asialew's review against another edition
2.0
Mam mnóstwo uwag do tej książki. Mocno się zastanawiałam, czy nie dać jej jednej gwiazdki, ale się powstrzymałam ze względu na całkiem rozsądnie brzmiącą część wniosków z ostatniego rozdziału. Ma multum przypisów, co się bardzo chwali. Natomiast zdecydowaną większość wniosków samej autorki warto potraktować z dużym dystansem i bardzo krytycznie. Nowe wydanie "Anatomii miłości" zostało w Polsce wydane w 2017, a przez te 4 lata książka strasznie się zestarzała. Czasem nie byłam pewna, czy fragment, który czytam, nie pochodzi z poprzedniej wersji książki, sprzed 30 lat. Książka prezentuje mega heteronormatywną perspektywę, która próbuje znaleźć pewne uniwersalne prawdy dotyczące miłości, wtrącając w dwóch miejscach książki, że w sumie osoby homoseksualne mają podobnie. O transpłciowości nie ma nawet wzmianki, cała książka przyjmuje istnienie dwóch płci. Wiem, że przez ostatnie kilka lat świadomość transpłciowości zdecydowanie się zmienia, ale skoro wspomniano o osobach homoseksualnych, to zupełnie pominięcie transpłciowości i niebinarności uważam za znaczące. W ogóle mam wrażenie, że to uniwersalistycznej podejście do miłości kompletnie się obecnie dezaktualizuje. Autorka próbuje przez całą książkę przekonać czytelników do swojej tezy, że ludzie są z natury seryjnie monogamicznymi cudzołożnikami, specjalnie dobierając przykłady potwierdzające jej zdanie, a czasem wręcz czyniąc jakieś logiczne fikołki i coś tam sobie rozważając ("może nasi przodkowie mieli tak? a może tak? pewnie tak" aha, dzięki). Natomiast jeśli przyjrzeć się przekazywanym przez nią treściom krytycznie, czasem mieszają one pojęcia, tworzą nadmierne uogólnienia, a autorka dochodzi do wniosków, które bardzo łatwo obalić, nawet podpierając się podawanymi przez nią przykładami. Chociaż książka wydaje się dość porządną cegłą, sporą część zajmują konserwatywne i mononormatywne poglądy autorki, pomijające w ogóle ludzką różnorodność. Dodatkowo, czasem autorka sugeruje, jakoby ewolucja człowieka zatrzymała się kilkaset tysięcy lat temu. Byłoby to osobliwe, bo obecnie przyznaje się, że skutki ciągle trwającej ewolucji gatunków można dostrzec już po 30 pokoleniach, czyli w przypadku człowieka po jakichś 900 latach. "Anatomię miłości" uważam za książkę momentami wręcz szkodliwą, bo niezbyt krytyczny czytelnik sugerujący się doświadczeniem naukowym autorki i liczbą przypisów może uznać jej opinie za jednoznacznie potwierdzone badaniami, przy czym w wielu miejscach są to raczej luźne rozważania. Po przeczytaniu tej książki czuję się wręcz zrażona do antropologii jako dziedziny nauki, chociaż pozostaje we mnie iskierka nadziei, że młodsi antropologowie przejawiają bardziej otwarte poglądy niż Helen Fisher i nie cała ta nauka polega na luźnych wnioskach opartych na wybranych przez siebie dowodach. Po tym, jak polubiłam autorkę za świetne TED Talki, czuję się zawiedziona tą książką i oszukana dobrym wrażeniem, jakie zrobiła na mnie niegdyś Helen Fisher. Polecam tę pozycje jedynie ciekawym i krytycznym czytelnikom potrafiącym zachować stoicki spokój. Albo konserwatywnym osobom, które szukają lektury, która wpasuje się w ich obraz świata. Tylko takim nie za mocno konserwatywnym, bo mogą się zdziwić, że dla gatunku ludzkiego za normę uważać można więcej niż jednego partnera w życiu i zdradę, a osoby homoseksualne kochają tak samo jak heteroseksualne (szok i niedowierzanie!).
tjoliverbooks's review against another edition
2.0
This survey, ranging over a large territory of both human and animal behaviors, both grabbed and annoyed me. Reading Fisher's speculations, regardless of my own agreements or disagreements, provided a bit of value for me not the least because it showed me how great research can be undermined by poorly formed conclusions. One must be careful. I found chapters 1-6 & 16 highly interesting and appreciate the inclusion of detailed notes on sources. I recommend that readers, wh0've taken time to grapple with this book, follow her speculations with a grain of salt. What is love? How do our genes influence our relationships? Are humans naturally monogamous? Great topics, but form your own conclusions based off the presented evidence.
cneiman's review against another edition
4.0
This was an interesting, if somewhat unsettling, read. In all honesty, I would recommend Dr. Fisher's 2006 TED talk--which was very compelling and succinct--over her book. She's able to elaborate more on the technical details of her work in "Anatomy of Love," and while she never loses focus on her thesis that humans have and always will fall in love, stray, and fall in love again, the poignancy of the whole process is somehow mitigated. I felt a little hollow after finishing the final chapter, although I'll be thinking about the book's contents for some time to come.
A word of warning: don't try reading this shortly before or after "He's Just Not That Into You." HJNTIY places an emphasis on fidelity in all successful relationships; AoL makes a pretty convincing case that most relationships are not permanent and that cheating is coded into our DNA. If you're at a place in your life where you can make space for both, awesome. If not, enjoy and embrace one at a time.
