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The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us
From a noted science journalist comes a wonderfully witty and fascinating exploration of how and why we kiss.
When did humans begin to kiss? Why is kissing integral to some cultures and alien to others? Do good kissers make the best lovers? And is that expensive lip-plumping gloss worth it? Sheril Kirshenbaum, a biologist and science journalist, tackles these questions and more in The Science of a Kiss . It's everything you always wanted to know about kissing but either haven't asked, couldn't find out, or didn't realize you should understand.
The book is informed by the latest studies and theories, but Kirshenbaum's engaging voice gives the information a light touch. Topics range from the kind of kissing men like to do (as distinct from women) to what animals can teach us about the kiss to whether or not the true art of kissing was lost sometime in the Dark Ages. Drawing upon classical history, evolutionary biology, psychology, popular culture, and more, Kirshenbaum's winning book will appeal to romantics and armchair scientists alike.
When did humans begin to kiss? Why is kissing integral to some cultures and alien to others? Do good kissers make the best lovers? And is that expensive lip-plumping gloss worth it? Sheril Kirshenbaum, a biologist and science journalist, tackles these questions and more in The Science of a Kiss . It's everything you always wanted to know about kissing but either haven't asked, couldn't find out, or didn't realize you should understand.
The book is informed by the latest studies and theories, but Kirshenbaum's engaging voice gives the information a light touch. Topics range from the kind of kissing men like to do (as distinct from women) to what animals can teach us about the kiss to whether or not the true art of kissing was lost sometime in the Dark Ages. Drawing upon classical history, evolutionary biology, psychology, popular culture, and more, Kirshenbaum's winning book will appeal to romantics and armchair scientists alike.
246 pages, Hardcover
First published December 16, 2010
89 people are currently reading
2985 people want to read
About the author
Sheril Kirshenbaum
2 books30 followersSheril Kirshenbaum is an associate at Duke University and co-author of the forthcoming book, Unscientific America: How Scientific Illiteracy Threatens Our Future, with Chris Mooney. She is involved in conservation initiatives across levels of government and works to improve communication between scientists, policymakers, and the public.
In 2007, Sheril helped to found Science Debate 2008; an initiative encouraging candidates to debate science research and innovation issues on the campaign trail. She has also worked as a legislative science fellow on Capitol Hill with Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) where she was involved in energy, climate, and ocean policy.
Sheril holds two MS degrees in Marine Biology and Marine Policy from the University of Maine. Now a science journalist, she frequently writes about topics that bridge science and society from climate change to the science behind kissing. Previously, she served as a Fellow with the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History and as a Howard Hughes Research Fellow at Tufts University. She has contributed reports to The Nature Conservancy and provided assistance on international protected area projects. She also has experience working in pop radio and her work has been published in Fisheries Bulletin, Oecologia, Issues in Science and Technology, and Science.
Sheril Kirshenbaum co-hosts The Intersection on Discover blogs with Chris Mooney and contributes to DeSmogBlog, Talking Science, and Wired Science's Correlations. She was born in Suffern, New York and is also a musician.
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In 2007, Sheril helped to found Science Debate 2008; an initiative encouraging candidates to debate science research and innovation issues on the campaign trail. She has also worked as a legislative science fellow on Capitol Hill with Senator Bill Nelson (D-FL) where she was involved in energy, climate, and ocean policy.
Sheril holds two MS degrees in Marine Biology and Marine Policy from the University of Maine. Now a science journalist, she frequently writes about topics that bridge science and society from climate change to the science behind kissing. Previously, she served as a Fellow with the Center for Biodiversity and Conservation at the American Museum of Natural History and as a Howard Hughes Research Fellow at Tufts University. She has contributed reports to The Nature Conservancy and provided assistance on international protected area projects. She also has experience working in pop radio and her work has been published in Fisheries Bulletin, Oecologia, Issues in Science and Technology, and Science.
Sheril Kirshenbaum co-hosts The Intersection on Discover blogs with Chris Mooney and contributes to DeSmogBlog, Talking Science, and Wired Science's Correlations. She was born in Suffern, New York and is also a musician.
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Displaying 1 - 30 of 172 reviews
October 15, 2020
What do we know about the "science" of kissing? Researcher and author Sheril Kirshenbaum shows we know surprisingly little in The Science of Kissing.
"Kissing is a type of universal language, best interpreted by those involved in the exchange." pg 209
To start, I didn't know that humankind wasn't the only species to demonstrate "kissing" behavior.
"Moose and ground squirrels brush noses. Manatees nibble at their partners. Moles rub snouts and turtles tap heads. Porcupines nuzzle noses - one of the few regions of their bodies that lack quills." pg 29
I also didn't know, seems obvious in hindsight, that kissing wasn't always a common behavior. It has spread throughout cultures and countries because of the way we're interconnected with technology.
But that wasn't always the case. Historians and anthropologists have recorded different attitudes towards kissing among various cultures for hundreds of years.
"... he noted that some Finnish tribes were not very interested in kissing, and observed that while the sexes would bathe together completely nude, a kiss on the lips was considered indecent." pg 57
Kirshenbaum briefly covers a few different scientific studies into sexual behavior or kissing.
"In Alfred Kinsey's 1948 report 'Sexuality in the Human Male,' for instance, kissing style was found to correlate with a person's level of education. Seventy percent of well-educated men admitted to French kissing, while only 40 percent of those who dropped out of high school did."
However, I felt that the majority of this book was written anecdotally because there are so few rigorous studies that have been conducted. In fact, one of the chapters of this book consists of suggestions of studies that could be done with some of the information that Kirshenbaum compiled.
... only one in seven women answered that she would consider sex with someone she had not first kissed. Conversely, the majority of men reported that they would not be deterred." pg 92
Despite what I perceived as a lack of hard science in here, I found the book amusing. Recommended for readers who are looking to be entertained, rather than enlightened, about kissing.
"Kissing is a type of universal language, best interpreted by those involved in the exchange." pg 209
To start, I didn't know that humankind wasn't the only species to demonstrate "kissing" behavior.
"Moose and ground squirrels brush noses. Manatees nibble at their partners. Moles rub snouts and turtles tap heads. Porcupines nuzzle noses - one of the few regions of their bodies that lack quills." pg 29
I also didn't know, seems obvious in hindsight, that kissing wasn't always a common behavior. It has spread throughout cultures and countries because of the way we're interconnected with technology.
But that wasn't always the case. Historians and anthropologists have recorded different attitudes towards kissing among various cultures for hundreds of years.
"... he noted that some Finnish tribes were not very interested in kissing, and observed that while the sexes would bathe together completely nude, a kiss on the lips was considered indecent." pg 57
Kirshenbaum briefly covers a few different scientific studies into sexual behavior or kissing.
"In Alfred Kinsey's 1948 report 'Sexuality in the Human Male,' for instance, kissing style was found to correlate with a person's level of education. Seventy percent of well-educated men admitted to French kissing, while only 40 percent of those who dropped out of high school did."
However, I felt that the majority of this book was written anecdotally because there are so few rigorous studies that have been conducted. In fact, one of the chapters of this book consists of suggestions of studies that could be done with some of the information that Kirshenbaum compiled.
... only one in seven women answered that she would consider sex with someone she had not first kissed. Conversely, the majority of men reported that they would not be deterred." pg 92
Despite what I perceived as a lack of hard science in here, I found the book amusing. Recommended for readers who are looking to be entertained, rather than enlightened, about kissing.
