Discovering Human Sexuality, Fourth Edition

by Simon LeVay, Janice Baldwin, John Baldwin

An evidence-based, accessible introduction to the study of sexuality and the diverse ways in which it brings joys and challenges to our lives. Now in its fourth edition, Discovering Human Sexuality has established itself as a popular and widely praised text that respects diversity both in the
sexual world and among the students who read it. The backgrounds of the authors--in biology, sociology, teaching, and writing--have made possible a text that is multidisciplinary, authoritative, sex-positive, and a delight to read.

The scope of Discovering Human Sexuality ranges from homosexuality in ancient Greece to the recent Harvey Weinstein sexual harassment scandal while covering a stunningly diverse array of topics. Questions considered How does the menstrual cycle work? What's "splitting the bamboo"? Can
premature ejaculation be treated? If a man has undetectable levels of HIV, can he have sex without condoms? Which sex offenders will repeat their crimes? Is there a gay gene? What's wrong with polygamy? Is emergeny contraception abortion? Which bathrooms should trans women use? This book gives
factual answers to important questions and provides material for informed debate for issues without a single solution.

Genres: Psychology, Textbooks, Nonfiction, Sexuality

696 pages, Loose Leaf

First published January 12, 2009

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

[Alireza · Rating 5 out of 5]

Suffice it to say this is THE only textbook that I have read inside-out beginning-to-end with such a devotion throughout my academic career.

[Mark · Rating 4 out of 5]

It was an interesting read and one of the better ones I have read cause it more LGBT and modern era sexuality freedom based.

[Nathan Potthoff · Rating 3 out of 5]

Some chapters were more interesting than others/more informative than others, but overall... good stuff.

[Ogi Ogas · Rating 5 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.

[Crystal ✬ Lost in Storyland · Rating 1 out of 5]

Extremely biased view towards a "modern" view of sexuality. More to come.

[Jeffrey Bumiller · Rating 4 out of 5]

Read this for a Psychology of Human Sexuality class. I enjoyed it enough to read the chapters that were not covered in the class just to finish the whole book.