What do you think?
Rate this book
A Brief History of the Female Body: An Evolutionary Look at How and Why the Female Form Came to Be
From breasts and orgasms to periods, pregnancies, and menopause― A Brief History of the Female Body is a fascinating science book explaining the mysteries of the female body through an evolutionary lens. Let's face The female body is an enigma. For teenagers first experiencing their periods, the monthly arrival of mood swings and cramps can be agonizing and inconvenient. With pregnancy―perhaps the most miraculous of bodily events―comes countless potential complications, including high blood pressure, diabetes, premature birth, and postpartum depression. And menopause is equally mystifying. Why do females lose their fertility over time and experience the notorious side effects―like hot flashes, weight gain, and hair loss―while males maintain their fertility forever? Evolutionary geneticist and educator Dr. Deena Emera has spent much of her career studying the evolution of female reproduction. A Brief History of the Female Body draws on her vast expertise as a biologist, her experience as a mother of four children, and her love of teaching to look far into our evolutionary past, illuminating how and, more importantly, why the female form has transformed over millions of years and its effects on women's health.
400 pages, Paperback
Published August 15, 2023
Ratings & Reviews
Friends & Following
Create a free account to discover what your friends think of this book!
Community Reviews
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews
February 11, 2024
i can never complain about scientific books written by and about women because it's always fascinating, but i can't help but thinking that this book will be so good if it were written 50-100 years from now because soooo many answers in this book (specifically about menopause and why human women evolved to be the way we are) boil down to "well we're not sure yet!"
most of this book is told in examples from the animal kingdom, and although it made interesting comparisons i wish it would've focused more on humans and our ancestors. this book could also be a bit repetitive.
not my fave but definitely not wasted time.
most of this book is told in examples from the animal kingdom, and although it made interesting comparisons i wish it would've focused more on humans and our ancestors. this book could also be a bit repetitive.
not my fave but definitely not wasted time.
February 2, 2024
The body! She’s amazing. Learned a lot and I’m embarrassed by how little I came into this knowing
You’ll like this if you like fun facts, awing at nature, and game theory (not sure if I could have stomached this much Darwinianism if this weren’t written by a woman and I weren’t so far along my paleoanthropology journey)
Freaks like me will love conflict theory. A mother only shares half her genes with a child so they only share evolutionary interests up until a certain point - a baby is willing to survive at the expense of its mother, while the mom wants to maximize likelihood of any child, including by making sure she lives and having and nurturing other kids (the first portfolio managers am I right). The human placenta will literally invade the uterus and give the mother diabetes to maximize the nutrients it receives. A mom has to decide when to wean a crying baby in order to produce additional offspring who might be healthier
Also really liked the sections about periods, orgasms, and sexual selection, which all had good examples of how putting things in context of other animals reveals how extraordinary things we take for granted about being human are (only 2% of mammals menstruate! In some species like DOLPHINS and DUCKS reproduction by sexual aggression is the norm 😢😢, so the ladies have evolved their vaginas to resist and select sperm)
Not for people who want the unequivocal scientific consensus or struggle with the tension between individuals and populations. Perhaps a function of the patriarchy and public health resourcing, there’s a lot more we don’t know than we do!
You’ll like this if you like fun facts, awing at nature, and game theory (not sure if I could have stomached this much Darwinianism if this weren’t written by a woman and I weren’t so far along my paleoanthropology journey)
Freaks like me will love conflict theory. A mother only shares half her genes with a child so they only share evolutionary interests up until a certain point - a baby is willing to survive at the expense of its mother, while the mom wants to maximize likelihood of any child, including by making sure she lives and having and nurturing other kids (the first portfolio managers am I right). The human placenta will literally invade the uterus and give the mother diabetes to maximize the nutrients it receives. A mom has to decide when to wean a crying baby in order to produce additional offspring who might be healthier
Also really liked the sections about periods, orgasms, and sexual selection, which all had good examples of how putting things in context of other animals reveals how extraordinary things we take for granted about being human are (only 2% of mammals menstruate! In some species like DOLPHINS and DUCKS reproduction by sexual aggression is the norm 😢😢, so the ladies have evolved their vaginas to resist and select sperm)
Not for people who want the unequivocal scientific consensus or struggle with the tension between individuals and populations. Perhaps a function of the patriarchy and public health resourcing, there’s a lot more we don’t know than we do!
October 27, 2023
this book was soooo interesting and I keep bringing up excerpts to everyone I talked to. If you liked Sapiens, you’ll love this. Such an important and under appreciated area of research. Every chapter there were WOW moments that left me in awe.
Note on the writing: this book was very clear and easy to read despite the heavy amount of science. I think she did a great job avoiding jargon and making everything understandable. I did find some parts overly repetitive, but I guess she was more worried about it being clear to a lay audience. I found the many parentheses noting that a topic would be discussed in the future unnecessary and annoying. Overall I loved this book and would recommended everyone read it to learn more about female biology.
