Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality

Christopher Ryan, Cacilda Jetha

Harper Collins, Jun 29, 2010 - Psychology - 432 pages

“Sex at Dawn challenges conventional wisdom about sex in a big way. By examining the prehistoric origins of human sexual behavior the authors are able to expose the fallacies and weaknesses of standard theories proposed by most experts. This is a provocative, entertaining, and pioneering book. I learned a lot from it and recommend it highly.” — Andrew Weil, M.D.

 “Sex at Dawn irrefutably shows that what is obvious—that human beings, both male and female, are lustful—is true, and has always been so…. The more dubious its evidentiary basis and lack of connection with current reality, the more ardently the scientific inevitability of monogamy is maintained—even as it falls away around us.” — Stanton Peele, Ph.D.

A controversial, idea-driven book that challenges everything you (think you) know about sex, monogamy, marriage, and family. In the words of Steve Taylor (The Fall, Waking From Sleep), Sex at Dawn is “a wonderfully provocative and well-written book which completely re-evaluates human sexual behavior and gets to the root of many of our social and psychological ills.”

Contents

• Another WellIntentioned Inquisition: 1
• Remember the Yucatán: 19
• What Darwin Didnt Know About Sex: 25
• A Closer Look at the Standard Narrative of Human Sexual: 46
• The Ape in the Mirror: 61
• Who Lost What in Paradise?: 81
• Whos Your Daddies?: 90
• Mommies Dearest: 105
• Making a Mess of Marriage Mating and Monogamy: 113
• The Crumbling Cornerstone of: 124
• A Beginners Guide to Coveting Thy Neighbors: 138
• the way we werent: 151
• The Selfish Meme Nasty? Homo Economicus 166: 166
• The NeverEnding Battle over Prehistoric War Brutish?: 182
• The Longevity Lie Short?: 200
• BodIes In MotIon: 213
• The Truest Measure of a Man: 225
• Sometimes a Penis Is Just a Penis: 233
• The Prehistory of O: 244
• When Girls Go Wild: 255
• Men are froM afrICa woMen: 269
• The Perverts Lament: 280
• Confronting the Sky Together: 301
• Acknowledgments: 313
• References and Suggested Further Reading: 349
• Index: 381

About the author

Christopher Ryan, PhD, is a research psychologist. He lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Cacilda Jethá, MD, is a practicing psychiatrist. She lives in Barcelona, Spain.

Bibliographic information

• Title: Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality
• Authors: Christopher Ryan, Cacilda Jetha
• Edition: unabridged
• Publisher: Harper Collins, 2010
• ISBN: 0062002937, 9780062002938
• Length: 432 pages
• Subjects: Education / Counseling / General; Family & Relationships / Marriage & Long-Term Relationships; History / Modern / General; Psychology / Evolutionary Psychology; Psychology / Human Sexuality; Psychology / Mental Health; Psychology / Social Psychology; Self-Help / Gender & Sexuality; Social Science / Popular Culture; Social Science / Research