dili's review against another edition
3.0
Better than 3/5 tbh. Pretty interesting accounts of some unique science, plus the funny takes the awkward out, if any.
kiramke's review against another edition
4.0
Always interesting and funny and well-researched. I'm mostly laughing at myself that there were more moments in this book that disturbed me than, say, anything I've read about death and decay. What a very American squicky-tolerance I have!
ohmygodlinda's review against another edition
4.0
Mary Roach's science writing is always reliably well-sourced and entertaining, and Bonk was definitely no exception. Reading this was even more entertaining because I consumed it over the course of about 24 hours of travel time between London and Seoul, which earned me a few funny looks at Heathrow, and a ton of funny looks on my Asiana 777 flight, surrounded by scandalized young families. I went into this book with the same prurient, pervert-laughing curiosity that I think plagues the researchers Roach talks to in the work, which is a sort of humbling thought, but I came out of it with a new perspective on the thing, and an even deeper appreciation for the lengths to which she's willing to go in order to get her story. Anyone who can talk her husband into having sex with her while someone X-rays them is a champion as far as I'm concerned.
shoelessmama's review against another edition
funny
informative
lighthearted
medium-paced
3.75
I love Mary Roach's dry humor which in the case of this book manages to remove all sexiness from the topic of sex... or is it the science that does that? Probably a combination. Anyway, it's for the best since my book club in a whimsical moment inadvisably chose to read this. I can't wait to see how that discussion goes- a statement which is both sarcastic and true.
ktcarlston's review against another edition
3.0
I found this book so interesting. But really - the best part of it is all of Mary Roach's footnotes.
lazygal's review against another edition
3.0
This was one of those books that seemed better while reading than after. It's a bit like fast food in that regard!
As one might guess from the title, Roach looks at the history of sex studies, ranging from Kinsey to Masters and Johnson to the modern era. She (and her husband) actually participate in one or two studies, in part so she can talk about how weird some of them are. And, since sex is a silly subject, she allows her sense of humor and whimsy to take over at times (sometimes to the detriment of the topic she's discussing).
While I really dislike the new trend in non-fiction for authors to allow themselves to become part of the story, in this case it almost worked.
As one might guess from the title, Roach looks at the history of sex studies, ranging from Kinsey to Masters and Johnson to the modern era. She (and her husband) actually participate in one or two studies, in part so she can talk about how weird some of them are. And, since sex is a silly subject, she allows her sense of humor and whimsy to take over at times (sometimes to the detriment of the topic she's discussing).
While I really dislike the new trend in non-fiction for authors to allow themselves to become part of the story, in this case it almost worked.