April 21, 2011
Honestly, I was kind of disappointed in this book. I was expecting detailed research and informed speculation. I was expecting some bite. Instead, what I got was a very short and shallow meditation into a whole bunch of stuff that should have been much more elaborated. I also found it disconcerting that there were no notes of any kind throughout the book . . . we just kind of have to take her word on it that she's done her research. Now, I'm not saying that she didn't -- in fact, the extensive Bibliography in the back of the book would suggest otherwise -- but I think the format of the book, the lack of documentation, is indicative of the main problem I had with it, which is that this book feels more like a gimmick put on by a publisher for the general public, rather than an informed science writing delving into some really cool stuff, which is what I would have liked to see. This lack of detail leads Ms. Kirshenbaum to make sweeping generalizations that she rarely backs up (most likely because she simply did not have the space). This is exactly the sort of thing that I'm always warning my students against. "Throughout history," "Throughout the years," "it is much more popular now," etc. These statements may be true, but without sufficient evidence to back them up, they just end up sounding kind of . . . juvenile.
I kind of feel like an ass for writing this, so just to be clear, I didn't hate this book, and I have nothing against Ms. Kirshenbaum. In fact, much of the book was made up of interesting information that I didn't know. I just would have like to see MORE of that stuff, and in much more detail than Kirshenbaum's publishers obviously thought the public could handle.
I kind of feel like an ass for writing this, so just to be clear, I didn't hate this book, and I have nothing against Ms. Kirshenbaum. In fact, much of the book was made up of interesting information that I didn't know. I just would have like to see MORE of that stuff, and in much more detail than Kirshenbaum's publishers obviously thought the public could handle.
January 20, 2011
Reviewed for THC Reviews
I happen to be a hopeless romantic who is also fascinated by science, so the minute I saw The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us, I knew I had to read it. One might think that a scientific book on kissing might destroy the romanticism of the act, but for me, it did the exact opposite. It actually reinforced many of my romantic notions while explaining the logic and biology behind this most common of relational behaviors. Rather than writing a traditional review, I thought I would share some of the fascinating highlights and things I learned from this book:
*Although the evolutionary origins of the kiss cannot be found with absolute certainty, there are some very interesting theories of how kissing started.
*Many other animal species have kiss-like behaviors. I've seen things like this in nature documentaries and always thought that it was cute and intriguing that humans aren't the only ones who “kiss.”
*Some cultures don't kiss or even find it disgusting. This has lessened considerably since globalization has taken hold, but there are still a few places in the world where kissing remains taboo.
*Men and women have very different views on kissing with women placing much more importance on the act. This may be because women have a stronger sense of smell and taste than men, which could make getting up close and personal a way of sensing compatible DNA in a mate through scent.
*Studies seems to suggest that men can subconsciously detect when a woman is ovulating, perhaps through distinct but subtle odors which a woman puts off at that time of the month.
*Kissing may be one of the germiest activities in which we engage, but there are also many health benefits that can outweigh or at least level the playing field.
*Serotonin levels in someone who has just fallen in love are similar to those found in someone suffering from OCD. (I found this fact highly amusing.:-))
*The lips take up more neural space than any other part of the body including the genitals.
*Some studies on kissing, including one conducted by the author herself while researching the book, have yielded highly unanticipated results, and equally surprisingly, there has been rather limited research done on this topic, leaving a wide playing field for future scientific investigation.
*Overall, the simple act of kissing does some pretty amazing things to our bodies, and intellectually understanding the chemical reactions involved could actually help us to more wisely choose our mate.
Any of this sound intriguing? It certainly was to me. Not only did it stimulate the geeky part of my brain, it also has inspired me to kiss my husband more frequently and thoroughly.;-) Don't be fooled into thinking this might be one of those dull, boring science books. Sheril Kershenbaum has a wonderful writing style that is engaging, informative and easy-to-understand all rolled into one. The Science of Kissing definitely satisfied both the romantic and the armchair scientist in me. It was a wholly enjoyable book that has earned a spot on my keeper shelf. Now that I've read it, I don't think I'll ever view a kiss in quite the same way again...but that's a good thing.:-)
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Hachette Book Group, in exchange for my review.
I happen to be a hopeless romantic who is also fascinated by science, so the minute I saw The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us, I knew I had to read it. One might think that a scientific book on kissing might destroy the romanticism of the act, but for me, it did the exact opposite. It actually reinforced many of my romantic notions while explaining the logic and biology behind this most common of relational behaviors. Rather than writing a traditional review, I thought I would share some of the fascinating highlights and things I learned from this book:
*Although the evolutionary origins of the kiss cannot be found with absolute certainty, there are some very interesting theories of how kissing started.
*Many other animal species have kiss-like behaviors. I've seen things like this in nature documentaries and always thought that it was cute and intriguing that humans aren't the only ones who “kiss.”
*Some cultures don't kiss or even find it disgusting. This has lessened considerably since globalization has taken hold, but there are still a few places in the world where kissing remains taboo.
*Men and women have very different views on kissing with women placing much more importance on the act. This may be because women have a stronger sense of smell and taste than men, which could make getting up close and personal a way of sensing compatible DNA in a mate through scent.
*Studies seems to suggest that men can subconsciously detect when a woman is ovulating, perhaps through distinct but subtle odors which a woman puts off at that time of the month.
*Kissing may be one of the germiest activities in which we engage, but there are also many health benefits that can outweigh or at least level the playing field.
*Serotonin levels in someone who has just fallen in love are similar to those found in someone suffering from OCD. (I found this fact highly amusing.:-))
*The lips take up more neural space than any other part of the body including the genitals.
*Some studies on kissing, including one conducted by the author herself while researching the book, have yielded highly unanticipated results, and equally surprisingly, there has been rather limited research done on this topic, leaving a wide playing field for future scientific investigation.
*Overall, the simple act of kissing does some pretty amazing things to our bodies, and intellectually understanding the chemical reactions involved could actually help us to more wisely choose our mate.
Any of this sound intriguing? It certainly was to me. Not only did it stimulate the geeky part of my brain, it also has inspired me to kiss my husband more frequently and thoroughly.;-) Don't be fooled into thinking this might be one of those dull, boring science books. Sheril Kershenbaum has a wonderful writing style that is engaging, informative and easy-to-understand all rolled into one. The Science of Kissing definitely satisfied both the romantic and the armchair scientist in me. It was a wholly enjoyable book that has earned a spot on my keeper shelf. Now that I've read it, I don't think I'll ever view a kiss in quite the same way again...but that's a good thing.:-)
Note: I received an ARC of this book from the publisher, Hachette Book Group, in exchange for my review.
December 18, 2021
"القبلة هي إحدى أكثر التبادلات التي يقوم بها البشر إثارة للدهشة، إذ تعمل كلغة غير منطوقة لإيصال أعمق مشاعرنا حين لا تستطيع الكلمات فعل ذلك."
يتبين من العنوان أنه كتاب جنسي لكنه غير مثير جنسيا على الاطلاق، كيف وإن عرفت أن الكثير من الشعوب اعتبروا القبلة مثيرة للاسمئزاز وتم استخدامها بكثير من الاشياء غير الجنسية!!
كتاب اعتبرته مدخلًا لعالم التقبيل، تطرح فيه الكاتبة والباحثة أسئلة كثيرة كما تطرقت لأبواب أكثر، لم تقدم الكاتبة الكثير من الأجوبة بقدر ما حفزت جانب البحث لدى القارئ والعالم.
متى بدأ التقبيل، كيف تطور، ما كانت بدائله، كيف تُقبّل الحيوانات، كيف قبّل الإنسان، التقبيل في الكتب والشعر والسينما، كيف انتشر التقبيل، لماذا نُقبّل، وما ٱثار التقبيل، كل هذا وأكثر ستجدونه مُدونًا في هذا الكتاب مع الكثير من النظريات والتاريخ القديم من منظور علمي بحت.
