know about its role in influencing various aspects of behaviour in men, and what we are beginning to understand of its role in women. From rape to gang warfare among youths, understanding the workings of testosterone is critical to enable us to manage its continuing powerful effects in modern society.
In Testosterone, Joe Herbert explains the nature of this potent hormone, how it operates in mammals in general and in humans in particular, what we know about its role in influencing various aspects of behaviour in men, and what we are beginning to understand of its role in women. From rape to gang warfare among youths, understanding the workings of testosterone is critical to enable us to manage its continuing powerful effects in modern society.
232 pages, Hardcover
First published March 14, 2015
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Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews
April 5, 2017
Despite the brevity of this book - it is a little under 200 pages - I struggled into the final chapter, and limped over the finish line with a relieved slump.
Herbert is a celebrated academic, and a clear and articulate writer. However, this book is a great example of how some subjects simply do not transfer into popular culture. It should have remained as an ongoing discussion in the peer - review literature, but instead, this book priced at £16 has been crowbarred onto the shelves.
The real problem, I found, was that the research into testosterone and its impact on the body and human culture, is simply too inconclusive to make any firm statements or explanations. This does not lend itself well to a popular science book. Herbert frequently repeats his writing from previous sections, and regularly reminds the reader of the book's purpose - a fact that should be self-evident. Because of the inconclusive nature of the subject, he also speculates wildly on the subject matter. As a scientist, I see the glaring flaws in speculation for the sake of media attention.
Summary: he's a good writer and an excellent scientist, but this is a subject that should have never seen the light of day on a popular science book shelf. The book ends with a poetic and emotional monologue of the human brain; I case in point - I thought this was a book about testosterone?!
one of the final paragraphs of the book reads: "without testosterone there would be no human beings. A human being, by which I mean a human brain, is not made by testosterone; it is made by human genes but shaped by human experience". The author contradicts himself in a single sentence. I am using energy to decipher this codex before me!
Herbert is a celebrated academic, and a clear and articulate writer. However, this book is a great example of how some subjects simply do not transfer into popular culture. It should have remained as an ongoing discussion in the peer - review literature, but instead, this book priced at £16 has been crowbarred onto the shelves.
The real problem, I found, was that the research into testosterone and its impact on the body and human culture, is simply too inconclusive to make any firm statements or explanations. This does not lend itself well to a popular science book. Herbert frequently repeats his writing from previous sections, and regularly reminds the reader of the book's purpose - a fact that should be self-evident. Because of the inconclusive nature of the subject, he also speculates wildly on the subject matter. As a scientist, I see the glaring flaws in speculation for the sake of media attention.
Summary: he's a good writer and an excellent scientist, but this is a subject that should have never seen the light of day on a popular science book shelf. The book ends with a poetic and emotional monologue of the human brain; I case in point - I thought this was a book about testosterone?!
one of the final paragraphs of the book reads: "without testosterone there would be no human beings. A human being, by which I mean a human brain, is not made by testosterone; it is made by human genes but shaped by human experience". The author contradicts himself in a single sentence. I am using energy to decipher this codex before me!
May 19, 2020
Okunmasın diye yazılmış bir metin. Kapsamını sorgulamıyorum ama bir tez olmadığına göre okurken bir akıcılık beklemek hakkımız. Ayrıca hemen hemen hiçbir konuda yargıya varmayıp konuyu açık bırakması da okumayı zorlaştırıyor. %10 luk bir özetini bir saatte okuyup anlamak mümkün, tamamını 30 saatte okuyup anladığımı da karıştırdım. Spoiler: anafikri testesteron vardır.
December 14, 2015
In reading this, I learned most of what can be communicated on the subject of testosterone. There were many caveats throughout this book, as the author is an academic. However, I prefer that to the specific-theory-driven narratives of popular neuroscience that often obfuscate the debates that underlie opinions in a field.
It was not terribly easy to read for that reason, and I found the authors use of the "he" pronoun to refer to "humanity" rather confusing, as it was unclear whether he was speaking about men specifically, or all people--particularly problematic in a book about a hormone that affects men and women differently. Aren't we past that yet?
It was particularly illuminating to read of rats that could develop homosexual attractions or reverse-gender sexual behaviors by varying the amount of testosterone in the first epoch of life. Fascinating stuff.
It was not terribly easy to read for that reason, and I found the authors use of the "he" pronoun to refer to "humanity" rather confusing, as it was unclear whether he was speaking about men specifically, or all people--particularly problematic in a book about a hormone that affects men and women differently. Aren't we past that yet?
It was particularly illuminating to read of rats that could develop homosexual attractions or reverse-gender sexual behaviors by varying the amount of testosterone in the first epoch of life. Fascinating stuff.
