Dr. Kinsey and the Institute for Sex Research

by Wardell B. Pomeroy

A former colleague of the renowned scientist provides an in-depth portrait of his remarkable career researching man's sexual practices

479 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1972

Reviews

[Argyl · Rating 4 out of 5]

Wardell Pomeroy provides a fascinating insider's view of the work of famous sex researcher Alfred Kinsey and his Institute for Sex Research. Pomeroy was one of Kinsey's earliest collaborators at the Institute and he worked there until two years after Kinsey's death. He makes his tremendous admiration for Kinsey's work clear from the beginning while at the same time making an obvious effort to portray Kinsey and his work in as objective a light as possible. For the most part, he is successful in this tricky balancing act by relating a good part of the very significant criticism to which the Institute's work was subjected as well as the largely laudatory opinions of the scientific and medical communities that supported its work. He is as frank about what went on at the institute and in their field research efforts, as Kinsey was famously frank when he took volunteers' sex histories. This is a well-written, clearly organized account and a pleasure to read.

[Mitch · Rating 3 out of 5]

Quite enjoyable as much for the cracks, gaps, omissions, ellipses, as for the naive candor.