استمتعت بالكتاب ولم أشعر بالملل إلا في الفصل الشخصي الأخير، وهو صغير عامةً، الترجمة حيّة ولم أرَ فيها أي شذوذ.
ما لم يعجبني أن الكاتبة كانت تتحدث من منظور تطوّري بحت، ولأني غير مؤمنة بنظرية التطور فكنت منزعجة أثناء قراءتي.
#كتب_راء
يتبين من العنوان أنه كتاب جنسي لكنه غير مثير جنسيا على الاطلاق، كيف وإن عرفت أن الكثير من الشعوب اعتبروا القبلة مثيرة للاسمئزاز وتم استخدامها بكثير من الاشياء غير الجنسية!!
كتاب اعتبرته مدخلًا لعالم التقبيل، تطرح فيه الكاتبة والباحثة أسئلة كثيرة كما تطرقت لأبواب أكثر، لم تقدم الكاتبة الكثير من الأجوبة بقدر ما حفزت جانب البحث لدى القارئ والعالم.
متى بدأ التقبيل، كيف تطور، ما كانت بدائله، كيف تُقبّل الحيوانات، كيف قبّل الإنسان، التقبيل في الكتب والشعر والسينما، كيف انتشر التقبيل، لماذا نُقبّل، وما ٱثار التقبيل، كل هذا وأكثر ستجدونه مُدونًا في هذا الكتاب مع الكثير من النظريات والتاريخ القديم من منظور علمي بحت.
استمتعت بالكتاب ولم أشعر بالملل إلا في الفصل الشخصي الأخير، وهو صغير عامةً، الترجمة حيّة ولم أرَ فيها أي شذوذ.
ما لم يعجبني أن الكاتبة كانت تتحدث من منظور تطوّري بحت، ولأني غير مؤمنة بنظرية التطور فكنت منزعجة أثناء قراءتي.
#كتب_راء
January 19, 2023
الكتاب بحثيّ تاريخيّ علميّ.. مع لمسة فكاهية لطيفة. مدعّم ببعض الصّور.
أعتقد أنه إضافة لطيفة لمن يبحث عن المعلومة ممزوجة بمتعة القراءة.
لغة الكتاب بسيطة، والترجمة جيدة، مع وجود أخطاء صارت مألوفة من المترجمين الجدد؛ كهمزة الوصل والقطع، والياء والهمزة على نبرة، وكثرة استخدام كان، وسيتم، وتم، ومن قبل، وخاصّته....
لكن عموما لا أظن أن القراء الجدد سيلتفتون إليها أصلًا!
الكتاب لطيف ويفتح في دماغك نوافذ لأسئلة حيوية.
أعتقد أنه إضافة لطيفة لمن يبحث عن المعلومة ممزوجة بمتعة القراءة.
لغة الكتاب بسيطة، والترجمة جيدة، مع وجود أخطاء صارت مألوفة من المترجمين الجدد؛ كهمزة الوصل والقطع، والياء والهمزة على نبرة، وكثرة استخدام كان، وسيتم، وتم، ومن قبل، وخاصّته....
لكن عموما لا أظن أن القراء الجدد سيلتفتون إليها أصلًا!
الكتاب لطيف ويفتح في دماغك نوافذ لأسئلة حيوية.
February 14, 2022
قبل سنوات وقعت على كتيب طريف الموضوع. كان عن الفاصلة المنقوطة!
وهذا كتابٌ عن موضوع أكثر اعتيادية وانتشاراً. هو عن القبلة!
كتابٌ يبحث في سلوك التقبيل، هل يخصنا دون غيرنا من الكائنات؟ وما الأصل البيولوجي التطوري لهذا السلوك؟ وكيف تختلف الشعوب والثقافات في تعاطيها مع التقبيل؟ وغير ذلك من المعلومات المتعلقة بالقبلة وما وراءها من شغل الأعصاب وإفراز الهرمونات والفوائد والمضار .
كان الكتاب في مجمله متوسط الجودة، ولم أجد فيه عظيم المنفعة ولا كثير الجدّة.
وهذا كتابٌ عن موضوع أكثر اعتيادية وانتشاراً. هو عن القبلة!
كتابٌ يبحث في سلوك التقبيل، هل يخصنا دون غيرنا من الكائنات؟ وما الأصل البيولوجي التطوري لهذا السلوك؟ وكيف تختلف الشعوب والثقافات في تعاطيها مع التقبيل؟ وغير ذلك من المعلومات المتعلقة بالقبلة وما وراءها من شغل الأعصاب وإفراز الهرمونات والفوائد والمضار .
كان الكتاب في مجمله متوسط الجودة، ولم أجد فيه عظيم المنفعة ولا كثير الجدّة.
May 23, 2011
ho-hum. my obsession with pop science books should be modified to exclude "sensational" ones like this that take advantage of the popularity of the genre. there's nothing new here- barely anything that isn't intuitive, even- and the writing is amateurish. ah well. kissing is one of my favorite pasttimes, but it turns out to be one of those activities that is fun to do, not read about.
October 17, 2021
الواحد طول ما هو يقرأ الكتاب وده يبوس!
كتاب جيد، مفيد، وممتع، علمي ولكن ليس بالأسلوب الأكاديمي الناشف. أعجبني في المؤلف الاتزان والاعتدال في البحث وقراءة الأدب العلمي.
الترجمة أنيقة جدا جدا..أشكر المجتبى الوائلي حقيقة.
كتاب جيد، مفيد، وممتع، علمي ولكن ليس بالأسلوب الأكاديمي الناشف. أعجبني في المؤلف الاتزان والاعتدال في البحث وقراءة الأدب العلمي.
الترجمة أنيقة جدا جدا..أشكر المجتبى الوائلي حقيقة.
February 27, 2021
القبلة (البوسة) كيف بدأت ؟
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عندما يتعلق الأمر بقبلة البشرية الأولى ، فليس لدينا طريقة لمعرفة بالضبط كيف ولماذا حدث ذلك في يوم من الأيام. بعد كل شيء ، هناك قبلات بسبب الفرح ، والعاطفة والشهوة ، والحب والحنان ، والالتزام والراحة ، والنعمة الاجتماعية والضرورة ، والحزن والدعاء. سيكون من السخف افتراض أن كل هذه الأنواع المختلفة من القبلات ، نشأت من سلوك أو سبب واحد ؛ في جميع الاحتمالات ، نحن نقوم بالتقبيل كما نفعل اليوم لأسباب متعددة ، وليس لسبب واحد فقط.
في الواقع ، يشك العلماء في أن التقبيل نشأ واختفى في جميع أنحاء العالم في أوقات مختلفة وأماكن مختلفة عبر التاريخ.
لذلك في حين أن هناك بالتأكيد بعض النظريات المقنعة حول كيفية ظهور التقبيل ، لا أحد يدعي أنها تمثل الحقيقة المطلقة. في أحسن الأحوال ، لديهم درجة من المعقولية تجعلهم مقنعين.
اقترح العلماء علاقتين منفصلتين بين التقبيل وتجارب التغذية في مرحلة الرضاعة والطفولة المبكرة. كما أشاروا إلى أن التقبيل ربما يكون قد نشأ من ممارسة شم رائحة فرد آخر من النوع كوسيلة للتعارف .
أكثر النظريات إثارة للاهتمام على الإطلاق: فكرة أن السلوك نشأ بسبب ارتباط معقد بين رؤية الألوان ، والرغبة الجنسية ، وتطور شفاه الإنسان.
