Bonk by Mary Roach

Title: Bonk- The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
Author: Mary Roach
Page Count: 303
Rating: C
Keywords: Popular Science, Research, Journalism, Sex
Genre: Nonfiction
Younger Readers: This is not appropriate for children and is not an educational book. It involves various studies of sexual intercourse, scientifically and culturally. Not appropriate for younger readers, nor would they easily understand some of the content. If you're old enough to read Cosmo magazine, then you should be fine.

Synopsis from Goodreads:

The study of sexual physiology - what happens, and why, and how to make it happen better - has been a paying career or a diverting sideline for scientists as far-ranging as Leonardo da Vinci and James Watson. The research has taken place behind the closed doors of laboratories, brothels, MRI centers, pig farms, sex-toy R&D labs, and Alfred Kinsey's attic.

Mary Roach, "the funniest science writer in the country" (Burkhard Bilger of 'The New Yorker'), devoted the past two years to stepping behind those doors. Can a person think herself to orgasm? Can a dead man get an erection? Is vaginal orgasm a myth? Why doesn't Viagra help women or, for that matter, pandas?

In 'Bonk', Roach shows us how and why sexual arousal and orgasm, two of the most complex, delightful, and amazing scientific phenomena on earth, can be so hard to achieve and what science is doing to slowly make the bedroom a more satisfying place. 16 illustrations.  

My Review:

When I was in high school I read Mary Roach's Stiff: The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers and absolutely loved it. It was interesting, well researched, and fit well with my interests in forensic anthropology. If you have a strong stomach and your interests tend to lean towards the realm of morbid then I would absolutely recommend you give that book a try.

I wish that I had been as enamored with Bonk. The book retains much of Roach's humor and personal asides but it lacked the sparkle I had come to expect from her other book. Her research into the various case studies and topics surrounding the scientific aspects of sexual intercourse and human pleasure was adequate and did present some bits of interesting information but I could not bring myself to say that I truly liked this book. Each chapter felt quite long and my mind was often wandering. Having a general interest in science and history, I had also heard much of the information before but in other formats.

Overall, the book is readable and I do not regret reading. At the same time it is certainly not one of the most memorable books I have ever read, nor would I demand my friends read it. If the subject matter and synopsis have piqued your interest then go ahead and give it a read. If they have not, then you can safely skip this one.