Note on the writing: this book was very clear and easy to read despite the heavy amount of science. I think she did a great job avoiding jargon and making everything understandable. I did find some parts overly repetitive, but I guess she was more worried about it being clear to a lay audience. I found the many parentheses noting that a topic would be discussed in the future unnecessary and annoying. Overall I loved this book and would recommended everyone read it to learn more about female biology.
August 15, 2023
Why is studying the evolution of the female body important and what difference does it make to women’s health? This book sheds light on this question and provides persuasive answers that carefully examine our evolutionary past, which could lead to more effective treatments to many of the events, milestones, and illnesses that women suffer from. Dr. Emera provides compelling evidence of what shapes the biology of women, from menstruation, to love making, birthing, to menopause, as well as to the evolutionary etiology of the illness challenges that they encounter, such as endometriosis, autoimmune diseases, or even cancer.
This book is a must read for anyone who may be interested in women’s health and in the transitions that women encounter throughout their lives. The accessible writing and analysis the author provide are based on history, science, and grounded in her own lived experiences as a mother of 4 children.
This book is a must read for anyone who may be interested in women’s health and in the transitions that women encounter throughout their lives. The accessible writing and analysis the author provide are based on history, science, and grounded in her own lived experiences as a mother of 4 children.
August 24, 2023
I loved this book, very informative.
March 21, 2024
(3.5/5) this book could be very dense to read at times but it did make me think about aspects of a woman’s body I’ve never thought about before. As women, we don’t often think about why we feel or look the way we do from an evolutionary standpoint. This book closely examines what we do and don’t know about many of these parts of myself I question often. Like why do I have a period?!? Why do men get to make all the little sperm they want but I have limited eggs!?! Beyond the “eve ate the apple” rhetoric, this book delves into how these traits benefited our evolutionary ancestors. Maybe (just maybe!!) I can learn to appreciate these aspects of myself a little more now that I know how they benefited the women before me.
October 21, 2023
Oh my gosh almost forgot about this book but it was an INCREDIBLE read. I thought it'd be limited to just the human female anatomy, however, so much of the book delved into how other species' bodies developed. The themes stretched far and wide from puberty to pregnancy to menopause and I felt a deep sense of connection to the author and the work as it discussed the intricacies of our lives. Definitely a read I think everyone should get to!
November 26, 2023
Thoroughly enjoyed this book. Emera was able to distill decades of complex research into a enjoyable read. I very much appreciated that open research questions and matters where scientists differ were portrayed as such (rather than with a bias towards the author's POV). The chapter on love was particularly interesting to me as I learned more about the intricacies of mate choice, a topic I had previously thought science had, for the most part, "nailed down".
Also, thought the light interweaving of personal and family anecdotes was a nice addition to the scientific material.
Also, thought the light interweaving of personal and family anecdotes was a nice addition to the scientific material.
April 4, 2024
The author skillfully uncovers the secrets of the female body by drawing parallels with our animal counterparts. It's captivating to see how evolutionary clues from the animal world can help us decipher the enigmas of human biology, such as menstruation, pregnancy challenges, and menopause. The concept of cooperation and conflict during pregnancy adds depth to the narrative, shedding light on the intricate dynamics between mothers and offspring. Highly recommended !
April 20, 2024
I was really impressed with the approach the author takes in assessing the development of females. Building on selfish-gene theory, the books looks at differences across species and identifies the factors at play in the development of different reproductive and biological strategies. Many of the evolutionary conflicts explored in the book are discussed in terms that can easily be translated into game theory, with a clear nash equilibrium that results in the current state of human biology. Examples include female/male dynamics, mother/fetus dynamics, early menopause, and longer lifespans.
December 23, 2023
This was definitely an interesting and insightful read though I did find parts of it kinda boring.
May 22, 2024
Herseyi anlayabilirim memeler, menapoz, mensturasyon vs ama o invasive plancenta olayi cidden dehset verici. Kitap cok iyi bu arada, conflict theory gercekten cok mantikli geldi, sadece biyolojiyi degil sosyal iliskileri anlamada da yardimci oldugunu dusunuyorum. Kiz, erkek herkesin okumasi lazim. Ozellikle ergenlik donemindeki kiz ve erkek cocuklarinin.
January 3, 2024
I know it’s unfair to compare this book to Cat Bohannon’s Eve, but I can’t help it. They were published in the same year. They are both about the evolutionary history of human female traits. I read them simultaneously. And this book just isn’t as good as Eve. If you’re interested in this topic, read that book instead.
This book is written by a scientist, and it shows. So much of the book is a summary of current research on humans and other animals, and phrases like “would seem to suggest” and “this trait likely evolved…” The amount of discussion of genes, genetic variation, and traits was perfectly appropriate for a book by a geneticist, but it felt a little too much like I was reading a textbook or a meta analysis, rather than a popsci book for the general public.