شفاه المرأة تترك انطباعًا لا يمحى. إنهم يلفتون الانتباه إلى وجهها ، ويعلنون عن أصولها بألوان وردية شديدة التباين . يتم تعزيز التأثير بشكل أكبر لأن شفاه الإنسان "مقلوبة" ، مما يعني أنها تنحني للخارج. هذه السمة تميزنا عن الأعضاء الآخرين في مملكة الحيوان. على عكس الرئيسيات الأخرى ، يظل السطح الناعم واللحم لشفاهنا مكشوفًا ، مما يجعل شكلها وتكوينها جذابًا بشكل مكثف.
لكن ما الذي يجعلها جذابة لدرجة أننا نريد تقبيل شفاه شخص آخر؟
تعيدنا نظرية شائعة ملايين السنين إلى الوراء ، عندما كان على أسلافنا تحديد مكان الطعام بين الأوراق والأغصان. كان من الصعب الحصول على السعرات الحرارية ، وقد يكون التجول بعيدًا في الغابة أمرًا خطيرًا. في هذا السياق ، طوّر بعض أسلافنا قدرة فائقة على اكتشاف الألوان الحمراء ، مما منحهم ميزة تحديد الثمار الأكثر نضجًا ، والتي بدورها ساعدتهم على البقاء على قيد الحياة لفترة كافية لتمرير جينات اكتشاف اللون إلى ذريتهم. على مدى أجيال عديدة ، أصبحت إشارة "الأحمر يساوي المكافأة" مثبتة في أدمغة أسلافنا. في الواقع ، لا يزال اللون يلفت انتباهنا اليوم - وهو شيء يعرفه متخصصو التسويق ويستغلونه بانتظام.
أفاد علماء النفس المعاصرون أن النظر إلى اللون الأحمر يسرع من معدل ضربات القلب ، مما يجعلنا نشعر بالإثارة أو حتى "بضيق التنفس". في الواقع ، يبدو اللون الأحمر مهمًا جدًا للبشر ، مرارًا وتكرارًا ، عبر الثقافات المبكرة ، إنه أحد الألوان الأولى التي تم تسميتها. درس عالم الأنثروبولوجيا برنت برلين واللغوي بول كاي ، في كتابهما الصادر عام 1969 ، مصطلحات الألوان الأساسية: عالميتها وتطورها ، في عشرين لغة ، وقرروا أنه بعد تطوير الثقافات لكلمات الأبيض والأسود (ربما لأن هذه الكلمات تساعد على تحديد النهار من الليل) ، غالبًا ما يكون اللون الأحمر هو الثالث.
لكن ما علاقة هذا بالتقبيل؟ يقترح عالم الأعصاب Vilayanur S. Ramachandran من جامعة كاليفورنيا ، سان دييغو ، أنه بمجرد أن تم تجهيز أسلافنا للبحث عن اللون الأحمر للحصول على مكافأة طعام ، فمن المحتمل أنهم كانوا في طريقهم للتحقق من مصدر هذا اللون أينما حدث - بما في ذلك أجزاء تشريح الأنثى. في النهاية ، من المحتمل أن يكون اللون الأحمر بمثابة إشارة مبهرجة للمساعدة في تسهيل سلوك أساسي وممتع آخر إلى جانب الأكل: الجنس.
أظهرت الأبحاث التطورية المقارنة أنه في الرئيسيات ، تطور تلوين البشرة والشعر بعد رؤية الألوان. بعبارة أخرى ، بمجرد أن طوّر أسلافنا القدرة على اكتشاف هذا اللون ، أصبح التركيز على أجسامهم وخاصة في منطقة الشفرين ، مما يشير إلى ذروة فترة الخصوبة لدى الأنثى ، والتي تسمى الشبق. ربما كان أولئك اللواتي يعانين من التورمات الجنسية الأكثر وضوحا هم الأكثر نجاحًا أيضًا في جذب الذكور وتمرير خلفياتهم المتوهجة إلى بناتهم.
كما تقول فانيسا وودز ، عالمة الرئيسيات في جامعة ديوك ، "يبدو أن أنثى البونوبو تحمل حقيبتها الحمراء الزاهية ، لتجلس عليها عندما تتعب".
ولكن كيف انتقل الانجذاب إلى اللون الأحمر من مناطقنا السفلية إلى شفاه الوجه؟ السيناريو الأكثر ترجيحًا هو أنه عندما وقف أسلافنا في وضع مستقيم ، خضعت أجسادهم للعديد من التغييرات المرتبطة في الاستجابة ، بما في ذلك تغيير في موقع الإشارات الجنسية البارزة. بمرور الوقت ، تحول اللون الوردي اللذيذ ، الذي يجذب الذكور ، من قيعاننا إلى وجوهنا من خلال عملية تسمى الخيار المشترك التطوري .
هذا هو السبب في أن الإناث البشرية لا تضطر إلى الإعلان عن دوراتهن الإنجابية عبر خلفياتهن الزاهية. لأن شفاهنا هي حرفياً "صدى للأعضاء التناسلية" ، كما قال عالم الحيوان البريطاني ديزموند موريس ، الشفاه تشبه الشفرين الأنثويين في نسيجهما وسمكهما ولونهما. في الواقع ، عندما يصبح الرجال والنساء متحمسين جنسياً ، تتضخم شفاهنا وأعضائنا التناسلية وتحمرّ بسبب احتقانها بالدم ، وتصبح حساسة للمس بشكل متزايد.
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Sheril Kirshenbaum
The Science Of Kissing
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
.
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عندما يتعلق الأمر بقبلة البشرية الأولى ، فليس لدينا طريقة لمعرفة بالضبط كيف ولماذا حدث ذلك في يوم من الأيام. بعد كل شيء ، هناك قبلات بسبب الفرح ، والعاطفة والشهوة ، والحب والحنان ، والالتزام والراحة ، والنعمة الاجتماعية والضرورة ، والحزن والدعاء. سيكون من السخف افتراض أن كل هذه الأنواع المختلفة من القبلات ، نشأت من سلوك أو سبب واحد ؛ في جميع الاحتمالات ، نحن نقوم بالتقبيل كما نفعل اليوم لأسباب متعددة ، وليس لسبب واحد فقط.
في الواقع ، يشك العلماء في أن التقبيل نشأ واختفى في جميع أنحاء العالم في أوقات مختلفة وأماكن مختلفة عبر التاريخ.
لذلك في حين أن هناك بالتأكيد بعض النظريات المقنعة حول كيفية ظهور التقبيل ، لا أحد يدعي أنها تمثل الحقيقة المطلقة. في أحسن الأحوال ، لديهم درجة من المعقولية تجعلهم مقنعين.
اقترح العلماء علاقتين منفصلتين بين التقبيل وتجارب التغذية في مرحلة الرضاعة والطفولة المبكرة. كما أشاروا إلى أن التقبيل ربما يكون قد نشأ من ممارسة شم رائحة فرد آخر من النوع كوسيلة للتعارف .
أكثر النظريات إثارة للاهتمام على الإطلاق: فكرة أن السلوك نشأ بسبب ارتباط معقد بين رؤية الألوان ، والرغبة الجنسية ، وتطور شفاه الإنسان.
شفاه المرأة تترك انطباعًا لا يمحى. إنهم يلفتون الانتباه إلى وجهها ، ويعلنون عن أصولها بألوان وردية شديدة التباين . يتم تعزيز التأثير بشكل أكبر لأن شفاه الإنسان "مقلوبة" ، مما يعني أنها تنحني للخارج. هذه السمة تميزنا عن الأعضاء الآخرين في مملكة الحيوان. على عكس الرئيسيات الأخرى ، يظل السطح الناعم واللحم لشفاهنا مكشوفًا ، مما يجعل شكلها وتكوينها جذابًا بشكل مكثف.
