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alexschreiber23's review against another edition
4.0
I really loved this book! Really opened my mind up to infidelity and the power women have to be sexual autonomous. However, the book was sometimes hard to follow with how long the sentences were. The concepts are complex though and have a lot of information to cover, but rereading it made me understand the concepts better. I really enjoyed learning the evolutionary concepts of female infidelity and the power women have in different cultures. I was very impressed and loved the underlying feminism message.
aw21594377's review against another edition
4.0
I found this book to be fascinating! I learned a ton about other primates' mating habits and how societal constraints on women make it nearly impossible to truly know how sexual desire would develop if we were really free. We've had to learn more about female sexual desire from studying other primates, such as bonobos, macaques, and langurs. I learned various factoids, like how bonobos are primarily female driven, to the point of harassing the males to have sex with them. Or how langurs (or maybe macaques?) are apathetic about sexual advances from the males when caged and when they're free, they act much more proactively interested, even instigate themselves.
I couldn't 100% get behind the theory that switching systems of farming are at the route of the systemic issues women face. I can see how it's a contributing factor, but I would've liked to have seen more about this to make the author convinced enough to make this essentially a sub-thesis.
While there have been studies and data on other species of primates, much of the data for humans were testimonials and anecdotal. I enjoyed reading about the prestigious Skirt Clubs, where women are completely free from the male gaze, free to explore their sexuality without the constraints of heterosexuality. Martin's argument that women have high libidos and seek out sex for their own enjoyment much more than we're told to believe was convincing to me, but probably because it was approached as "we can't truly ascertain hard data like we can for other species" so I was able to be more forgiving of the lack of "hard data". I guess I expected the "hard data" to be a little more substantiated, particularly the plough theory being the basis for an entire shift in how women are treated. At the same time, I enjoyed hearing about cultures where women have more power/say/buy in in society. I found myself feeling envious of the women and the freedom they seemed to feel. Not only was an iteration of poly more accepted, but the women in general seemed much less oppressed/restricted in their ability to feel love and sexual feelings for multiple people. America the great, my ass. I think the most amusing factoid from this book was that the first vibrator was the size of a dining room table.
Overall, I enjoyed slowly plodding through this, soaking up the information. It wasn't a perfect book, but I think questioning ideas should be part of reading non-fiction. This was also predominantly heteronormatively focused, which makes sense, but the intersectionalism with LGBTQ and more racial representation would've helped complicate some of the ideas. I get that the author probably didn't want to bite off more than she could chew, and I respect that. Maybe she'll publish more, or it's explored more in other published work by Martin.
I couldn't 100% get behind the theory that switching systems of farming are at the route of the systemic issues women face. I can see how it's a contributing factor, but I would've liked to have seen more about this to make the author convinced enough to make this essentially a sub-thesis.
While there have been studies and data on other species of primates, much of the data for humans were testimonials and anecdotal. I enjoyed reading about the prestigious Skirt Clubs, where women are completely free from the male gaze, free to explore their sexuality without the constraints of heterosexuality. Martin's argument that women have high libidos and seek out sex for their own enjoyment much more than we're told to believe was convincing to me, but probably because it was approached as "we can't truly ascertain hard data like we can for other species" so I was able to be more forgiving of the lack of "hard data". I guess I expected the "hard data" to be a little more substantiated, particularly the plough theory being the basis for an entire shift in how women are treated. At the same time, I enjoyed hearing about cultures where women have more power/say/buy in in society. I found myself feeling envious of the women and the freedom they seemed to feel. Not only was an iteration of poly more accepted, but the women in general seemed much less oppressed/restricted in their ability to feel love and sexual feelings for multiple people. America the great, my ass. I think the most amusing factoid from this book was that the first vibrator was the size of a dining room table.
Overall, I enjoyed slowly plodding through this, soaking up the information. It wasn't a perfect book, but I think questioning ideas should be part of reading non-fiction. This was also predominantly heteronormatively focused, which makes sense, but the intersectionalism with LGBTQ and more racial representation would've helped complicate some of the ideas. I get that the author probably didn't want to bite off more than she could chew, and I respect that. Maybe she'll publish more, or it's explored more in other published work by Martin.
scribepub's review against another edition
Scientifically literate and sexually cliterate … an exuberant unfettering of female sexuality that challenges us to ‘think outside her box.’ Viva la Vulva!
Ian Kerner, Sex Therapist and Author of She Comes First
If you have ever felt different, other, or just weird when it comes to love, sex, or intimacy, read Untrue. Wednesday Martin bulldozes the sexual stereotypes that have silenced women for eons. By bringing the voices of women who love in a range of ways to the surface, she shows us all that it's not us and our desires that are abnormal: it is a system that has constrained and shamed women. I love this book.
Rachel Simmons, Co-Founder of Girls Leadership and Author of Odd Girl out
Wednesday Martin understands female sexuality – from the #MeToo movement and polyamory to women’s prehistoric and cultural heritage. She goes far beyond our current psychological understanding of women’s infidelity to tell the real story of women’s ubiquitous, tenacious, and primordial sexual strategies. And her writing is not only informative, timely, and refreshing but wonderfully engaging. Brava, Wednesday.
Helen Fisher, Author of The First Sex and Why We Love
For centuries, men have been telling the story of female sexuality. Unsurprisingly, it was was riddled with condescension, bias, and sheer ignorance. With Untrue, Wednesday Martin sets the record straight, shining a light on some of the female researchers reshaping our understanding of what turns women on, and why. This is an important story, beautifully told. Highly recommended.