Also, the premise is slightly different. This book is more concerned with “human women do/experience X. Why?” From breasts to menopause, the focus is simply to explain the function and make hypotheses about origins. At some points, it even dipped into evolutionary psychology, which is infuriating. It’s understandably cis- and heteronormative in a way that also feels frustrating.
By contrast, Eve is more about how a trait that we associate with women led to humans’ existence at all. It’s written by a trained writer, tells compelling narratives about extinct ancestors, and included some science that contradicts or expands on the science in this book. Again, this comparison might not be fair, but it’s also inevitable.
This book is written by a scientist, and it shows. So much of the book is a summary of current research on humans and other animals, and phrases like “would seem to suggest” and “this trait likely evolved…” The amount of discussion of genes, genetic variation, and traits was perfectly appropriate for a book by a geneticist, but it felt a little too much like I was reading a textbook or a meta analysis, rather than a popsci book for the general public.
Also, the premise is slightly different. This book is more concerned with “human women do/experience X. Why?” From breasts to menopause, the focus is simply to explain the function and make hypotheses about origins. At some points, it even dipped into evolutionary psychology, which is infuriating. It’s understandably cis- and heteronormative in a way that also feels frustrating.
By contrast, Eve is more about how a trait that we associate with women led to humans’ existence at all. It’s written by a trained writer, tells compelling narratives about extinct ancestors, and included some science that contradicts or expands on the science in this book. Again, this comparison might not be fair, but it’s also inevitable.
July 30, 2024
WOKE UP AT 3 AM and finally finished this bad boy!! Read the majority of her by my neighborhood pool that is technically not really part of my neighborhood (you would think that they would distribute the code to get into the pool to the whole of falconhead west but these criminals have made me a criminal by jumping the fence on the regular!!) and anyway I am feeling so educated about all things girl!! girl 👧🏻 If you are a woman highly recommend 🌄🏞️ i am literally over here soaking up the sun and reconnecting with those ancient ancestral roots #living the dream
XX
The fact that my dad recommended her makes it that much funnier we love a man who supports his daughters in all things 🙏
XX
The fact that my dad recommended her makes it that much funnier we love a man who supports his daughters in all things 🙏
March 12, 2023
A interesting and thoughtful look at the female body. Written with nothing grace and style. Interesting facts that you want to eagerly share with friends.
October 8, 2023
Most readers of my reviews are familiar with eclampsia, which kills around 45,000 women per year around the world.
Why do pregnant women develop eclampsia?
I'm glad you asked. It has been linked to little chunks of the placenta that break off and start floating through the mother's bloodstream, leaking out massive amounts of angiotensin (the hormone that raises blood pressure) all the while.
Why do little chunks of the placenta break off and enter the mother's bloodstream?
I will confess my own ignorance here -- this is why I read books like this -- and state that I had always considered the placenta part of the female reproductive system. So I was rather embarrassed to learn, at this late stage in my life, that the placenta is actually something built by the fetus. The fetus is, of course, only halfway related to the mother. The mother and the placenta have, over hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, reached an uneasy truce in how the placenta connects to the uterus. In the great apes, of which we are one, this connection is quite intimate, as the placenta literally opens up the walls of the arteries that feed the uterus and taps into the mother's bloodstream.
Is this why human birth is so bloody and messy?
It is indeed. Cows, pigs and horses do not allow the placenta direct access to the mother's bloodstream, and their births are all but bloodless.
Back to eclampsia. Why would the placenta try to kill the mother? Isn't that essentially committing suicide?
Eclampsia is a last-ditch desperate effort by the placenta to gain access to the blood it needs for survival -- most women who develop pre-eclampsia survive, after all. You see, the mother has evolved special cells that limit the degree to which the placenta can tap into her bloodstream -- if she didn't, the placenta would just keep opening up arteries until the mother hemorrhaged -- which is exactly why ectopic pregnancies are so dangerous, because they take place outside the uterus, where all these mother-protecting cells reside.
When eclampsia occurs, the mother has been so effective at preventing placental invasion that the placenta is starved for blood, so it attempts to raise the mother's blood pressure to force more blood through the openings it has managed to make.
But why aren't human females more like cows and horses, with neat and tidy placentas that are less traumatizing to the mother?
Nobody knows. Class dismissed.
========================
This constant asking of Why? Why? Why? is the essence of science, and a tip of the cap to Dr. Emera, who's done a great job of presenting all of these evolution-type questions in an interesting way. Did you know that those same horses and cows that don't allow placental invasion are also far less prone to invasive cancers? And why are 80% of people suffering from autoimmune diseases female? And what about menopause? Fish and amphibians produce eggs throughout their lives, the same way they produce sperm, but birds and mammals have a fixed supply that is supplied in utero, and that's all they've got.