لكن ما الذي يجعلها جذابة لدرجة أننا نريد تقبيل شفاه شخص آخر؟
تعيدنا نظرية شائعة ملايين السنين إلى الوراء ، عندما كان على أسلافنا تحديد مكان الطعام بين الأوراق والأغصان. كان من الصعب الحصول على السعرات الحرارية ، وقد يكون التجول بعيدًا في الغابة أمرًا خطيرًا. في هذا السياق ، طوّر بعض أسلافنا قدرة فائقة على اكتشاف الألوان الحمراء ، مما منحهم ميزة تحديد الثمار الأكثر نضجًا ، والتي بدورها ساعدتهم على البقاء على قيد الحياة لفترة كافية لتمرير جينات اكتشاف اللون إلى ذريتهم. على مدى أجيال عديدة ، أصبحت إشارة "الأحمر يساوي المكافأة" مثبتة في أدمغة أسلافنا. في الواقع ، لا يزال اللون يلفت انتباهنا اليوم - وهو شيء يعرفه متخصصو التسويق ويستغلونه بانتظام.
أفاد علماء النفس المعاصرون أن النظر إلى اللون الأحمر يسرع من معدل ضربات القلب ، مما يجعلنا نشعر بالإثارة أو حتى "بضيق التنفس". في الواقع ، يبدو اللون الأحمر مهمًا جدًا للبشر ، مرارًا وتكرارًا ، عبر الثقافات المبكرة ، إنه أحد الألوان الأولى التي تم تسميتها. درس عالم الأنثروبولوجيا برنت برلين واللغوي بول كاي ، في كتابهما الصادر عام 1969 ، مصطلحات الألوان الأساسية: عالميتها وتطورها ، في عشرين لغة ، وقرروا أنه بعد تطوير الثقافات لكلمات الأبيض والأسود (ربما لأن هذه الكلمات تساعد على تحديد النهار من الليل) ، غالبًا ما يكون اللون الأحمر هو الثالث.
لكن ما علاقة هذا بالتقبيل؟ يقترح عالم الأعصاب Vilayanur S. Ramachandran من جامعة كاليفورنيا ، سان دييغو ، أنه بمجرد أن تم تجهيز أسلافنا للبحث عن اللون الأحمر للحصول على مكافأة طعام ، فمن المحتمل أنهم كانوا في طريقهم للتحقق من مصدر هذا اللون أينما حدث - بما في ذلك أجزاء تشريح الأنثى. في النهاية ، من المحتمل أن يكون اللون الأحمر بمثابة إشارة مبهرجة للمساعدة في تسهيل سلوك أساسي وممتع آخر إلى جانب الأكل: الجنس.
أظهرت الأبحاث التطورية المقارنة أنه في الرئيسيات ، تطور تلوين البشرة والشعر بعد رؤية الألوان. بعبارة أخرى ، بمجرد أن طوّر أسلافنا القدرة على اكتشاف هذا اللون ، أصبح التركيز على أجسامهم وخاصة في منطقة الشفرين ، مما يشير إلى ذروة فترة الخصوبة لدى الأنثى ، والتي تسمى الشبق. ربما كان أولئك اللواتي يعانين من التورمات الجنسية الأكثر وضوحا هم الأكثر نجاحًا أيضًا في جذب الذكور وتمرير خلفياتهم المتوهجة إلى بناتهم.
كما تقول فانيسا وودز ، عالمة الرئيسيات في جامعة ديوك ، "يبدو أن أنثى البونوبو تحمل حقيبتها الحمراء الزاهية ، لتجلس عليها عندما تتعب".
ولكن كيف انتقل الانجذاب إلى اللون الأحمر من مناطقنا السفلية إلى شفاه الوجه؟ السيناريو الأكثر ترجيحًا هو أنه عندما وقف أسلافنا في وضع مستقيم ، خضعت أجسادهم للعديد من التغييرات المرتبطة في الاستجابة ، بما في ذلك تغيير في موقع الإشارات الجنسية البارزة. بمرور الوقت ، تحول اللون الوردي اللذيذ ، الذي يجذب الذكور ، من قيعاننا إلى وجوهنا من خلال عملية تسمى الخيار المشترك التطوري .
هذا هو السبب في أن الإناث البشرية لا تضطر إلى الإعلان عن دوراتهن الإنجابية عبر خلفياتهن الزاهية. لأن شفاهنا هي حرفياً "صدى للأعضاء التناسلية" ، كما قال عالم الحيوان البريطاني ديزموند موريس ، الشفاه تشبه الشفرين الأنثويين في نسيجهما وسمكهما ولونهما. في الواقع ، عندما يصبح الرجال والنساء متحمسين جنسياً ، تتضخم شفاهنا وأعضائنا التناسلية وتحمرّ بسبب احتقانها بالدم ، وتصبح حساسة للمس بشكل متزايد.
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Sheril Kirshenbaum
The Science Of Kissing
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
July 9, 2020
It was international Kissing day, so I said let's do this. Now that I've checked it out, I'd say a pretty nice read if you ask me, I didn't expect it to be so informative to be honest.
Give it a read/listen when you get a chance to see what kissing can do for you (well unless you don't have the opportunity at the moment, in which case, well, don't just yet)
Give it a read/listen when you get a chance to see what kissing can do for you (well unless you don't have the opportunity at the moment, in which case, well, don't just yet)
November 10, 2020
كتاب جميل يخوض في موضوع أجمل. من منا لا ينجذب إلى سلوك التقبيل؟ جربه أو يسعى لتجربته؟ في هذا الكِتاب سنعرف لماذا نُقبِّل من نُحبهم، ونقف على الأهمية التطورية لهذا السلوك الجذاب. كذلك سنتعرف على بعض الأنواع في مملكة الحيوان التي تمارس سلوكيات شبيهة به، ونتعرف على مجتمعات بشرية أخرى تقرفُ من التقبيل. وهنا سننظُرُ إلى التقبيل للمرة الأولى ليس بصفته فعلًا رومانسيًا جميلًا، بل من منظور علميّ بحت.
January 18, 2021
إن المصير الذي يكسبك قبلات هو أفضل من ذاك الذي يكسبك حكمة .
February 5, 2022
القراءة حول الفعل الأكثر حميمية ممتعة بقدر ممارستها.
January 10, 2016
Kissing for many of us may be a favorite pastime (sorry, baseball). From kisses on the cheek to full-on make out sessions; kisses exist in various forms in most of the world’s cultures. So, is it nature or nurture that developed kissing? What does it do chemically to the human body? What are the psychological ramifications? There are just some of the questions Sheril Kirshenbaum attempts to answer in, “The Science of Kissing”.
“The Science of Kissing” is, ultimately, a pop psych piece aiming to encompass the biological, neuroscientific, sociological, anthropological, and evolutionary history, causes, and effects of kissing. Kirshenbaum divides “The Science of Kissing” into three main parts with the first focusing on the quest to determine what exactly kissing is and where/how it began followed by a discussion of the chemical and biological effects in the body. The text then moves to highlighting a personal experiment engaged by the author hoping to provide a thorough view of the topic.
The first section of “The Science of Kissing” is basically a social history and is a quite vague, incomplete one. Although Kirshenbaum has an ideal tone of familiar accessibility with scientific understanding and some appropriate jargon; the text still leaves much to be desired and even though the pace engages; the content doesn’t necessarily do so. Oftentimes, it feels that Kirshenbaum cuts herself off too quickly and moves on without completing a topic/elaborating.