Christopher Ryan, Co-Author of Sex at Dawn
A simultaneously frothy and substantive tour of female sexual desire … An indispensable work of popular psychology and sociology.
Kirkus
Wednesday Martin deconstructs many of the false beliefs that have negatively affected the way women's sexuality is viewed … This book turns everything we think we know about women and sex completely on its head, essentially undressing the falsehoods of female sexuality to reveal what lies beneath the layers of distortion women operate under.
Kerri Jarema, Bustle
Chapters cover topics like infidelity, open marriage, polyamory, and even cuckolding to show that women are not the demure, sex-hating bearers of morality that history and long-standing research (by men) would lead us to believe.
Kathy Sexton, Booklist
Riveting.
Stephen A Russell, The New Daily
At times playful, the narrative teems with fascinating commentary about everything from bonobos and paleolithic gender roles to Craigslist ads, as Martin examines how female sexuality continues to be shaped and stigmatised by artificial social constructions, sociopolitical values, and economics, all under the guise of ‘natural’ female biology and desire. A timely take on femininity and sexuality. STARRED REVIEW
Emily Bowles, Library Journal
Combining Barbara Ehrenreich’s immersive reporting style and Carrie Bradshaw’s savoir faire, [Wednesday Martin] dispels many myths about female desire.
O, The Oprah Magazine
Ian Kerner, Sex Therapist and Author of She Comes First
If you have ever felt different, other, or just weird when it comes to love, sex, or intimacy, read Untrue. Wednesday Martin bulldozes the sexual stereotypes that have silenced women for eons. By bringing the voices of women who love in a range of ways to the surface, she shows us all that it's not us and our desires that are abnormal: it is a system that has constrained and shamed women. I love this book.
Rachel Simmons, Co-Founder of Girls Leadership and Author of Odd Girl out
Wednesday Martin understands female sexuality – from the #MeToo movement and polyamory to women’s prehistoric and cultural heritage. She goes far beyond our current psychological understanding of women’s infidelity to tell the real story of women’s ubiquitous, tenacious, and primordial sexual strategies. And her writing is not only informative, timely, and refreshing but wonderfully engaging. Brava, Wednesday.
Helen Fisher, Author of The First Sex and Why We Love
For centuries, men have been telling the story of female sexuality. Unsurprisingly, it was was riddled with condescension, bias, and sheer ignorance. With Untrue, Wednesday Martin sets the record straight, shining a light on some of the female researchers reshaping our understanding of what turns women on, and why. This is an important story, beautifully told. Highly recommended.
Christopher Ryan, Co-Author of Sex at Dawn
A simultaneously frothy and substantive tour of female sexual desire … An indispensable work of popular psychology and sociology.
Kirkus
Wednesday Martin deconstructs many of the false beliefs that have negatively affected the way women's sexuality is viewed … This book turns everything we think we know about women and sex completely on its head, essentially undressing the falsehoods of female sexuality to reveal what lies beneath the layers of distortion women operate under.
Kerri Jarema, Bustle
Chapters cover topics like infidelity, open marriage, polyamory, and even cuckolding to show that women are not the demure, sex-hating bearers of morality that history and long-standing research (by men) would lead us to believe.
Kathy Sexton, Booklist
Riveting.
Stephen A Russell, The New Daily
At times playful, the narrative teems with fascinating commentary about everything from bonobos and paleolithic gender roles to Craigslist ads, as Martin examines how female sexuality continues to be shaped and stigmatised by artificial social constructions, sociopolitical values, and economics, all under the guise of ‘natural’ female biology and desire. A timely take on femininity and sexuality. STARRED REVIEW
Emily Bowles, Library Journal
Combining Barbara Ehrenreich’s immersive reporting style and Carrie Bradshaw’s savoir faire, [Wednesday Martin] dispels many myths about female desire.
O, The Oprah Magazine
whittenholmes's review against another edition
challenging
emotional
hopeful
informative
inspiring
reflective
medium-paced
4.5
ameliasbooks's review against another edition
informative
medium-paced
4.0
Informativ, wenn auch manchmal ein wenig zu unfokussiert und zu oberflächlich. Nichtsdestotrotz räumt das Buch mit vielen gesellschaftlichen Normen und Vorurteilen auf.
Informative, sometimes with a lack of focus and a bit superficial. Nevertheless trying to diminishing social norms and prejudices through science.
Informative, sometimes with a lack of focus and a bit superficial. Nevertheless trying to diminishing social norms and prejudices through science.
simplyb's review against another edition
4.0
I can't remember now why I picked this book up, but I think I read either a review of the book or an article by the author and thought this seemed interesting. Admittedly, I'm not a big believer in most social taboos and am willing to be pretty lenient when it comes to what a consenting adult with full capacity decides they do or don't want to do, so I wouldn't say I was shocked or awed by anything in here. But I have done some reading on alternative lifestyles within the sex and drug lifestyles, and seeing this from a purely female perspective was a refreshing take and I did come away having a healthier appreciation of how much more women are subject to social pressures and norms for what seems to be universally human behavior. Very well-written and researched with just the right amount of real-life story and anecdote sprinkled in for context and to prevent it from being purely pedantic, it's worth the read if you need to take a step out of your comfort zone and see the richness in human decision-making diversity.
felixsanchez's review against another edition
4.0
Such an interesting book. This didn't make an easy read per se, due to the choppy writing, poor structure and lack of conciseness, but all was forgiven due to the fascinating and enlightening subject matter.