I highly recommend this book to anybody with an interest in evolution, and particularly evolution of humans, and even more particularly how evolution resulted in the female body as it exists today. And Emera's a good writer, all too rare a treat when scientists write books for the public. Her research focus has been the placenta, and so we get a highly placentacentric answer to many questions posed here, which may or may not bother you. At least one reader of my reviews has been banned from talking about placentas in the forum at all, after some unfortunate reviewing episodes with cookbooks, but I found all of this very interesting.
Okay, okay. What many of us really want to know is: Why do we fall in love?
The author is not a romantic:
A pitiful attempt by the publisher to push books. This is a science book, for God's sake.
And, finally, orgasms. Why do women have them? (Or a related question, why don't women have them more often?) The answer, apparently, is 'it was a lucky accident.' Any theories you've heard to the contrary are pretty effectively debunked here.
Why do pregnant women develop eclampsia?
I'm glad you asked. It has been linked to little chunks of the placenta that break off and start floating through the mother's bloodstream, leaking out massive amounts of angiotensin (the hormone that raises blood pressure) all the while.
Why do little chunks of the placenta break off and enter the mother's bloodstream?
I will confess my own ignorance here -- this is why I read books like this -- and state that I had always considered the placenta part of the female reproductive system. So I was rather embarrassed to learn, at this late stage in my life, that the placenta is actually something built by the fetus. The fetus is, of course, only halfway related to the mother. The mother and the placenta have, over hundreds of thousands of years of evolution, reached an uneasy truce in how the placenta connects to the uterus. In the great apes, of which we are one, this connection is quite intimate, as the placenta literally opens up the walls of the arteries that feed the uterus and taps into the mother's bloodstream.
Is this why human birth is so bloody and messy?
It is indeed. Cows, pigs and horses do not allow the placenta direct access to the mother's bloodstream, and their births are all but bloodless.
Back to eclampsia. Why would the placenta try to kill the mother? Isn't that essentially committing suicide?
Eclampsia is a last-ditch desperate effort by the placenta to gain access to the blood it needs for survival -- most women who develop pre-eclampsia survive, after all. You see, the mother has evolved special cells that limit the degree to which the placenta can tap into her bloodstream -- if she didn't, the placenta would just keep opening up arteries until the mother hemorrhaged -- which is exactly why ectopic pregnancies are so dangerous, because they take place outside the uterus, where all these mother-protecting cells reside.
When eclampsia occurs, the mother has been so effective at preventing placental invasion that the placenta is starved for blood, so it attempts to raise the mother's blood pressure to force more blood through the openings it has managed to make.
But why aren't human females more like cows and horses, with neat and tidy placentas that are less traumatizing to the mother?
Nobody knows. Class dismissed.
========================
This constant asking of Why? Why? Why? is the essence of science, and a tip of the cap to Dr. Emera, who's done a great job of presenting all of these evolution-type questions in an interesting way. Did you know that those same horses and cows that don't allow placental invasion are also far less prone to invasive cancers? And why are 80% of people suffering from autoimmune diseases female? And what about menopause? Fish and amphibians produce eggs throughout their lives, the same way they produce sperm, but birds and mammals have a fixed supply that is supplied in utero, and that's all they've got.
I highly recommend this book to anybody with an interest in evolution, and particularly evolution of humans, and even more particularly how evolution resulted in the female body as it exists today. And Emera's a good writer, all too rare a treat when scientists write books for the public. Her research focus has been the placenta, and so we get a highly placentacentric answer to many questions posed here, which may or may not bother you. At least one reader of my reviews has been banned from talking about placentas in the forum at all, after some unfortunate reviewing episodes with cookbooks, but I found all of this very interesting.
Okay, okay. What many of us really want to know is: Why do we fall in love?
The author is not a romantic:
Falling in love is one of the most irrational things people can do. We are literally blinded to the shortcomings of our object of desire...This isn't a topic you'd think most evolutionary biologists would have much to say about, a topic more appropriate for the realms of music and multiplexes. But if we phrase the question slightly differently -- why are we choosy about our mates? -- there is in fact an extensive body of research on the subject.And speaking of bodies, what kind of goodies are there about the naked woman on the front of the book, and the promise of the 'female form' listed in the title?
A pitiful attempt by the publisher to push books. This is a science book, for God's sake.
And, finally, orgasms. Why do women have them? (Or a related question, why don't women have them more often?) The answer, apparently, is 'it was a lucky accident.' Any theories you've heard to the contrary are pretty effectively debunked here.
March 7, 2024
I highly recommend this book!
A short list of facts mentioned in the book: A and Alpha cells - are sex-specific cells in yeast. They can only reproduce between themselves, but not with the same type of cells. These cells are probably evolutionary stepping stones to sperm and egg. They are chemically attracted to opposite types.
Hermaphrodites - are probably the first stage in the evolution of separate sexes. It's probable that there are heavy costs in producing both sex cells and being able to reproduce with themselves.
- There are no intermediate types of sex cells. The evolutionary pressures shape them into small and many vs. big and few.