One of the immediate annoyances, which continues throughout “The Science of Kissing”, is Kirshenbaum’s constant habit of mentioning that she will discuss something further “in the next chapter”. This breaks reader attention and makes the text come across more like personal notes than a final draft work. Once or twice is understandable but Kirshenbaum implores this constantly.
“The Science of Kissing” doesn’t begin to traverse the scientific sphere until the second section. These pages are a bit more informative and scholarly with some facts which may be new to the reader. However, Kirshenbaum is still much too general and doesn’t dive deep enough with proper research. Plus, each chapter is somewhat disjointed to the effect that they present as individual blog articles. It is evident that Kirshenbaum intended to target “The Science of Kissing” to all (general) readers but this results in the text being a bit juvenile for those seeking more hard-hitting science. “The Science of Kissing” basically serves as an introduction to the topic.
For the scientific-inclined readers, the third section will bring the most amusement with Kirshenbaum developing her own study in the field and presenting the experimental findings. Sadly, this, like the rest of the book; is brief and not extensive. “The Science of Kissing” then rounds out with a discussion of possible future experiments/studies, a summary, and tips on kissing based on the science making the conclusion more curved and rounding out the text well-enough. Kirshenbaum also offers a list of sources.
“The Science of Kissing” is a quick (2 day) light read that introduces an interesting topic and offers some scientific insight. However, the science isn’t emphasized (despite the book title) and the text is more of an extended article for general audiences whom do not seek to be bogged down by scientific jargon or data. “The Science of Kissing” is not ‘bad’ and is well-written in prose but it won’t change lives.
“The Science of Kissing” is, ultimately, a pop psych piece aiming to encompass the biological, neuroscientific, sociological, anthropological, and evolutionary history, causes, and effects of kissing. Kirshenbaum divides “The Science of Kissing” into three main parts with the first focusing on the quest to determine what exactly kissing is and where/how it began followed by a discussion of the chemical and biological effects in the body. The text then moves to highlighting a personal experiment engaged by the author hoping to provide a thorough view of the topic.
The first section of “The Science of Kissing” is basically a social history and is a quite vague, incomplete one. Although Kirshenbaum has an ideal tone of familiar accessibility with scientific understanding and some appropriate jargon; the text still leaves much to be desired and even though the pace engages; the content doesn’t necessarily do so. Oftentimes, it feels that Kirshenbaum cuts herself off too quickly and moves on without completing a topic/elaborating.
One of the immediate annoyances, which continues throughout “The Science of Kissing”, is Kirshenbaum’s constant habit of mentioning that she will discuss something further “in the next chapter”. This breaks reader attention and makes the text come across more like personal notes than a final draft work. Once or twice is understandable but Kirshenbaum implores this constantly.
“The Science of Kissing” doesn’t begin to traverse the scientific sphere until the second section. These pages are a bit more informative and scholarly with some facts which may be new to the reader. However, Kirshenbaum is still much too general and doesn’t dive deep enough with proper research. Plus, each chapter is somewhat disjointed to the effect that they present as individual blog articles. It is evident that Kirshenbaum intended to target “The Science of Kissing” to all (general) readers but this results in the text being a bit juvenile for those seeking more hard-hitting science. “The Science of Kissing” basically serves as an introduction to the topic.
For the scientific-inclined readers, the third section will bring the most amusement with Kirshenbaum developing her own study in the field and presenting the experimental findings. Sadly, this, like the rest of the book; is brief and not extensive. “The Science of Kissing” then rounds out with a discussion of possible future experiments/studies, a summary, and tips on kissing based on the science making the conclusion more curved and rounding out the text well-enough. Kirshenbaum also offers a list of sources.
“The Science of Kissing” is a quick (2 day) light read that introduces an interesting topic and offers some scientific insight. However, the science isn’t emphasized (despite the book title) and the text is more of an extended article for general audiences whom do not seek to be bogged down by scientific jargon or data. “The Science of Kissing” is not ‘bad’ and is well-written in prose but it won’t change lives.
March 6, 2021
علم التقبيل.. كتاب يبحث عن سلوك التقبيل، قد يكون غريبا في بداية الامر ان تبحث في (علم) التقبيل ولكن عند اتمامك له لن تجد ما يزعجك في هذا العلم بل العكس قد يكون جيدا على صعيد فهم اكثر للرغبة في هذا السلوك..
ترجمة ممتازة للسيد المجتبى الوائلي
ترجمة ممتازة للسيد المجتبى الوائلي
March 13, 2021
كتاب ممتع ، مثير للاهتمام ، بي دراسة شاملة عن تطور التقبيل والجذور المحتملة لهذه الممارسة ، اضافة الى تأثيرها على الأفراد نفسيا وجسديا
من اجمل ما في هذا الكتاب هو مستوى الترجمة ، المجتبى هنا قام بعمل رائع
من اجمل ما في هذا الكتاب هو مستوى الترجمة ، المجتبى هنا قام بعمل رائع
September 28, 2017
This book purports to write about several aspects of the science of kissing, from evolution to anthropology to psychology, sociology, and neuroscience. In reality, this book feels like a "Mary Roach-lite" book - aspiring to convey in layman's terms the complex research that exists, but without Roach's wit or ability to go in depth about the research and results without losing the audience.
The writing style is also lacking - it feels like a middle school essay: I'm going to tell you what I'm going to talk about, talk about it, and then tell you what I talked about.
It did the basics of what it set out to do and was a quick easy read, but it didn't reach the levels that several other books in this genre frequently do.
The writing style is also lacking - it feels like a middle school essay: I'm going to tell you what I'm going to talk about, talk about it, and then tell you what I talked about.
It did the basics of what it set out to do and was a quick easy read, but it didn't reach the levels that several other books in this genre frequently do.
June 12, 2020
Samērā ātri izlasāma grāmatiņa par skūpstu no zinātnes skatupunkta. Nevarētu teikt, ka uzzināju kaut ko īpaši jaunu, bet ir labi salikti pa plauktiņiem vēsturiskais, sociālais, bioloģiskais, evolūcijas, neirozinātnes u.c. aspekti. Autore vieglā, saprotamā valodā stāsta par samērā sarežģītiem mehānismiem un īpaši uzsvar to, ka ne viss ir izpētīts un pat tas, kas ir, ne vienmēr dod tādas atbildes, kā zinātnieki gaidījuši. Šo varētu uzskatīt kā literāri uzrakstītu maģistra darbu - ir literatūras apskats, teorētiskā bāze, un veikti vairāki praktiski pētījumi. Beigās pat ir 10 ieteikumi, kā skūpstīšanās procesu uzlabot un padarīt efektīvāku no zinātnes rakursa. Un kā autore norāda - tas, ka zināsi vairāk, nepadarīs procesu mazāk baudāmu. :D
February 24, 2022
I read this out of whim after I read about a stat that men in Germany that kiss their wives on their way to work live 5 years longer than men that don't. The book was recommended by Dr. Sue Johnson just after she dropped that stat. I immediately went to download it.
The first chapters on the history of Kissing and similarities found throughout the animal kingdom were informative. Then the book became a drag, or maybe I started losing interest.
But I pulled through and finished it.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone though unless the have a keen interest in kissing and the effect it has on us.
The first chapters on the history of Kissing and similarities found throughout the animal kingdom were informative. Then the book became a drag, or maybe I started losing interest.
But I pulled through and finished it.
I wouldn't recommend it to anyone though unless the have a keen interest in kissing and the effect it has on us.
