The Sexual Evolution

A perspective-altering and deeply researched journey through the history of sexuality and gender across the animal kingdom by forensic biologist and university professor Nathan H. Lents

In The Sexual Evolution , the US biologist Nathan Lents romps through the mating habits of the animal kingdom, from polyamorous swans to 'depraved' penguins . . . This is all marvellous fun

Leave it to Lents to remind us that yes, we have sex for many reasons, and yes, they're often funny as hell. Bravo!

An entertaining and informative romp through mating strategies in nature . . . Garter snake orgies, gender-masking hyenas, lusty bonobos and the lesbian Laysan albatrosses of Hawaii - this book has it all. All that diversity is fascinating, and frequently funny

At a time when diversity is fast becoming a dirty word, The Sexual Evolution provides a powerful argument about why diversity not only exists, but wins. Lents' scholarly tome never lectures but guides the reader through a glorious array of gender and sexual diversity from across the animal kingdom, with authority and humour. An important addition to this important genre. My copy of this book will be read many times

The Sexual Evolution is a thoughtfully and delightfully written book full of illuminating and entertaining information that will be new to most readers. At a time when ignorance and misinformation about sex, gender, reproduction and intimacy abound, we could all benefit from reading this research-packed tour

The onus is on all who wish to take part in the sex-gender debate to be reminded of what is fact and what is conjecture. [This] book provide[s] the facts

An unnaturally good book - funny, informative and refreshingly frank. The Sexual Evolution injects a timely splash of colour into a field increasingly polarised towards black and white. A must read

A fascinating and important exploration of nature in all its rich, queer glory

Thought-provoking, insightful, and surprisingly dirty, The Sexual Evolution brings in-depth research of natural history to contemporary gender issues

Enthralling . . . Lents gleefully tears down cis, hetero and monogamous norms, outlining surprising case studies that give the lie to restrictive conceptions of gender and sex. The result is an indispensable glimpse into the queerness of animals

Nathan H. Lents is an American scientist, author and university professor. He has been on the faculty of John Jay College in New York since 2006, where he is currently the director of the Cell and Molecular Biology programme. He is the author of Not So Different and Human Errors .

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