February 5, 2020
A negative scientific view of testosterone revolving around the same pattern of aggressiveness, criminality, risk taking, and sexual behavior.
June 25, 2017
This is for the Turkish translation :
Biraz uzun sürdü ama bitirdim...
"Testosteron bir erkeğin tarihini şekillendirir çünkü onsuz erkek erkek olamaz sonra erkeğin görünümünü davranış biçimini çocukları olup olmamasını sürdürüğü hayatın büyük bölümünü de şekillendirir ama genellikle bireysellikleri gözden saklar her erkeğin kendi testosteronuna cevap verme biçimi bir erkeği diğerinden ayıran bir çok farklılığı belirler.. testosteron bir erkeğin diğerleriyle etkileşim biçimine kılavuzluk eder böylece toplumsal tarihini etkiler.."
Bu kadar testosteron güzellemesinden sonra biraz yutkunup abartılıyor hissi uyanmıyor mu? Sanırım vücut kimyasallarının karmaşıklığı içinde tek bir kimyasala odaklanmak bazen yanlış sonuçlar veriyor.. yine de iyi ki varsın testosteron!!!!
Biraz uzun sürdü ama bitirdim...
"Testosteron bir erkeğin tarihini şekillendirir çünkü onsuz erkek erkek olamaz sonra erkeğin görünümünü davranış biçimini çocukları olup olmamasını sürdürüğü hayatın büyük bölümünü de şekillendirir ama genellikle bireysellikleri gözden saklar her erkeğin kendi testosteronuna cevap verme biçimi bir erkeği diğerinden ayıran bir çok farklılığı belirler.. testosteron bir erkeğin diğerleriyle etkileşim biçimine kılavuzluk eder böylece toplumsal tarihini etkiler.."
Bu kadar testosteron güzellemesinden sonra biraz yutkunup abartılıyor hissi uyanmıyor mu? Sanırım vücut kimyasallarının karmaşıklığı içinde tek bir kimyasala odaklanmak bazen yanlış sonuçlar veriyor.. yine de iyi ki varsın testosteron!!!!
July 7, 2023
I think it’s odd that a neuroscientist would attribute testosterone to gangs, rape, and aggression, to name a few, despite his old age (87 at the time of this review).
Bud, I think it’s time to retire.
Do I really need to be the one to say this? Testosterone in itself does NOT result in these qualities. You can’t make such a statement without considering other factors, psychology being one of the most important. An adult male can have high testosterone and still have a feminine demeanor. High testosterone does not automatically mean the guy will be an aggressive, competitive rapist. Good job, Dr. Herbert, for continuing the notion that testosterone is bad for society instead of using this opportunity to emphasize the psychological dilemmas men are facing.
Bud, I think it’s time to retire.
Do I really need to be the one to say this? Testosterone in itself does NOT result in these qualities. You can’t make such a statement without considering other factors, psychology being one of the most important. An adult male can have high testosterone and still have a feminine demeanor. High testosterone does not automatically mean the guy will be an aggressive, competitive rapist. Good job, Dr. Herbert, for continuing the notion that testosterone is bad for society instead of using this opportunity to emphasize the psychological dilemmas men are facing.
August 27, 2021
Vadettiği konulara ilişkin herhangi bir yanıt içermemesi ve anlamsız notlarıyla metni bölmesi nedeniyle maalesef zaman kaybı olarak buldum. Aslında konu başlıkları çok iyi seçilmiş, keşke başlıklara gerçekten sadık kalınsaymış. Çünkü maalesef her bölüm başında şu şekilde bir kısır döngü yaşadım; hiçbir gereği olmayan biyolojik bilgi yığını + manasız örnekler + konunun hiçbir yere bağlanmaması ve yeni bölüme geçiş. 👎🏻👎🏻
March 8, 2021
Okuması zor bir kitap oldu benim için ama artık bildiğim bir şey var; testesteron olmasaydı üreme de olmaz erkek vücudu bu kadar kadınlara çekici gelmezdi. Testesteronun sadece bir erkek hormonu olmadığını kadınların da bu hormonun etkileri ile yaşadıklarını da öğrenmiş oldum.
Kitabın çevirisinin de kötü bir çeviri olduğu hissine kapıldım.
Kitabın çevirisinin de kötü bir çeviri olduğu hissine kapıldım.
November 17, 2019
A concise and easy-to-read summary of what the testosterone chemical is capable of in both men and women, with a scientific basis.
February 28, 2023
it's okay
September 6, 2025
Berbat.
Displaying 1 - 11 of 11 reviews