Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes?: Bodies, Behavior, and Brains--The Science Behind Sex, Love, and Attraction

by Jena Pincott

Book Overview

How long does it take to decide if a person is hot? Is your lover more likely to get you pregnant than your husband? Can men tell when a woman is fertile? If you've ever wondered how scientists measure love--or whether men really prefer blondes over brunettes--this smart, sexy book provides real answers to these and many other questions about our most baffling dating and mating behaviors. Based on the latest research in biology, evolutionary psychology,...

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0385342152
• ISBN13: 9780385342155
• Release Date: September 2008
• Publisher: Delacorte Press
• Length: 351 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 6.6" x 8.3"

Customer Reviews

Utterly fascinating and addictive

In a light and compelling way, the author brings together an excellent overview of the science of dating and mating. Mostly addressing love and sex from an evolutionary point of view, topics covered in the book include why we're attracted to people who look like ourselves in long-term relationships but not short-term, how porn affects men and women differently, how sex affects the nervous system, why penis size means more to men than to women, the body language of mating, why absence makes a man's heart (or hard-on) stronger, and the real science behind pheromones and how women subconsciously choose men based on body odors. I loved this book. Not everything applies to everyone, individuals vary, but the trends are interesting. This book packs a lot of information into a light and entertaining format (short sections make it hard to put down) and provides an extensive sources section and index for further research. A MUST READ!

evolutionary biology explains everything!

I picked up this book initially because I wanted to know the answer to the question in the book's title: Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? (because I do!). The book explained several questions that I had been curious about. Since I am a face man, I was curious to know why certain faces are so irresistible to me. The answer was surprising and yet completely understandable in evolutionary biological terms. An attractive face is a symmetrical face, indicating genetic and developmental health of the individual and therefore his or her attractiveness as a mate. Why is long hair sexy? It's not obvious, but again it's explained by evolution and biology. Can semen in your body from your partner make you happy? Why do men have more casual sex than women? You can say the answer is that they are dogs, but that's not the evolutionary reason. And for you singles: you should know that intercourse with a partner is more satisfying than masturbation. Love makes you blind. It turns out it's not just a saying. What body language do men or women use to let you know that they are interested? This too has to do with the evolution of human behavior. I learned a surprising amount of evolutionary biology and psychology from this book!

Great Converstion Starters!

I think this book is terrific ! The questions answers in the book make great fodder for provocative conversations with friends and boyfriends. Some of the ones I loved: are "Is a meat-heavy diet a turn- pff? Why do roller coaster rides and other thrills make people lustful? What smells have been found to turn people on? How do the seasons affect your love life?" It's funny, charming, and well-- written. What I like about it is that it's not heavy and dull like most science books, but there are sources if you want to go back to the research behind the author's findings. I'd call it a cross between a science book and the best of Cosmo. Highly recommended for women who are looking for a new view on love and dating.

LOVE this book!!

Yay!! Finally! Some reasoning behind all those questions we have! Why DO we want to be super skinny even though logically we know it's less attractive? Why DO we fall for the bad boy when Mr. Perfect is standing right next to us? Years of research have been conducted for these questions and so many more, only we don't have to go digging thru endless university studies or blow the dust off piles of reference books in the basement of our local libraries ... Jena Pincott did all the sifting and filtering for us! She's handed us a concise, comprehensive, well researched, scientifically-based answer to each relationship question we've ever had wrapped up in small, easy-to-swallow, purple-tinted chapters. It's perfect! Perfect to read for your own curiosity, perfect as a gift to a recently dumped girlfriend, perfect to use in arguments with your partner ... The only thing left now that we have the reasons behind our feelings/choices is the answers on what to do about changing them. This is not a criticism of Mrs. Pincott, mind you (she definitely accomplished her goal in this book of reasons) but more of a plea from a reader/fan for a follow-up book with the scientific solutions to consciously alter our perceptions to making better relationship choices.