Woman: An Intimate Geography

Rating:
Summary: Excellent synthesis of science and sociolology
Review: I have read this book carefully and thoroughly, and have decided to address the content rather than the style (extraordinary) or the political implications (probably less than one would hope). As a scientist, I am well aware of the difficulty of bringing together disparate elements, particularly those that range far afield of one's own area of study. Nevertheless, it is important to do just that if one wants to explore a subject as wide as this. The pitfall, of course, is that one cannot get every single detail perfectly right; it is sufficient merely that the essential information is correct. In that respect, I believe this book does an exceptional job at integrating information from many different areas and presenting a cohesive and justifiable argument in most cases. Undoubtably, though, there will be those who take exception to some detail that they feel has been misrepresented or misinterpreted. So be it. That is simply the danger of going out on a limb to present a viewpoint that is at odds with currently fashionable ideas. As a man, I found very little in this book to offend, although certain elements are probably of more interest to women. In many cases, I found myself rethinking arguments that I thought had long been settled in my mind. It is essential that people keep an open mind on all subjects, particularly those that impact on interpersonal relationships. After all, thinking and rethinking things over is the blessing (curse?) of being human. One needn't be fully converted to a particular analysis to recognize that there may be something to it; it may indeed spur one on to more intelligent and open-minded discussion of the subject. I believe this book is capable of doing just that.

Rating:
Summary: Richly humorous; wonderful to read.
Review: I loved Woman: An Intimate Geography. I thought I was quite knowledgeable about female physiology but as I read, I was astonished at all I didn't know. The writing is wonderful - rich, descriptive, and humorous. Angier is a very accomplished science writer, and the book reflects her tremendous research skill. She takes you all over the map - from operating rooms in New York City where women are donating eggs or having fibroids removed, to Africa where pygmy chimpanzees, "our bonobo sisters" have lessons for us about how to resolve conflict. Nothing I've read in a long, long, time taught me more or made me laugh outright as much as Woman: An Intimate Geography.

Rating:
Summary: Horrible.
Review: Scientifically inaccurate, poorly reasoned, and dreadfully written, this is quite possibly the worst popular science book I have ever read -- a huge disappointment and a real disservice to a fascinating and important subject.

Rating:
Summary: An informative, witty, & inspiring book about female biology
Review: Natalie Angier's book, Woman, is a marvel. It is packed full of detailed information about female biology. The descriptions and explanations are clear and vivid. Readers can really come to understand women's biology, regardless of whether they have a strong background in science. Yet, this book is anything but a biology textbook. Instead it is a witty romp, a terrific read, a book that is hard to put down. Angier is also very positive about women's biology--she understands its advantages and questions some of the traditional assumptions about women. She shows appropriate reserve about what scientists don't yet know about the female body--about how hormones function, for example. She also provides hard-headed look at the ideas of evolutionary psychologists and finds many of their claims about male and female psychology less than convincing. Not everyone will agree with all of what Angier has written, but all readers should come away from this book informed, stimulated, and entertained. It's a must-read.

Rating:
Summary: Superb writing and delicious insights.
Review: As a neurologist, scientist, and adult, who is on the male side of the great sexual dimorphism in our species, I learned more about the anatomy/physiology of the genitalia from this book, than in all my years of medical school, research career or clinical practice. The book was filled with wit and precision. I tried to read the book slowly to savor the passages.

After reading the book I both look and think about the female, and about the male, with very new perspectives. Based on my hugely expanded knowledge base of anatomy and physiology, normal and pathologic, gained from reading Woman, my dreams and fantasies have been altered and are even better, my respect and sensitivity for the female and her differences are greater, and my sense of awe still pervades these thoughts. Since so much of our brain exists to successfully copulate and to reproduce, it is no wonder that there is an intrinsic fascination with the whole subject. Neuron after neuron, billions and billions together, signalled, BRAVO, for such superb writing and for the delicious insights.

Lawrence Steinman, MD Professor of Neurological Sciences Stanford University

Rating:
Summary: A Great Book Creates Strong Emotions
Review: The sign of a great book is one which engenders strong emotions- both positive and negative. Based on the customer reviews sent in about this book, I would say the emotions are running high. Woman takes a look at all the aspects of being a woman and re-examines presumptions that have been made and asks the question- are these presumptions correct? The science is both outstanding and interesting. With all the work that went into getting a variety of views and studies, I was amazed that some of the reviewers questioned her scientific methodology. Perhaps it's sour grapes since they didn't agree with her conclusions (in most cases, simply her questioning- but for some people, even that was too much).

I have always been insulted by the study of the two attractive people- a male and a female- who ask strangers to go to bed with them and the conclusion that women always say no and men always say yes. Angier was absolutely right in debunking the conclusions of that study. I was single in the sexually free atmosphere of the 1970s and men and women were always picking each other up at bars and parties- they just did it with more class than the people in the study did. Men having stronger sexual drives than women is just another tired, dated theory that has for too long been unquestioned.

Rating:
Summary: tripe
Review: This book is politically predictable, and I don't care how good or bad the science is; Angier is such a bad word-stylist you can't get to the science. If you think this is good writing you should read more and watch less TV. Barf.

Rating:
Summary: Bad Science from a Good Writer
Review: I am writing this review as a warning for non-biologist readers. I am a biomedical researcher and someone who believes that the biology of gender is fascinating and important. I am also a big fan of Ms. Angiers writing. I can't tell you how many times I've started in reading a Science piece in the New York Times, smiled at a delightful paragraph, and then looked up to see the Angiers byline. I was thrilled when I heard about this book and really wanted it to be good. Reading it and hearing Angiers talk about it, though, was deeply disappointing. This book could have been a brilliant and profound exposition of the biology of femaleness but instead it is a sloppy tirade where accurate science usually takes a back seat to getting off a good quip. Time after time she misrepresents or misunderstands the biological research, twisting everything into the narrow confines of her "Grrls Rock" manifesto. It's a good manifesto but it is only undercut by sophomoric misreading of the science. The book is entertaining if read as standup comedy, full of scattershot zingers with little regard for accuracy. I am concerned that it will end up being quoted endlessly by legions of Women's Studies majors with no notion of how badly the science is muddled. Readers should know that the book has been panned in the scientific press (by feminist scientist reviewers) for its many errors. Many of the examples she cites are deep and deserve greater attention from the public but Angiers gets them backwards as often as forwards and ends up doing more damage than good. On the off chance that the author ever reads these reviews: Please, this is a topic that really needs doing right. Sit down with some real biologists with a critical eye and get the science done well. Not cheerleading but rather a thougthful examination of the issue. It's not too late to do it right in a second edition.

Rating:
Summary: SELECTIVE and MISLEADING
Review: It always amazes me how one writer can choose selective data and make something look different than it really is. An exercise by the insecure for their own aggrandizement perhaps. I agree with those who say this is mainly another attempt of NYC's acedemic promotional machine to push one of their own.

Rating:
Summary: Distasteful, misleading, psuedo-poetic
Review: I'm concerned about the comments of the reader below who accuses a critic of this book of being anti-intellectual. Indeed, one need only peruse a chapter or two of WOMAN to grasp that intellectuals in particular will be offended by its offerings. Angier seems to fancy herself a poet, but in truth her writing has all the poetic sensibility of a Hallmark greeting card. Her prose reels from purple to polemic, with now and then a crude attempt at the vernacular aside. And her science is anedotal, spotty and at times misleading, although her blast at evolutionary psychology, though not entirely well argued, is certainly welcome. As a feminist I found this book patronizing. As a scientist I found it disappointing. And as someone who enjoys fine writing, I found it pedestrian.