Rating: 
Summary: Fascinating account of animal homosexuality
Review: The first part of the book is an independent 262 page exposition of homosexual, bisexual and transgendered animal sexuality. If you want to know what the birds and the bees are doing when Jerry Falwell isn't looking, this is the place to find out. Don't expect to find traditional family values in these pages. What you will discover instead is that animals aren't doing it for Darwin, they are doing it for fun. There are amazingly detailed descriptions, pictures and illustrations here of animals having all kinds of sex (that will amaze you), and most of it isn't for procreation.More interesting to me, though, is the speculation on the sexual origins of language and culture in chapter 2 and the devastating examination in chapter 3 of bigotry in the biological sciences in over two hundred years of observations of animal homosexuality. Bagemihl shows, for example, that in science as in society, there's a presumption of heterosexuality. Field researchers have commonly assumed, with no independent verification, that whenever they see a pair of animals engaging in what appears to be sexual behavior they are observing a male-female pair. Conversely, whenever they observe a known same-sex pair engaging in behavior that would be classified as sexual between a male and female, they classify it in some other way. This protocol largely precludes the gathering of data about animal homosexuality even when it's being observed. In some cases, though, it resulted in published studies being repudiated as much as 20 years later when it was discovered that what was presumed to be heterosexual behavior in a population was really entirely homosexual. (It's an interesting fact that in some species heterosexuality has never been observed by scientists even when they go to great lengths to observe it over periods of many years.) Also, a lot of animal homosexuality that has been recognized as such has simply been excluded from the published reports. As a result, there is still widespread belief among scientists and the public that animal homosexuality is rare or nonexistent. People will believe otherwise after reading this book. Chapter 4 looks at the attempts to explain away animal homosexuality and chapter 5 considers arguments on the other side that try to attach evolutionary value to homosexuality. Bagemihl rejects all the proposals on both sides, demonstrating the weakness of all the explanations and typically showing that they are plainly inconsistent with the evidence of animal behavior. Finally, he arrives at the question that the reader has been waiting for for almost 200 pages: "Why does same-sex activity persist--reappearing in species after species, generation after generation, individual after individual--when it is not 'useful'?" His answer is not to show that it is useful, but rather to treat the plain existence of homosexuality as a reductio ad absurdum argument against the biologists' assumption that only traits that contribute to reproduction will survive (i.e. are useful). In pursuing this line of thought Begemihl offers interesting descriptions of animals that are nonbreeders, animals that suppress reproduction, animals that segregate the sexes so that reproduction can't happen, animals that engage in birth control, and animals that engage in other nonreproductive behaviors. He also shows that a lot of the sex that actually occurs is not for reproduction, but apparently for pleasure. All of this he believes calls for a new conception of the natural biological world. The last chapter describes some ideas for a new paradigm, which he calls Biological Exuberance and I must say that it is much less convincing than the rest of the book. It is interesting nonetheless. Much of the last chapter is a description of the myths about animals of native North Americans, the tribes of New Guinea, and indigenous Siberian people. When I started reading this chapter I began to wonder if I had accidentally picked up a different book, but in the end he makes a connection between the myths and biological reality. In fact, he shows that some of these myths contain more facts about animals than you can find in any scientific text. Some of the most bizarre of the myths turn out to be true. So where does it end? In mystery. "Our final resting spot--the concept of Biological Exuberance--lies somewhere along the trajectory defined by these three points (chaos, biodiversity, evolution), although its exact location remains strangely imprecise." "Nothing, in the end, has really been 'explained'--and rightly so, for it was 'sensible explanations' that ran aground in the first place." That's not a very satisfactory answer to my mind, but the book is nonetheless a source of many interesting phenomena and ideas. I enjoyed it greatly. I expect most people who read this long book will do as I have done--read part one completely and then selectively read about some particular animals in part two. The second part is an encyclopedia of the queer sexuality of approximately 300 species of mammals and birds. An appendix contains a long list of reptiles, amphibians, fishes, insects, spiders and domesticated animals in which homosexuality has been observed.
