Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A fascinating read, 11 Oct 2005
By A Customer
I studied this book six years ago as part of my psychology course at university. I found it an absolutely fascinating and highly interesting read. so much so, that despite having leant the book to someone many years ago, and not getting it back, I still find myself thinking about it. I think i'll buy another one.
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24 of 29 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
A clear, well-writen book, 20 Jan 2000
I strongly recommend this clear, well-written book to the general reader who wishes to get away from conventional ideas on men-women relations. The biologically literate will also be pleased to find it is well within the spirit of evolutionary science. The reference to "ancestral men and women" as the group on which selective pressure acted to shape present-day sexual behaviour is, strictly speaking, not entirely correct since many patterns of sexual behaviour - like competition between males, and female choosiness - had already evolved millions of years earlier, in our long line of animal ancestors, but it serves as a close enough approximation to emphasise the important fact that the sexual antics of modern Man can only be understood in an evolutionary perspective and why they are so at odds with moral standards. The coexistence of short- and long term sexual strategies in both men and women, a point often missed in other books on the subject, is a recurrent theme here, and it helps to understand why we can have great sex with partners we wouldn't even dream of moving in with and why our selection criteria for a one-night-stand lover will differ from those we apply when seeking a soul mate for life. An important conclusion of the book is that men will be men, not because they have been brought up that way or because of ingrained male chauvinism, but because women made them that way, through the process of sexual selection. As long as women go for high-status, dominant men, fierce male rivalry, with all its attendant social evils, is likely to plague human societies. The author is soft on the institution of marriage, perhaps because he is a married man himself and, well ... it's no good writing a good book if it ruins your married life. He is also politically cautious regarding the evolutionary significance of rape and the relevance of feminist militancy.
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7 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Harmony between the sexes, 15 Jan 2006
Buss has taken the story of human evolution a significant step forward with this comprehensive study. As with the other mammals, human mating behaviour is a compelling subject of study. In this comprehensive account, Buss ranges over the many aspects we associate with mating, from conflict through pain to legislation. Mating practices, whether human or other animal, are the product of evolutionary pressures. Until we recognize those roots, Buss argues, we will never fully understand many elements affecting our lives. One of the first elements to consider is that both men and women have short- and long-term mating strategies. These "programs" must be taken in account when dealing with relationship issues.Buss is forthright about the study of evolutionary psychology and human social activities. He asserts that many roles, under attack by some people in our society, are deeply rooted in our background. We will never legislate them away nor be able to ignore them. There are inherent differences between the sexes, and these must be recognized for what they are. Society has attempted to smother some of these differences, and failure to stifle natural urges have likely led to more social suffering than any other single cause. Buss goes further than simply calling for more attention to the basis for our mating behaviour. He notes some surprising aspects of our relationships. The "henpecked husband" is more prevalent than even our comedians would expect. Males, especially in a long-term relationship Buss argues, will become more submissive than females. They will change or accept demands more than those just entering a liaison. This certainly refutes the long-held stereotype of submissive women. On the assumption readers will seek out his chapter on rape, there are no end of surprises here. Although few would argue ape is an adapted evolutionary strategy, the demographics of rape do show a relation with normal patterns of male sexual behaviour. This book is the result of a massive amount of research undertaken over many human societies. Not simply a quick snapshot of a few people from the Western world, the information here has been gleaned over many years and many cultures. The patterns Buss describes are universals of the human population. Nor is this simply a dry academic study. Buss is aware of social issues, personal and gender prejudices and legal considerations. He is careful to note that evolutionary roots are not "genetic determinism" and men and women are not "doomed" to follow particular behaviours. As he puts it, "understanding why sexual strategies have developed and what functions they were designed to serve provides a powerful fulcrum of changing behaviour." His candid approach, combined with a style designed to impart information without overwhelming his readers, makes this a valuable book. More teachers, legislators and counselors should read and apply Buss' findings. His work should eliminate many prejudices if properly applied. [stephen a. haines - Ottawa, Canada]
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