Sex determination - In fish, there are diverse ways of sexual determination: sequential hermaphroditism, xx/xy, zy/zz, or genetic determination without sex-specific chromosomes (blue tilapia). But in mammals, no organism developed pathogenesis, environmental cues for sex determination, and sex chromosomes evolved only once as xx/xy. In mammal males y chromosome has all male-specific genes but this also leads to the shrinking of the y chromosome. Some species even lost the y chromosome - Japanese spiny rat, but have other ways of sex determination. But we don't know how they do it.
Witches milk - 5% of kids are able to produce milk.
Boobs - Humans are the only mammals in which females store fat in breasts, hips, and thighs. And permanent big boobs are by some evolutionary biologists considered fitness indicators of good genes. Large breasts correlate with high hormone levels while pregnant. There was a Polish study that showed this, but it failed in replications. Mammary glands evolved from sweat glands. For instance, platypus produce milk without nipples - showing this link.
Menstruation - There were serval theories on the point of menstruation. There are placental animals that do not menstruate, but it popped in serval species in different families. Which suggests that it is an adaptive trait. However, the placenta in primates is aggressive and invasive - so menstruation may be a way how to overthrow and gain control. As a way to wean out bad embryos - 40% of fertilized eggs do not develop and are destroyed.
By-product theory of orgasm - Evidence for adaptive theories (ie suction of semen while having an orgasm) of female orgasm in humans is not so strong. But in some mammal species (rabbits) orgasm helps with ovulation. And this may be the case even in humans. But the author speculates that if we analyze how orgasm works in all vertebrates human female orgasm may be a lost trait, adaptation as well as by-product.
Pregnancy - The placental hormone ACG leads to morning sickness as well for the placenta borrowing deeply in the uterus. Dad's genes try to expand the placenta an a child, while mom's genes try to suppress them. This is called the author's conflict theory of pregnancy.
A short list of facts mentioned in the book: A and Alpha cells - are sex-specific cells in yeast. They can only reproduce between themselves, but not with the same type of cells. These cells are probably evolutionary stepping stones to sperm and egg. They are chemically attracted to opposite types.
Hermaphrodites - are probably the first stage in the evolution of separate sexes. It's probable that there are heavy costs in producing both sex cells and being able to reproduce with themselves.
- There are no intermediate types of sex cells. The evolutionary pressures shape them into small and many vs. big and few.
Sex determination - In fish, there are diverse ways of sexual determination: sequential hermaphroditism, xx/xy, zy/zz, or genetic determination without sex-specific chromosomes (blue tilapia). But in mammals, no organism developed pathogenesis, environmental cues for sex determination, and sex chromosomes evolved only once as xx/xy. In mammal males y chromosome has all male-specific genes but this also leads to the shrinking of the y chromosome. Some species even lost the y chromosome - Japanese spiny rat, but have other ways of sex determination. But we don't know how they do it.
Witches milk - 5% of kids are able to produce milk.
Boobs - Humans are the only mammals in which females store fat in breasts, hips, and thighs. And permanent big boobs are by some evolutionary biologists considered fitness indicators of good genes. Large breasts correlate with high hormone levels while pregnant. There was a Polish study that showed this, but it failed in replications. Mammary glands evolved from sweat glands. For instance, platypus produce milk without nipples - showing this link.
Menstruation - There were serval theories on the point of menstruation. There are placental animals that do not menstruate, but it popped in serval species in different families. Which suggests that it is an adaptive trait. However, the placenta in primates is aggressive and invasive - so menstruation may be a way how to overthrow and gain control. As a way to wean out bad embryos - 40% of fertilized eggs do not develop and are destroyed.
By-product theory of orgasm - Evidence for adaptive theories (ie suction of semen while having an orgasm) of female orgasm in humans is not so strong. But in some mammal species (rabbits) orgasm helps with ovulation. And this may be the case even in humans. But the author speculates that if we analyze how orgasm works in all vertebrates human female orgasm may be a lost trait, adaptation as well as by-product.
Pregnancy - The placental hormone ACG leads to morning sickness as well for the placenta borrowing deeply in the uterus. Dad's genes try to expand the placenta an a child, while mom's genes try to suppress them. This is called the author's conflict theory of pregnancy.
February 6, 2024
This book masterfully blends biology, anthropology, and sociology to provide a comprehensive look at the complexities and wonders of the female body.
Starting from the earliest days of human evolution, the author navigates through millennia of biological and societal changes to explain not just how but why the female body has evolved in the ways that it has. With a keen eye for detail and a narrative that is both engaging and informative, the book challenges and enlightens readers about the myriad factors influencing female anatomy and physiology.
What sets this work apart is its dedication to weaving scientific insights with cultural and historical contexts, offering a holistic view of the female body beyond the biological determinism. Dr. Emera
addresses pivotal moments in history and their impact on women's health, rights, and roles in society, making it clear that the story of the female body is deeply intertwined with the story of humanity itself.
