Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex | 
 enlarge | Author: Mary Roach
Publisher: W. W. Norton
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
Buy New: $13.15
You Save: $11.80 (47%)
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Avg. Customer Rating:  44 reviews
Sales Rank: 474
Media: Hardcover
Edition: 1
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 288
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.1
Dimensions (in): 8.4 x 5.5 x 1.2
ISBN: 0393064646
Dewey Decimal Number: 612.6
EAN: 9780393064643
ASIN: 0393064646
Publication Date: April 7, 2008
Availability: Usually ships in 1-2 business days
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Product Description
The best-selling author of Stiff turns her outrageous curiosity and infectious wit on the most alluring scientific subject of all: sex.
The study of sexual physiology—what happens, and why, and how to make it happen better—has been a paying career or a diverting sideline for scientists as far-ranging as Leonardo da Vinci and James Watson. The research has taken place behind the closed doors of laboratories, brothels, MRI centers, pig farms, sex-toy R&D labs, and Alfred Kinsey's attic.
Mary Roach, "the funniest science writer in the country" (Burkhard Bilger of The New Yorker), devoted the past two years to stepping behind those doors. Can a person think herself to orgasm? Can a dead man get an erection? Is vaginal orgasm a myth? Why doesn't Viagra help women—or, for that matter, pandas? In Bonk, Roach shows us how and why sexual arousal and orgasm, two of the most complex, delightful, and amazing scientific phenomena on earth, can be so hard to achieve and what science is doing to slowly make the bedroom a more satisfying place. 16 illustrations.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 39 more reviews...
 Very entertaining July 2, 2008
Very entertaining; I laughed out loud several times. Mary Roach's personal experiences combined with her witty reporting make for an entertaining and humorous read, especially at the beach (where I read it).
Fantastic Addition to Mary Roach's Catalog July 1, 2008
Read just one of Mary Roach's book and one can tell she's happiest when she's learning something new (and twisted). Bonk is a perfect example of this.
First-hand interviews, experiences and even experiments on herself pepper this book with just enough squeamish-ness to keep the book fun as it is informative. And before I note any quibbles, please note that I thought this was a fantastic book and am eagerly waiting whatever pops into Mary's mind next.
The small cons I have to this book are these:
-Her slight discomfort with the topic off sex comes through in the text in some parts. Her humor seems a little more forced than in her previous books, so that's open to interpretation, of course. Maybe she's more comfortable with ghosts and cadavers than sex research? -Really, a negligible issue
-Mary Roach's signature of injecting herself into the story might have gone a little too far. I shudder when personal pronouns are in non-fiction, but, again, not a major problem.
All-in-all, another book that drips (ew) with Mary Roach's humor and attention to details. A great read that should sate her fans and those interested in a book on sex research that sifts through social norms in a way that equips the reader to make their own decisions.
Read it!
Insights of studies are 'WOW' July 1, 2008
A good breakdown of studies of sexual issues that is bound to enlighten the creatures in their pursuits of fulfilling sexual unions.
very interesting June 26, 2008
this book had a slow start but it was a really interesting read. it had a lot of her cleverness and whit inside also. i liked her other books more, but this one gave me lots of entertainment and extra knowledge. mary roach is the queen of obscure research.
 Bonk bonked June 25, 2008
Having loved Mary Roach's earlier books, I bought three copies of this - one for me and two for gifts. I forced my way through the first half of the book before I threw in the towel and gave away my copy as well. Just the theme of Bonk promises fascinating analysis, an interesting review of the history of sexuality, and wonderful stories from differences and similiarities through the ages and around the globe. Unfortunately, you'll find none of this in this book. Instead it reads like a poorly written college term paper that focuses way too long on academia and archaic, and boring, studies. Sorry, Mary, but this book just doesn't cut it as an interesting read.
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