Rating: 
Summary: Secondary Research Brings Traditional Values into Question
Review: The largest payoff for "Biological Exuberance: Animal Homosexuality and Natural Diversity" is its author's thorough research through published materials to gather observations of homosexuality in the animal kingdom. It has been traditional for biological field observers to place any such information in footnotes or appendices, maybe with a joking, slighting reference. A result of this, in combination with pressure from Family Values pressure groups, is a complete absence of the mention of animal homosexuality in standard biology textbooks. Bagemihl's compilation of others' research empowers exploration of alternative views. The author presents various attempts at explaining the causes and uses of homosexuality. As science moves along, these themes will get more detailed attention and explanation. For me, the transforming lesson runs like this. Everywhere scientists look there is evidence of homosexual behavior in primates, other mammals, reptiles, fish, birds, and insects. Occam's Razor (I.e., the simplest solution is the best one.) suggests that when they differentiated themselves from the rest of animals over 400 million years ago, vertibrates and insects were designed to allow a minority of individuals to display some homosexual behavior. Despite ongoing evolution and the mass extinctions at the end of the Permian, Triassic, Cretaceous, and other periods, the occasional homosexual proclivities of these species was not eradicated. This says to me that homosexuality is a part of Original Design and has been reaffirmed by its survival from crises that obliterated many species. The true religious view is that homosexuality is a part of creation that God wants and loves, for whatever reason. Human civilization is quite recent. Abrahamic religion is two- to three-thousand years old and has been molded partially into the role of supporting the secular culture, which is centered on child-rearing, property ownership and inheritance, and on cultural precepts of majority rule and nobody is above the law. Homosexuals do not fit easily into the mainstream secular paradigm, as it is glorified and reinforced by organized religion. If one takes this view, it becomes logical to say that criticisms of homosexuals as unnatural or against God's intent are blasphemies against God and His Creation. Pronouncements that homosexuality is to be punished because it is against God's will are takings of the Lord's name in vain. People who rely on the winks or preachings of religious leaders to excuse violence against or stealings from homosexuals may be in for a surprise when they arrive at the Pearly Gates. In sum, "Biological Exuberance" provides a useful counterweight to traditional biological research, standard textbooks, and rote religious attacks on homosexuality. This book is not a special pleading but an objective gathering of information from sources who had no intention of helping the cause of homosexuals. The book may trigger some rethinking of the legitimacy of homosexuality in the world.
Rating:
Summary: A scientific look at animal behavior and physiology
Review: The thing that particularly fascinated me about this book was the broad array of variations in physical gender found in animals. For many animals (e.g., hyenas, bears) a significant percentage of their population at any time is made up of intersexed individuals. Nature is both more strange, and more wonderful, than we usually perceive. The book was a real eye-opener.
Rating:
Summary: A Milestone in the Battle against Ignorance and Homophobia
Review: This book finally and unequivocally puts to rest the notion that homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism is somehow "unnatural". The first half is a very interesting read, which throws a stark spotlight on how homophobic attitudes within academia and the scientific community contributed to extraordinary distortions of science. Ultimately, the scientific method is a one of humanity's most powerful tools for seeking truth. However, the observation of phenomena, which is the cornerstone of the scientific method, is obviously vulnerable to the subjective views and biases of the observer. Baghemil exposes how this vulnerability contributed to 150 years of distortion, obfuscation, and misinterpretation in biology and zoology. The first half of the book is very engaging, but the second half of the book, The Wondrous Bestiary, is the real gem that you keep going back to again and again and want to read out loud from to friends and family. In this section, Baghemil profiles the sexuality of more than a hundred different species ranging from the Mute Swan to the Bottlenosed Dolphin. My favorite is the description of the "necking" behavior of Giraffes, which, it turns out, is a sexual/affectionate activity exclusive to MALE Giraffes. Think about that next time you see a photo of one Giraffe wrapping its neck around anothers. Finally, I believe that this book should be required reading for every religious person who harbors homophobic views or who has accepted the distorted interpretations of scripture that have been used to justify persecution of individuals with variant sexualities for hundreds of years. As a person of faith and an environmentalist, I think there is no more elegant a statement of the fact that gay people are an instrinsic facet of the beautiful mosaic that is Creation than the incredible diversity of species that are profiled in this book. I highly recommend it. Arturo