'A Brief History of the Female Body' is not just an academic text; it's a compelling story of resilience, adaptation, and beauty. It encourages readers to rethink preconceived notions about gender and health, highlighting the importance of understanding our past to navigate the present and future of women's bodily autonomy and empowerment.
For anyone interested in the intersection of science, history, and gender studies, this book offers invaluable insights and a rich narrative that is both enlightening and inspiring. It's a must-read for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the female body and its place in the natural and social world.
Starting from the earliest days of human evolution, the author navigates through millennia of biological and societal changes to explain not just how but why the female body has evolved in the ways that it has. With a keen eye for detail and a narrative that is both engaging and informative, the book challenges and enlightens readers about the myriad factors influencing female anatomy and physiology.
What sets this work apart is its dedication to weaving scientific insights with cultural and historical contexts, offering a holistic view of the female body beyond the biological determinism. Dr. Emera
addresses pivotal moments in history and their impact on women's health, rights, and roles in society, making it clear that the story of the female body is deeply intertwined with the story of humanity itself.
'A Brief History of the Female Body' is not just an academic text; it's a compelling story of resilience, adaptation, and beauty. It encourages readers to rethink preconceived notions about gender and health, highlighting the importance of understanding our past to navigate the present and future of women's bodily autonomy and empowerment.
For anyone interested in the intersection of science, history, and gender studies, this book offers invaluable insights and a rich narrative that is both enlightening and inspiring. It's a must-read for those seeking to deepen their understanding of the female body and its place in the natural and social world.
May 19, 2024
Super fascinating look at why the female body and experience is the way that it is. Each chapter covers a different topic: breasts, periods, orgasms, pregnancy, menopause, and sex biases in disease protection and susceptibility. What sets this book apart is its focus not just on the biology of all these traits (“how do they work”) but more on the evolutionary reasons for them (“why are they like this”). Sometimes the answer is that we don’t know, but usually evolutionary biologists have made some progress and the answers are captivating. Dr. Emera explains things beautifully for the lay audience, but does not compromise on the facts or on throughly summarizing the state of our current understanding.
My favorite chapters were about the conflicts that take place between a pregnant mother and the fetus (and later the young child). They agree on a lot (a healthy pregnancy) but the fetus wants to take more resources than the mother wants to give. This leads to evolutionary battles at the levels of tissues (placental invasion of the uterus) all the way down to genes (imprinted genes in the fetus).
A great read for those interested in human biology and evolution!
My favorite chapters were about the conflicts that take place between a pregnant mother and the fetus (and later the young child). They agree on a lot (a healthy pregnancy) but the fetus wants to take more resources than the mother wants to give. This leads to evolutionary battles at the levels of tissues (placental invasion of the uterus) all the way down to genes (imprinted genes in the fetus).
A great read for those interested in human biology and evolution!
September 1, 2023
كان التكاثر بالانقسام المتساوي، ولا يزال ، شكلاً رئيسيًا من أشكال التكاثر اللاجنسي. ولكن في بعض هذه المخلوقات التي تحتوي على أغشية والتي تتكاثر بشكل انقسامي ، في الماضي ، حدث شيء غيّر الحياة إلى الأبد: تطور التكاثر بالانقسام . قد لا يبدو الأمر حدثا مهماً ، لكن في الحقيقة كان تطور التكاثر بالانقسام حدثا كبيرًا. بدون التكاثر بالانقسام ، لم يكن التكاثر الجنسي ليتطور ، وبدون التكاثر الجنسي ، سيكون العالم مكانًا مختلفًا تمامًا.
يمكنك التفكير في التكاثر بالانقسام باعتباره انقسامًا مكررًا ومعدلًا. بدلاً من انقسام خلية واحدة ، هناك خليتان ، مما يؤدي إلى خفض المعلومات الجينية في هذه الخلايا إلى النصف. في أجسامنا ، التكاثر بالانقسام يصنع البويضات والحيوانات المنوية. أثناء الإخصاب ، تجتمع البويضة والحيوانات المنوية معًا ، لاستعادة الكمية الكاملة من المعلومات الوراثية التي يتم نقلها إلى النسل. إذا لم نقم بتخفيض المحتوى الجيني لخلايانا الجنسية إلى النصف ، فسيحتوي كل جيل على ضعف كمية الحمض النووي الموجودة في الجيل السابق. لست بحاجة إلى أن تكون عالم رياضيات لتستنتج أن مضاعفة الحمض النووي هذه ستخرج عن نطاق السيطرة بسرعة!
.
