Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex
 | |
| Author | Mary Roach |
|---|---|
| Country | United States |
| Language | English |
| Subject | Science, Sex, Human Biology |
| Genre | Non-Fiction |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton & Company |
Publication date | 2008 |
| Media type | Print (Hardback, Paperback) |
| Pages | 319 |
| ISBN | 978-0-393-06464-3 |
Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex was written by Mary Roach in 2008. The book follows the winding history of science and its exploration of human sexuality, going back as far as Aristotle and finally ending with recent discoveries about the origination and anatomy of the female orgasm. Throughout, Mary Roach provides a humorous and often very personal view—both as a participant and observer—of humans, scientists, animals, and sex machines. Of the book's numerous accounts, Roach discusses artificial insemination of sows in Denmark, the notorious history of sex machines, as well as much discussion and commentary on Kinsey's notorious attic sex experiments. Her footnotes provide additional humor; as in a sentence which includes several DSM diagnoses listed as acronyms she adds "And from HAFD (hyperactive acronym formation disorder)".[1] In the book, Mary Roach describes a session in which she and her husband Ed volunteer to have sex while being recorded by a groundbreaking 4D ultrasound in the interests of science. During the experiment, a doctor looks on, making suggestions, and finally telling Ed that he "may ejaculate now."[2]
In 2008, Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex, was a New York Times Top 10 Bestseller as well as a New York Times Book Review Editor's Choice, it was a San Francisco Chronicle #1 bestseller, and was in the Boston Sunday Globe's Top 5 Science Books. Bonk was also a Booksense Independent Bestseller and the Publishers Weekly 2008 Staff Pick.[3]