A word of warning: don't try reading this shortly before or after "He's Just Not That Into You." HJNTIY places an emphasis on fidelity in all successful relationships; AoL makes a pretty convincing case that most relationships are not permanent and that cheating is coded into our DNA. If you're at a place in your life where you can make space for both, awesome. If not, enjoy and embrace one at a time.
twylghast's review
3.0
This book was interesting, but a bit boring and repetitive at times; it was kind of a drag to get through towards the end. Plus, it ended so abruptly, I got whiplash. That's what happens sometimes when you read stuff on e-readers, but still...it came out of nowhere.
tjoliverbooks's review against another edition
2.0
This survey, ranging over a large territory of both human and animal behaviors, both grabbed and annoyed me. Reading Fisher's speculations, regardless of my own agreements or disagreements, provided a bit of value for me not the least because it showed me how great research can be undermined by poorly formed conclusions. One must be careful. I found chapters 1-6 & 16 highly interesting and appreciate the inclusion of detailed notes on sources. I recommend that readers, wh0've taken time to grapple with this book, follow her speculations with a grain of salt. What is love? How do our genes influence our relationships? Are humans naturally monogamous? Great topics, but form your own conclusions based off the presented evidence.
pattihenger's review against another edition
3.0
I picked this up on the recommendation of Rebecca Schinsky from Book Riot. As a psychology major, she always seeks out smart nonfiction titles. Fisher originally published this in 1992, and while I had wanted to read that edition for some time, the online dating and texting environment of modern times has made many parts obsolete. In the prologue, Fisher admits that most of this book is new.
Quick note: Don't let the length of this text put you off. It's technically only 320 pages, with the last 130 pages devoted to Appendices, Notes, Bibliography, and a couple fun quizzes if you're interested. All par for the course when science is involved, man!
Fisher's prominence as a biological anthropologist allows her to give in-depth detail on the mating habits and courtship of early hominins millions of years ago, as well as comparisons to loving behaviors of wide-ranging species.The cultural experiences that affect romance- determining whom you love, where, and when- were quite fascinating, as well as the reasons that the Seven Year Itch phenomenon is biologically more like the 3-4 year itch. This book will give you a case of the "Did you knows?" One more neat (and kind of annoying fact)....did you know that going from traveling on all fours to bipedalism in the jungle made carrying infants more difficult, thus forcing females to become more reliant on men for food procurement while they "stayed home" with their young? Way to reduce an even hunting partnership! Walking on two feet instead of all fours had many benefits though, so I'm mostly okay with it...ha.
The informative ways in which she discusses humanity's evolution from four broad, basic styles of thinking (each associated with one of four brain systems: dopamine, serotonin, testosterone, and estrogen) provided explanation to all the "chemical" talk you hear thrown around concerning infatuation and love.
There is a lot of repetition, but that worked for me since science isn't my strong point, and hearing details multiple times helped the absorption of material. There were sections I found tedious and skimmed only briefly. While some of the info isn't surprising, I did find the positive outlook she has on the future of dating (with the prevalence of I-phones and dating apps) surprising. This made me breathe a bit easier as I have girls who will be navigating this territory in the upcoming years. I would recommend to anyone who has a strong interest in this subject, but might pick up a more anecdotal book if not.
Quick note: Don't let the length of this text put you off. It's technically only 320 pages, with the last 130 pages devoted to Appendices, Notes, Bibliography, and a couple fun quizzes if you're interested. All par for the course when science is involved, man!
Fisher's prominence as a biological anthropologist allows her to give in-depth detail on the mating habits and courtship of early hominins millions of years ago, as well as comparisons to loving behaviors of wide-ranging species.The cultural experiences that affect romance- determining whom you love, where, and when- were quite fascinating, as well as the reasons that the Seven Year Itch phenomenon is biologically more like the 3-4 year itch. This book will give you a case of the "Did you knows?" One more neat (and kind of annoying fact)....did you know that going from traveling on all fours to bipedalism in the jungle made carrying infants more difficult, thus forcing females to become more reliant on men for food procurement while they "stayed home" with their young? Way to reduce an even hunting partnership! Walking on two feet instead of all fours had many benefits though, so I'm mostly okay with it...ha.
The informative ways in which she discusses humanity's evolution from four broad, basic styles of thinking (each associated with one of four brain systems: dopamine, serotonin, testosterone, and estrogen) provided explanation to all the "chemical" talk you hear thrown around concerning infatuation and love.
There is a lot of repetition, but that worked for me since science isn't my strong point, and hearing details multiple times helped the absorption of material. There were sections I found tedious and skimmed only briefly. While some of the info isn't surprising, I did find the positive outlook she has on the future of dating (with the prevalence of I-phones and dating apps) surprising. This made me breathe a bit easier as I have girls who will be navigating this territory in the upcoming years. I would recommend to anyone who has a strong interest in this subject, but might pick up a more anecdotal book if not.
kaylal's review against another edition
3.0
Pretty cool anthropological study of love, attraction, lust, and infidelity. I love how Fisher brings in prehistorical people and the little evidence we have about their lives to bring our own present into focus. I could see where people would grab this thinking it's a book about modern love, but she brings in a lot of history and a very anthropological analysis. The title is pretty sexy, but the book is pretty damn nerdy, which I liked. It did feel a little repetitive or drawn out at times.
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