Emera Deena
A Brief History of the Female Body
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
يمكنك التفكير في التكاثر بالانقسام باعتباره انقسامًا مكررًا ومعدلًا. بدلاً من انقسام خلية واحدة ، هناك خليتان ، مما يؤدي إلى خفض المعلومات الجينية في هذه الخلايا إلى النصف. في أجسامنا ، التكاثر بالانقسام يصنع البويضات والحيوانات المنوية. أثناء الإخصاب ، تجتمع البويضة والحيوانات المنوية معًا ، لاستعادة الكمية الكاملة من المعلومات الوراثية التي يتم نقلها إلى النسل. إذا لم نقم بتخفيض المحتوى الجيني لخلايانا الجنسية إلى النصف ، فسيحتوي كل جيل على ضعف كمية الحمض النووي الموجودة في الجيل السابق. لست بحاجة إلى أن تكون عالم رياضيات لتستنتج أن مضاعفة الحمض النووي هذه ستخرج عن نطاق السيطرة بسرعة!
.
Emera Deena
A Brief History of the Female Body
Translated By #Maher_Razouk
April 4, 2024
This book is an enlightening journey through the evolution of female reproduction and its profound impact on human biology. It shatters the misconception of human uniqueness and highlights our shared biological traits with other organisms. The analogy of shared traits among cousins beautifully illustrates our connection to all living creatures.
The author brilliantly explores the mysteries of the female body by delving into the experiences of our female relatives in the animal kingdom. It's fascinating to unravel the reasons behind phenomena like menstruation, pregnancy challenges, and menopause by examining their existence in our animal sisters.
One of the most engaging aspects of this book is how it portrays the gray areas of evolution. It navigates through the complexities of cooperation and conflict during pregnancy, shedding light on the intricate relationship between mothers and offspring. The insights into the evolutionary pressures that shaped our bodies, like the development of large breasts in females, are captivating.
The author brilliantly explores the mysteries of the female body by delving into the experiences of our female relatives in the animal kingdom. It's fascinating to unravel the reasons behind phenomena like menstruation, pregnancy challenges, and menopause by examining their existence in our animal sisters.
One of the most engaging aspects of this book is how it portrays the gray areas of evolution. It navigates through the complexities of cooperation and conflict during pregnancy, shedding light on the intricate relationship between mothers and offspring. The insights into the evolutionary pressures that shaped our bodies, like the development of large breasts in females, are captivating.
July 1, 2024
This is a great book that goes into the details about how the human female body does what males bodies don't. The author pulls from an extensive background to explain how there's been an arms race between children and mothers; the children wanting more resources and the mothers trying to save resources for themselves. The author presents evidence from the molecular (how the placenta tries to invade the mother, and how the mother's immunological system fights back) all the way to the behavioral. She presents several theories representing the current state of thinking in evolutionary biology and I feel she does a good job of explaining the pros on cons of each theory.
I learned a lot from this book and it has expanded my understanding of immunology, molecular biology and human evolution.
I listened to the audibook via Overdrive from my local library.
Reading Level: adult
Romance: No
Smut: No
Violence: No
TW: No
I learned a lot from this book and it has expanded my understanding of immunology, molecular biology and human evolution.
I listened to the audibook via Overdrive from my local library.
Reading Level: adult
Romance: No
Smut: No
Violence: No
TW: No
August 22, 2024
Lots of new and interesting information about the female biology. I picked up this book to educate myself more on periods, pregnancies, menstruations, etc, which I certainly get, but viewing this topic through an evolutionary biology perspective and learning about other animals make this topic infinitely more interesting.
Most of all I appreciate the author clearly outlining which statements in the book are hypotheses that require further explorations, were these hypotheses widely accepted, what were the critiques, her associations with the researchers behind studies she outlined in the book, and which hypotheses she gravitates to but recognize the need for further support. It helps so much for the readers to know these additional caveats.
The author mentions she taught high school biology and it shows: her ability to explain complex topics make the book very enjoyable. I'll certainly be looking out for more books on evolutionary biology and female health after this enjoyable read.
Most of all I appreciate the author clearly outlining which statements in the book are hypotheses that require further explorations, were these hypotheses widely accepted, what were the critiques, her associations with the researchers behind studies she outlined in the book, and which hypotheses she gravitates to but recognize the need for further support. It helps so much for the readers to know these additional caveats.
The author mentions she taught high school biology and it shows: her ability to explain complex topics make the book very enjoyable. I'll certainly be looking out for more books on evolutionary biology and female health after this enjoyable read.
July 25, 2023
**Thank you to NetGalley and Sourcebooks for this ARC in exchange for an honest review**
This book was very basic, like Biology 1000 and Sex Ed 101. If you've graduated high school, chances are you've already learned most of this. That doesn't mean it wouldn't make a good source for children/teens who want to know a little bit more about how their bodies work. It's better to understand these things before they happen to you.
It seems like she wrote this book to answer questions, but many of her answers were more like, "Well, here are some theories, but we don't really know." Some theories didn't have anything to really back them up, either.
I also wish she would have had citation numbers in the text so I could see exactly where she got her information from. She has an extensive bibliography, though.
This book was very basic, like Biology 1000 and Sex Ed 101. If you've graduated high school, chances are you've already learned most of this. That doesn't mean it wouldn't make a good source for children/teens who want to know a little bit more about how their bodies work. It's better to understand these things before they happen to you.