March 7, 2011
So as I sat down to read this book, I really only had one thought. Well, maybe two. The first one was that it was February and I wanted to read a girly romantic love appropriate book. Secondly, I've been trying to figure out how the boy I am seeing and I are so physically enamored with each other while we have virtually nothing else in common!
I got way more than I bargained for. I have friends reading this review who will drop their jaws as I did, or turn away with rolled eyes. I found it fascinating.
The book isn't just a bunch of hokey pokey about frech kissing versus nose kissing. Or a how-to manual. It starts with reasearch as to why we pick the "mates" that we pick. I won't rewrite the whole book here, obviously, but after giving us a run-down of how our pheremones and hormones and scents and tastes are all a part of how we are drawn to the partners we are drawn to (example, boys have less strong scent and taste so they give wetter kisses so that the girls saliva can tell tell them more about their fertileness, Kirshenbaum tacles the studies surrounding infertility.
uh-oh, I thought.
She suggests(p.111), after years of research, studies, albiet inconclusive evidence, that women who have been on the pill for a number of years, especially the ones where they have chosen their mates, have shown an overwhelming case of infertility.
Let me back up here. The research suggests that the hormone levels that birth control pills give off sway the scent that a woman is looking for in a mate from more testosterone to more less testosterone and more feminine scents (or estrogen levels). Kirshenbaum and her partners started studying infertile couples and found a shocking number of them had the woman on the pill while dating and married and when the woman stopped taking the pill to have a baby the natural scents, thus immunities of the couple, were causing infertility. She places a large value of why we "naturally" choose our partners by scent and taste to the importance of finding different immunities in order to procreate. Similar immunities cause infertility.
This was wild to me. Inconclusive, but wild.
She also tackles on-line dating as changing the face of "natural selection". She says we "naturally" select by, again, taste and scent and on the internet we put our best foot forward based on looks and personality first. When we base our mating rituals on these selections first we are weeding out hundreds of candidates whose immunities we may want to be linked with and "chemistry" we may be overlooking. This one i may be partial to agreeing with because the boy I am with now, I never would have dated in a hundred years had I not smelled him first! :)
All in all, a very unconventional interesting read. Happy kissing!
I got way more than I bargained for. I have friends reading this review who will drop their jaws as I did, or turn away with rolled eyes. I found it fascinating.
The book isn't just a bunch of hokey pokey about frech kissing versus nose kissing. Or a how-to manual. It starts with reasearch as to why we pick the "mates" that we pick. I won't rewrite the whole book here, obviously, but after giving us a run-down of how our pheremones and hormones and scents and tastes are all a part of how we are drawn to the partners we are drawn to (example, boys have less strong scent and taste so they give wetter kisses so that the girls saliva can tell tell them more about their fertileness, Kirshenbaum tacles the studies surrounding infertility.
uh-oh, I thought.
She suggests(p.111), after years of research, studies, albiet inconclusive evidence, that women who have been on the pill for a number of years, especially the ones where they have chosen their mates, have shown an overwhelming case of infertility.
Let me back up here. The research suggests that the hormone levels that birth control pills give off sway the scent that a woman is looking for in a mate from more testosterone to more less testosterone and more feminine scents (or estrogen levels). Kirshenbaum and her partners started studying infertile couples and found a shocking number of them had the woman on the pill while dating and married and when the woman stopped taking the pill to have a baby the natural scents, thus immunities of the couple, were causing infertility. She places a large value of why we "naturally" choose our partners by scent and taste to the importance of finding different immunities in order to procreate. Similar immunities cause infertility.
This was wild to me. Inconclusive, but wild.
She also tackles on-line dating as changing the face of "natural selection". She says we "naturally" select by, again, taste and scent and on the internet we put our best foot forward based on looks and personality first. When we base our mating rituals on these selections first we are weeding out hundreds of candidates whose immunities we may want to be linked with and "chemistry" we may be overlooking. This one i may be partial to agreeing with because the boy I am with now, I never would have dated in a hundred years had I not smelled him first! :)
All in all, a very unconventional interesting read. Happy kissing!
September 3, 2016
Don't you wish they taught this class in high school? The Science of Kissing: What Our Lips Are Telling Us by Sheril Kirshenbaum is the kind of science book I love to read: fascinating, fun, informative, and highly readable for the layperson. Kirshenbaum covers almost everything about this titillating subject. It's not too technical for the nonscientific crowd, but with enough depth across a broad spectrum so by the end I felt very educated about kissing. And people, real-world, personal research in this subject (which I am happy to participate in) can always be enhanced with some investigatory reading.
"A romantic kiss does nothing less than set off an avalanche of biological activity. During a passionate kiss, our blood vessels dilate; more oxygen is routed to the brain; our breathing quickens and becomes erratic; our cheeks flush; our pulse quickens; our pupils dilate; dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, oxytocin, and adrenaline levels spike, leaving our bodies awash in a chemical bath. In short, our biology seem to be hardwired to make kissing extremely pleasurable and, to some degree, addictive."
The Science of Kissing covers historical and cultural origins of kissing (do you know that there is a place in the Cook Islands where the men have an average of 1,000 orgasms a year yet do not engage in any form of romantic kissing?); the physiological and neurological, not to mention the emotional and psychological, responses when we kiss; kissing experiments; why we tilt our heads to the right when we kiss (nothing to do with being left or right-handed); a chapter on "cooties"; and much, much more.
But the education doesn't stop there; at the end, Kirshenbaum gives you 10 tips for better kissing. This isn't your average Cosmo article; these are tips from a scientist! Who's researched the field extensively! If for nothing else, you gotta read The Science of Kissing for this invaluable part.
"A romantic kiss does nothing less than set off an avalanche of biological activity. During a passionate kiss, our blood vessels dilate; more oxygen is routed to the brain; our breathing quickens and becomes erratic; our cheeks flush; our pulse quickens; our pupils dilate; dopamine, serotonin, norepinephrine, oxytocin, and adrenaline levels spike, leaving our bodies awash in a chemical bath. In short, our biology seem to be hardwired to make kissing extremely pleasurable and, to some degree, addictive."
The Science of Kissing covers historical and cultural origins of kissing (do you know that there is a place in the Cook Islands where the men have an average of 1,000 orgasms a year yet do not engage in any form of romantic kissing?); the physiological and neurological, not to mention the emotional and psychological, responses when we kiss; kissing experiments; why we tilt our heads to the right when we kiss (nothing to do with being left or right-handed); a chapter on "cooties"; and much, much more.
But the education doesn't stop there; at the end, Kirshenbaum gives you 10 tips for better kissing. This isn't your average Cosmo article; these are tips from a scientist! Who's researched the field extensively! If for nothing else, you gotta read The Science of Kissing for this invaluable part.
December 29, 2010
When I set out to read this book (written by a friend, whose work I am familiar with) I expected it to be well written and interesting. I even expected to like it, because the topic sounds like fun. But, I didn't expect to find the book so engaging - which it was! I sat down to read 20-30 pages, and ended up reading the entire book in one sitting. Interesting, funny, gross (there's a chapter on cooties) - all describe this book, which is full of scientific data, facts, and theories presented in a readable, flowing story.
I rarely give 5 stars - but the fact that this book managed to engage a reader who doesn't have a personal interest or investment in the topic (other than intellectual curiosity) says a lot to me. This fact bumped it from 4 to 5 stars for me.
I rarely give 5 stars - but the fact that this book managed to engage a reader who doesn't have a personal interest or investment in the topic (other than intellectual curiosity) says a lot to me. This fact bumped it from 4 to 5 stars for me.
September 24, 2011
Hooray!! I just was notified I won this book on a free Goodreads giveaway! I think this is going to be a very interesting book...thanks Goodreads!!!
