Frank H. (perryfran) reviewed Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex on + 1223 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 9
I found this book to be quite entertaining and educational. However, as a male reader there was quite a bit of information that just made me squirm! This included the chapters on penile implants and the information about what Dr. Kinsey inserted into his penis. Roach's subtle humor added along the way was quite entertaining (especially the footnotes) but by the end of the book, I think I had maybe learned more than I wanted about sex research. If you are interested in more about Dr. Kinsey, I would recommend T.C. Boyle's "The Inner Circle," a fictionalized account of the famous Doctor and his research.
Laurie P. (laurieindra) reviewed Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex on + 13 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 5
Laugh out loud funny, informative and clinically sexy. What a hoot. Never disrespectful of the subject or the many characters protrayed in its pages. Science writing without self-importance. How refreshing!
Helpful Score: 3
Mary Roach has a talent for taking mundane scientific information and presenting it in a way that is not only informative, but entertaining. In this book, she explores several sexual topics, including impotence, orgasm (both female and male), the history of the science of female sexuality, and sexual stimulants. Quick, interesting read!
Helpful Score: 2
Science. ***. The author's personal account into the historical research dedicated to sex and the sexes. Includes professional interviews she conducted (some successful, some denied) with said researchers, as well as an experiment or two she engaged in, in the name of science.
Given the author's style of bringing humor and laymen terms to broad subjects, and with such an opportune topic, the book surprisingly is not as funny as I had hoped. I recommend her more recent books: 'Packing for Mars' or 'Stiff'.
Given the author's style of bringing humor and laymen terms to broad subjects, and with such an opportune topic, the book surprisingly is not as funny as I had hoped. I recommend her more recent books: 'Packing for Mars' or 'Stiff'.
Leslie R. (robisles) reviewed Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex on + 8 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
Very informative and funny! In fact so funny that I found myself laughing to the point of tears. Some of the studies that were done are a bit hard to read without a grimace. Mary Roach has a gift to present scientific studies in an interesting twist and a funny bone thrown in.
Julie H. (minerva1221) -
Helpful Score: 2
I got this as a bookray from bookcrossing and have since sent it on to the next person, but I may very well purchase a copy of my own. This is my kind of non-fiction. Never boring, filled with fascinating stories and research, and funny. More than you ever wanted to know about the science of sex...er, I mean sexual intercourse.
Helpful Score: 2
Man do I love some Mary Roach. The woman writes great, funny, infotaining* books. It's true that I had to cross my legs and read through squinted eyes to get through some passages (it's as much about sexual dysfunction and painful stuff doctors think of to do to genitals as it is anything else), but I enjoyed it.
Somehow, though, this book seemed to lack a focus. Maybe that was also true of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, and I just didn't notice it, but each chapter just was about its own thing without much building into any greater understanding of 'the curious coupling of science and sex.'
On the other hand, I still loved it. Make of it what you will.
* Remember that neologism? Or, I guess, more accurately, infotainment? It really seemed to be catching on for a while, and now it's nowhere.
Somehow, though, this book seemed to lack a focus. Maybe that was also true of Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and Spook: Science Tackles the Afterlife, and I just didn't notice it, but each chapter just was about its own thing without much building into any greater understanding of 'the curious coupling of science and sex.'
On the other hand, I still loved it. Make of it what you will.
* Remember that neologism? Or, I guess, more accurately, infotainment? It really seemed to be catching on for a while, and now it's nowhere.
Michael F. (studbiscuitdaddy) reviewed Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex on + 3 more book reviews
Helpful Score: 2
After reading her ultra-informative and ultra-macabre "Stiff", I had to track this book down; there's no way it couldn't outdo the all-inclusive work on the fascinating life (afterlife?) of cadavers. Kudos to Mary and her husband for giving it their all for some 'first-hand research' involving MRIs. Warning: if you were at all squeamish during some of the more disturbing incidents in "Stiff", certain chapters in this tome will make you very uneasy (I practically had to cross my legs and gird my loins through most of Chapter 8). Mary holds nothing back, and is constantly hilarious in her treatment of practically everything you always wanted to know about sex but were afraid to ask. Highly recommended, but don't leave it where the young kids can find it.
Helpful Score: 1
What a marvelous book! It's so funny that you'll laugh out loud, it's informative but not in a prurient way and it will make you think about sex in a whole new light. Just don't overlook reading the footnotes - they're fascinating and many are hilarious. The author has gone to stupendous lengths to research her subject. I've read other books by Mary Roach and they are excellent, but this is by far the best, so far.
Ruth B. (spartacusaby) -
Helpful Score: 1
As a reader, I usually find well-written books of non-fiction to be informative and, at their best, very readable and enjoyable. With Mary Roach's books, I have to add adjectives not often applied to non-fiction: addictive, consistently entertaining, often laugh-out-loud funny. Her subjects are distinctly off-center, her research exhaustive, and the results are wonderful!