It seems like she wrote this book to answer questions, but many of her answers were more like, "Well, here are some theories, but we don't really know." Some theories didn't have anything to really back them up, either.
I also wish she would have had citation numbers in the text so I could see exactly where she got her information from. She has an extensive bibliography, though.
March 2, 2023
This is a mediocre book by a mediocre author that covers all aspects of the history of the female human body. Regretfully, Dr. Emra fills this book about science with far too many personal vignettes about her four children, which adds little or nothing to the topics of ovulation, menopause, etc. The author also includes many theories that today have no research confirmation, which to her credit, she openly admits. Finally, Dr. Emera includes several assertions that are simply false. For example, perhaps due to political correctness and fear for her job, she claims that the human races are a social construct with no biological basis, but this ignores countless contrary scientific findings that have conclusively demonstrated the opposite to be the case.
January 29, 2024
Ahhh this was my first annual Christmas Eve book swap book from Jonathan :) and I. Am. Mad.
We. The women. Are truly ticked off that science is SO lacking in it’s exploration of us. I’ve been aggressively sharing the facts I’ve learned from this book with everyone for the past month and I am delighted and angry. I understand myself more? But I could understand myself even BETTER if women’s bodies were better studied. I’m glad that that’s finally changing, and I hope that the advent of future books on this subject will further fill in the gaps that this author admitted to not being able to fill due to a lack of research.
Anyway, my thanks to this author for bringing together what research is out there, and pressing the field forward.
We. The women. Are truly ticked off that science is SO lacking in it’s exploration of us. I’ve been aggressively sharing the facts I’ve learned from this book with everyone for the past month and I am delighted and angry. I understand myself more? But I could understand myself even BETTER if women’s bodies were better studied. I’m glad that that’s finally changing, and I hope that the advent of future books on this subject will further fill in the gaps that this author admitted to not being able to fill due to a lack of research.
Anyway, my thanks to this author for bringing together what research is out there, and pressing the field forward.
April 4, 2024
This book provides a captivating exploration of the evolution of female reproduction, shedding light on why human reproduction differs significantly from that of great apes. It delves into the development of processes like the monthly cycle and menopause, unraveling the mysteries of their evolution in an accessible and comprehensible manner.
However, it's worth noting that the title can be somewhat misleading. This book specifically focuses on the evolutionary aspects of reproduction and doesn't delve into other facets of the female body. If you're seeking broader information about female physiology, this may not be the right choice. But for those with a keen interest in the evolution of reproduction, this book is a valuable and informative resource.
However, it's worth noting that the title can be somewhat misleading. This book specifically focuses on the evolutionary aspects of reproduction and doesn't delve into other facets of the female body. If you're seeking broader information about female physiology, this may not be the right choice. But for those with a keen interest in the evolution of reproduction, this book is a valuable and informative resource.
July 29, 2023
This book is a fascinating look at the evolution of female reproduction. Why is human reproduction so different from that of great apes? How did processes like a monthly cycle and menopause evolve? In clear and understandable prose, this book explores such questions and more.
The title is unfortunately misleading, because the book is specifically about evolution and reproduction. If you're looking for other information about the female body, this book is not for you. But if you enjoy this topic as I do, you'll find this book a valuable resource.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
The title is unfortunately misleading, because the book is specifically about evolution and reproduction. If you're looking for other information about the female body, this book is not for you. But if you enjoy this topic as I do, you'll find this book a valuable resource.
Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.
October 26, 2023
As a busy working mom, I don’t make enough time for reading. But unlike the stack of neglected books on my nightstand, Dr Emera’s book was so fascinating and eye-opening to me that I couldn’t put it down. The science is totally accessible to non-scientists, and Dr Emera’s passion and curiosity for evolutionary biology is especially inspiring. The book is carefully researched, clearly-explained, and explores topics that will interest and educate any reader (of any gender or sex). I don’t usually gift books, but I’ve already gifted this one to several mom friends and female relatives because they deserve to have a more complete understanding of how their bodies work.
April 4, 2024
This book truly left me amazed by the intricacies of human biology, particularly in the context of women. Dr. Emera presents the information in a beautifully accessible manner that is both enlightening and captivating.
As you delve deeper into the book, you'll come to realize the vast amount of knowledge and contemplation involved in understanding "how and why the female form evolved." It serves as an excellent introduction to the subject, prompting moments of reflection and wonder at the remarkable nature of our biology.
Personally, I found this book to be a delightful read, and I have no doubt that you will share the same sentiment.
As you delve deeper into the book, you'll come to realize the vast amount of knowledge and contemplation involved in understanding "how and why the female form evolved." It serves as an excellent introduction to the subject, prompting moments of reflection and wonder at the remarkable nature of our biology.
Personally, I found this book to be a delightful read, and I have no doubt that you will share the same sentiment.
Displaying 1 - 30 of 62 reviews