Product Description
Women aren't from Venus and men aren't from Mars, though we sometimes feel they must be. The differences in behaviour between men and women are constantly remarked upon, yet poorly understood. In this persuasive volume, David Geary argues that the differences between the sexes are best illuminated by Darwin's theory of evolutionary selection. "Male, Female" shows how one of our most fundamental goals in life - survival through reproduction - is key to understanding such differences as preferred attributes in mates; level of investment in parenting; boys' and girls' play patterns and social interactions; the evolution and development of the mind; and even in rates of violence, mental disorders, academic abilities and occupational interests and achievement.
From the Author
A comprehensive treatment of human sex differences.Male, female is the first book to attempt to explain most human sex differences from a single theoretical perspective, Darwin's principles of sexual selection. The book is based on an extensive review of the scientific literature in biology, psychology, and anthropology but is written for a general audience.
The books seeks to explian--not simply describe--sex differnces in parental care, mating strategies and preferences, social motives and emotionality, physical attributes, physical development, play patterns, social development, brain and cognitive functioning, as well as academic skills, psychological and behavioral problems (e.g., violence and depression), occupational choices and status, among many other things. Moreover, sex differences in many of these areas are examined across cultures and historical periods in order to illustrate both cultural and biological influences on the differences between boys and girls and men and women.
Short jacket cover reviews were provided by eminent evolutionary psychologists and biologists including:
David Buss (author of "The Evolution of Desire") who stated Male, female "is simply the best book that has ever been written on the topic of human sex differences."
Randy Thornhill (Regents Professor of Biology, University of New Mexico), "this book is a must read for everyone with an interest in scientifically knowing human beings and why boys and girls and men and women are so different psychologically."
Steven Pinker (author of the "Language Instinct" and "How the Mind Works"). "Male, female ... seeks to explain the differences between women and men rather than just describe them. The book is coherent, balanced, incisive, and well-written... a pleasure to read."