In “Sex at Dawn” Christopher Ryan and Cacilda JethĆ” draw on the latest scientific research to overturn conventional wisdom about human mating. They explore the prehistoric origins of human sexuality, when our ancestors lived in egalitarian groups that shared food, sex, and child care. This way of life disappeared as men and women began to specialize job roles, heterosexuality became entrenched, private property appeared, and powerful male authorities emerged. Ryan and JethĆ” argue that only by re-creating a sexually liberated past can we move beyond today’sfailed relationships ad create more vibrant modern partnerships based on equity rather than dominance and submission. Provocative yet playful, “Sex at Dawn” is sure to spark lively debate among couples And single people alike about the origins and nature of human sexuality.
For who is this book for ?
This book is for all couples and singles who want to learn more about human sexuality. It challenges conventional wisdom about relationships and provides a new perspective on modern partnerships.
Pros :
- Christopher Ryan and Cacilda JethĆ” use scientific research to overturn conventional wisdom about human mating.
- The authors explore the prehistoric origins of human sexuality, when our ancestors lived in egalitarian groups that shared food, sex, and child care.
- “Sex at Dawn” is sure to spark lively debate among couples And single people alike about the origins and nature of human sexuality.
Cons :
- It is difficult to read
- It is scientific and not romantic at all
- The book does not address how many people are polyamorous/open relationships
Learn more about the author
Christopher Ryan, PhD, is a psychologist and an associate professor at the University of California. He has taught courses in evolutionary psychology, human mating behavior, Grendel’s Cave archaeology, Neal Stephenson novels (Anathem), and the Dead Sea Scrolls. His writing has appeared in The New York Times Sunday Magazine ,The Wilson Quarterly , Nerve.com Cacilda JethĆ” MD is a medical anthropologist with Where There Is No Doctor: A Village Health Care handbook . She teaches tropical medicine at Universidade Federal de Minas Gerais Medical School in Brazil and coauthored Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality with Christopher Ryan.
Reader Reviews
“Christopher Ryan has enlivened the debate about human sexuality by convincingly arguing that much of what we believe about modern sex is wrong. With humor and passion, he demonstrates how our current understanding of preindustrial sexual behavior can inform contemporary relationships.”
“This book is a tour de force. It will change the way you think about sex, parenting, evolution and society.”
“This is a provocative, substantive and well-researched book that completely upends our understanding of human sexuality. . . I cannot recommend it highly enough.”
“This is the book that finally convinced me that monogamy was not only unnatural but unworkable. Christopher Ryan and Cacilda JethĆ” make a powerful case for sexual freedom, supported by fascinating evidence from anthropology, archaeology, and biology.”
