The Myth of Monogamy: Fidelity and Infidelity in Animals and People | 
 enlarge | Authors: David P. Barash Ph.d., Judith Eve Lipton M.d.
Publisher: W. H. Freeman
Category: Book
List Price: $24.95
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Avg. Customer Rating:  20 reviews
Sales Rank: 258688
Media: Hardcover
Number Of Items: 1
Pages: 227
Shipping Weight (lbs): 1.2
Dimensions (in): 9.5 x 6.4 x 1
ISBN: 0716740044
Dewey Decimal Number: 306.736
EAN: 9780716740049
ASIN: 0716740044
Publication Date: May 1, 2001
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Condition: Standard used condition.
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| Editorial Reviews:
Amazon.com
Shattering deeply held beliefs about sexual relationships in humans and other animals, The Myth of Monogamy is a much needed treatment of a sensitive issue. Written by the husband and wife team of behavioral scientist David P. Barash and psychiatrist Judith Eve Lipton, it glows with wit and warmth even as it explores decades of research undermining traditional precepts of mating rituals. Evidence from genetic testing has been devastating to those seeking monogamy in the animal kingdom; even many birds, long prized as examples of fidelity, turn out to have a high incidence of extra-pair couplings. Furthermore, now that researchers have turned their attention to female sexual behavior, they are finding more and more examples of aggressive adultery-seeking in "the fairer sex." Writing about humans in the context of parental involvement, the authors find complexity and humor: Baby people are more like baby birds than baby mammals. To be sure, newborn cats and dogs are helpless, but this helplessness doesn't last for long. By contrast, infant Homo sapiens remain helpless for months ... and then they become helpless toddlers! Who in turn graduate to being virtually helpless youngsters. (And then? Clueless adolescents.) So there may be some payoff to women in being mated to a monogamous man, after all. Careful to separate scientific description from moral prescription, Barash and Lipton still poke a little fun at our conceptions of monogamy and other kinds of relationships as "natural" or "unnatural." Shoring themselves up against the inevitable charges that their reporting will weaken the institution of marriage, they make sure to note that monogamy works well for most of those who desire it and that one of our uniquely human traits is our ability to overcome biology in some instances. If, as some claim, monogamy has been a tool used by men to assert property rights over women, then perhaps one day The Myth of Monogamy will be seen as a milestone for women's liberation. --Rob Lightner
Product Description
Monogamy may be the rule, but it's not the practice - not even for animals.
Using the same DNA fingerprinting technology used in the courtroom, biologists have now been able to trace parenthood in animals for the first time with certainty. The results have been astonishing: Even among those species previously thought to be monogamous, cheating on your mate is common--for both sexes.
In The Myth of Monogamy, David Barash and Judith Eve Lipton describe how this new research shows that there is simply no question whether sexual desire for multiple partners is "natural." It is. Similarly, there is no question of monogamy being "natural." It isn’t.
Armed with this evidence, scientists have also been able to explain such important questions as why animals (including humans) cheat; why the myth of monogamy was created in the first place; how men and women were sucked into the monogamy hoax; who stands to gain the most by perpetuating the myth of monogamy; and how big of a role procreation plays in the desire to have several sex partners. Finally, The Myth of Monogamy explores the implications of these dramatic new findings for humans, in terms of relationships, parenting, aggression, and more.
A provocative new study of an emotionally charged issue, The Myth of Monogamy illuminates a part of our natural make-up that is as fascinating as it is frustrating.
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| Customer Reviews: Read 15 more reviews...
 Iconoclasm in fine form July 5, 2008
Please ignore the reviews of people here who haven't read the book, or people with an agenda or people talking about "logical fallacies" without seemingly knowing what that means.
This book is an examination of the sexual practices of a wide variety of species of animals, including humans. The book concludes that there are significant evolutionary advantages to non-monogamous sexual relationships and there seem to be very clear bodily adaptations that evolved because of this. These points are just not arguable in good faith.
The book doesn't draw any conclusions about the "naturalness" of monogomy except that it is rare, because that discussion is metaphysics at best; the religious among us use "natural" as a proxy for "our interpretation of gods will" or "how we think society ought to be". We live in a dangerous age where people are willing to deny the truth as it suits them. We have a duty as rational beings to accept objective truth no matter how unpalatable.
I think the book is a very good read if you're at all interested in the topic. I did not however find the writing style very interesting, and I had trouble keeping track of the many many types of animals discussed and their various traits. I also felt the conclusion was far too apologetic towards current societal beliefs and a bit simple minded. Nevertheless, a good read if you're interested in the subject.
Very Enlightening & Entertaining April 10, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
My recommendation is simple. I kept forgetting that it was a factual work, it was so entertaining. I thought I had picked up one of my pleasure reads! Thanks to both of the writers, what a great book. I need to read it again.
Excellent information February 7, 2008
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
I have been researching human relations for a while and after reading many books about mating, I find this one full of unbiased information about the reality in the animal kingdom. Like the book says,--It is taken for granted that we can learn about human digestion, respiration, or metabolism by studying these processes in other animals, making due allowance, of course, for certain unavoidable differences among different species. The same applies for much, although assuredly behavior.--
Parting from this point the authors brilliantly try to sort what is biological (biochemical, hormonal and electrical) genetically imposed behavior. Sadly, many of our behavior that religions and society have told us that are sinful or illegal are ingrained in our genes and in our biology. The book is provocative and invites the reader to ponder about our behavior.
This is a book worth reading, which will help you understand yourself and you significant other!
Broken Promises or Nature? January 28, 2008
1 out of 1 found this review helpful
Did you know that between 10% and 70% of birds are born "illegally" or out of "marriage", while their "dads" don't know it?... did you know that monogamy in the animal kingdom is the exception and not the rule?.
Actually, according to both authors, only microbiotic species are monogamous if all...
Explanations to matters such as: why is it that more than 50% of marriages end up in divorce (at least in the US) due to "infidelities"?, how come "cyber-infidelity" is a new reality that is even more risky than the actual thing? and why is that 75% of people who marry their lovers ("the other woman" or "the other man") are bound for divorce...? might be found in these pages.
But even more fascinating could be the conclusions of the book, among those: one of the main differences between human beings and the rest of the aninal kingdom is neocortex, or the ability to acknowledge that "yes", I am attracted BUT, I better stop...
A very entertaining book, full of remarkable observations on the subject.
Wow May 5, 2007
1 out of 2 found this review helpful
This book explains everything I always wanted to know about our relationship habits and how we are more similar to other animals than we would ever expect. I learned a lot from this book, but also gained a ton of affirmation that my personal life was not as crazy as some people make it out to be.
An excellent choice for anybody that is poly, wondering if they are poly, or just wants to learn the facts.
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