I was right..very interesting book, really, the Author did her research on how the kiss started. I liked all the facts, even the chapter on mouth bacteria although it grossed me out! I also didn't know in the early days that a kiss was a statement of honor, a promise...so it wasn't uncommon for leaders to kiss a hand, or other material to make that point. It also is how "X" became the symbol for kissing because often a Leader figure would kiss the "X" where you sign. I learned a lot from this book...and I guess I have a lot of kissing to do! :)
I was right..very interesting book, really, the Author did her research on how the kiss started. I liked all the facts, even the chapter on mouth bacteria although it grossed me out! I also didn't know in the early days that a kiss was a statement of honor, a promise...so it wasn't uncommon for leaders to kiss a hand, or other material to make that point. It also is how "X" became the symbol for kissing because often a Leader figure would kiss the "X" where you sign. I learned a lot from this book...and I guess I have a lot of kissing to do! :)
July 7, 2020
Өмнө нь уншсан номнуудын сэтгэгдэлийг нөхөж оруулж байгааг хүлээн авна уу.
Үнсэлцэх нь та бидний биологийн өгөгдөлд байдаг аж. Амьтадын хувьд ч үүнтэй төстэй үйлдлүүд ажиглагддаг ба онцлох хоёр гурван мэдээллийг дурдвал
1. Үнсэлцэх үед ямар сэтгэгдэл төрүүлж байгааг сайтар ажиглавал зүгээр юм байна. Ихэвчлэн эсрэг хүйстний өөртэй хамааралгүй хүчирхэг эсрэг гармонтой хүн илүү сэтгэгдэл төрүүлдэг байна.
2. Үнсэлцэх үед хүмүүс хар тамхи хэрэглэж буй мэт high болдог ба хайртай хүнтэйгээ тогтмол бие биендээ үнсэлт бэлэглэх нь урт хугацаанд эрүүл амьдрах нууцуудын нэг аж.
3. Үнсэлт хуучин үед бие биенээ хүндлэх хэлбэр болж байсан ба лам хуврагын ханцуйг, ноёны бөгжийг, хааны өмнө сөхрөн газар үнсэх тохиолдлууд байдаг байсан байна.
Үнсэлцэх нь та бидний биологийн өгөгдөлд байдаг аж. Амьтадын хувьд ч үүнтэй төстэй үйлдлүүд ажиглагддаг ба онцлох хоёр гурван мэдээллийг дурдвал
1. Үнсэлцэх үед ямар сэтгэгдэл төрүүлж байгааг сайтар ажиглавал зүгээр юм байна. Ихэвчлэн эсрэг хүйстний өөртэй хамааралгүй хүчирхэг эсрэг гармонтой хүн илүү сэтгэгдэл төрүүлдэг байна.
2. Үнсэлцэх үед хүмүүс хар тамхи хэрэглэж буй мэт high болдог ба хайртай хүнтэйгээ тогтмол бие биендээ үнсэлт бэлэглэх нь урт хугацаанд эрүүл амьдрах нууцуудын нэг аж.
3. Үнсэлт хуучин үед бие биенээ хүндлэх хэлбэр болж байсан ба лам хуврагын ханцуйг, ноёны бөгжийг, хааны өмнө сөхрөн газар үнсэх тохиолдлууд байдаг байсан байна.
This entire review has been hidden because of spoilers.
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February 14, 2021Yeah, no way. I'm super interested in this conceptually, but I didn't make it past the first section. Some real outdated garbage here that is presented uncritically and without context. The one that made me give up: the author recounts a story about a white anthropologist from 1864 who concluded that an African woman he tried to kiss got frightened because she was unfamiliar with kissing and therefore believed he was going to eat her. Straightforwardly, as if this is a cute anecdote and not a disturbing story from the point of view of a deeply untrustworthy source. I'm out!
March 6, 2021
My bibliobingo bodily stuff pick. Pretty interesting, especially when they get to talk about online dating. I found that super relevant.
September 23, 2024
Podría estar mejor ejecutado
August 17, 2011
I enjoyed reading this book. It covered more things than I ever knew were connected to kissing! Do you remember that people who could not sign their names mark it with an "X", the same "X" as in XOOXX? Ok, I won't spoil it for you and tell you more about that.
Were you like me, when your aunts came to visit, came to dread their sloppy kisses. Kissing when relatives and dignitaries came used to be much more more common than it is today. The Great Plague had something to do with it. There were more social revoultions that made a difference too.
Kissing is not common in all cultures, I already knew that as I married someone out of my culture. But I was surprised to learn what activity was substituted for kissing in many different cultures. And to learn twenty years later that I had been "kissed" by someone from a different culture. I hadn't even realized it, I just thought, "That was strange!"
Besides covering cultural differences, this tidy little black book covers the anatomy of a kiss, sexual differences in kissing, why kissing may be good for your teeth.
Besides the author, Sheril Kirshenbaum answers these questions"
1. What is philematophobia?
2. What is the worst, most dangerous kiss today? Actually there two answers.
3. What does the way that people smell have to do with
kissing?
The author even did some research of her own to push the knowledge of kissing forward.
The writing is clear and easy to understand and you will learn a lot about kissing.
I recommend this to anyone who likes to learn more about the common things in life that don't turn out to be so common.
Were you like me, when your aunts came to visit, came to dread their sloppy kisses. Kissing when relatives and dignitaries came used to be much more more common than it is today. The Great Plague had something to do with it. There were more social revoultions that made a difference too.
Kissing is not common in all cultures, I already knew that as I married someone out of my culture. But I was surprised to learn what activity was substituted for kissing in many different cultures. And to learn twenty years later that I had been "kissed" by someone from a different culture. I hadn't even realized it, I just thought, "That was strange!"
Besides covering cultural differences, this tidy little black book covers the anatomy of a kiss, sexual differences in kissing, why kissing may be good for your teeth.
Besides the author, Sheril Kirshenbaum answers these questions"
1. What is philematophobia?
2. What is the worst, most dangerous kiss today? Actually there two answers.
3. What does the way that people smell have to do with
kissing?
The author even did some research of her own to push the knowledge of kissing forward.
The writing is clear and easy to understand and you will learn a lot about kissing.
I recommend this to anyone who likes to learn more about the common things in life that don't turn out to be so common.
June 1, 2011
This compelling little book takes a look at an ancient and nearly universal human hobby - kissing. Despite its prevalence in over 90% of cultures, very little research has been done on the subject. Kirshenbaum takes a look at kissing through the ages from the origin of kissing under the mistletoe to the fact that two-thirds of us turn our head to the right when we go in for a kiss. Kissing can seal a bond between mother and child, be an expression of greeting between friends, sign of fealty to a ruler, or express passion or commitment. Kiss often - men who kiss their wives before leaving for work every day live on average five years longer. And it seems that biologically, kissing serves the function of letting us know the health and genetic fitness of potential mates. So based on this book, I would say the famous Duggar family's practice of waiting until their wedding day to kiss is dead wrong. Kiss away, people.
"Kisses are a better fate than wisdom." -e. e. cummings
"Kisses are a better fate than wisdom." -e. e. cummings
January 17, 2012
A good summary review on kissing from a biological, anthropological, and neurological standpoint. I liked parts 1 and 2 over 3. Three felt too personal describing her involvement in the kissing experiment she devised. While it is a very nice experiment her novelization of the experience read too much like a diary or journal. The author's research is extensive and it shows as she covers every facet of kissing. I wished for reference citations while I was reading but that might of slowed down the text for some. I do agree with the author that this is an under-explored area of human behavior that requires further research.
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