Rating:
Summary: A Milestone in the Battle against Ignorance and Homophobia
Review: This book finally and unequivocally puts to rest the notion that homosexuality, bisexuality, and transgenderism is somehow "unnatural". The first half is a very interesting read, which throws a stark spotlight on how homophobic attitudes within academia and the scientific community contributed to extraordinary distortions of science. Ultimately, the scientific method is a one of humanity's most powerful tools for seeking truth. However, the observation of phenomena, which is the cornerstone of the scientific method, is obviously vulnerable to the subjective views and biases of the observer. Baghemil exposes how this vulnerability contributed to 150 years of distortion, obfuscation, and misinterpretation in biology and zoology. The first half of the book is very engaging, but the second half of the book, The Wondrous Bestiary, is the real gem that you keep going back to again and again and want to read out loud from to friends and family. In this section, Baghemil profiles the sexuality of more than a hundred different species ranging from the Mute Swan to the Bottlenosed Dolphin. My favorite is the description of the "necking" behavior of Giraffes, which, it turns out, is a sexual/affectionate activity exclusive to MALE Giraffes. Think about that next time you see a photo of one Giraffe wrapping its neck around anothers. Finally, I believe that this book should be required reading for every religious person who harbors homophobic views or who has accepted the distorted interpretations of scripture that have been used to justify persecution of individuals with variant sexualities for hundreds of years. As a person of faith and an environmentalist, I think there is no more elegant a statement of the fact that gay people are an instrinsic facet of the beautiful mosaic that is Creation than the incredible diversity of species that are profiled in this book. I highly recommend it. Arturo
Rating:
Summary: A COMPLETE, UNPRECEDENTED, AND UNBIASED STUDY!
Review: This book is a PERFECT balance between vivid, detailed descriptions of specific case studies in wildlife, and poignant, clear-thinking reflection on what the data MEAN (and doesn't mean!) Dr. Bagemihl neither advocates nor opposes a human gay-rights agenda with his scientific documentation. In fact, he himself reminds the reader to be careful about how this data to occur in animals, it is considered to be 'natural' and therefore acceptable in humans; if it is thought not to occur in animals, it is considered 'unnatural' and therefore unacceptable in humans... "Any careful consideration of the logic behind [this] will show, however, that this line of reasoning is flawed. As many people have pointed out, humans engage in a wide variety of behaviors that do not occur in nature, from cooking to writing letters to wearing clothes, and yet we do not condemn these activities as 'unnatural' because they are not found among animals... "...We also use our biology and anatomy in ways that 'nature did not intend for them to be used' without ascribing a moral value to such activities. As James Weinrich observes, the tongue's primary biological purpose is for the act of eating, yet its use in acts of speech, bubble-gum-blowing, or kissing is not therefore considered 'unnatural.' In addition, many things that do occur spontaneously in animals--diseases, birth defects, rape and cannibalism, for example--are not considered to be 'natural' or desirable conditions or behaviors in most humans..." This is merely one example of the sharp analytical commentary that Dr. Bagemihl has laid upon his volume of rich and manifold encyclopedia entries regarding animal sexuality. Biological Exuberance is an absolutely honest look at what occurs in nature, written with integrity and clarity, and is a must-read for any teacher or student of zoology
Rating:
Summary: great refutation of absence of homosexual animal behavior
Review: This book is like a much better researched Kinsey report of a subset of the animal kingdom. The author did a LOT of careful review of the literature to piece together many data putting the lie to the commonly-held belief that animals are either never same-sex directed OR are only that way b/c of strange circumstances. The author very carefully examines the marginalizing that has occurred in this exceedingly common set of same-sex behaviors and sets things right. I found most interesting the psychological aspect of the book, where he observed and put into context the most common reasons for scientists' omitting or marginalizing homosexual animal behavior. Parts of the book can seem very exhaustive, however. It is NOT a quick read. It does, however, repay close attention. I wish every fundamentalist would read this book and wrap their minds around the phenomenon of widespread bisexual and homosexual behaviors of many diff. types in the "lower" animals.
Rating:
Summary: Good book but...
Review: This is a good book for reference. However, the homosexual behaviors described in the book are not quite what I expected. It should have been titled Animal sexuality instead of homosexuality.
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