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Woman
First published 1999 · 464 pages
A joyful, witty, and scientifically grounded celebration of the female body and mind.
What it feels like
Reading this book feels like sitting down with a brilliantly witty, scientifically minded friend who is determined to make you marvel at your own biology. The pace is brisk and engaging, moving seamlessly from anatomical deep-dives to psychological insights with a tone that is consistently joyful, frank, and refreshingly humorous. It strips away the secrecy and faddish myths surrounding female physiology, replacing them with a celebratory and empowering atmosphere. The prose is sharp and conversational, unafraid to laugh at the quirks of evolution while fiercely defending the complexity of the female form. It is a deeply uplifting read, perfect for anyone seeking a fresh, scientifically grounded, and unapologetically enthusiastic exploration of what it means to inhabit a woman's body.
- Mood
- empowering
- curious
- uplifting
- marveling
- Tone
- joyful
- frank
- humorous
- celebratory
- witty
- Pace
- brisk
- Themes
- the female body · evolutionary biology · mind-body connection · female identity · debunking biological myths
- The writing
- Witty, frank, and scientifically grounded yet highly accessible and conversational.
- The arc
- Moves from a curious exploration of anatomical mysteries to a joyful, empowered celebration of female identity.
- Who it's for
- Readers looking for an empowering, scientifically informed, and humorous exploration of female physiology and psychology.
Content notes
- discussions of anatomy
- discussions of sex and orgasm
About the book
Natalie Angier lifts the veil of secrecy from that most enigmatic of evolutionary masterpieces, the female body, exploring the essence of what it means to be a woman. Angier takes on everything from organs (breasts "are funny things, really, and we should learn to laugh at them") to orgasm (happily for women, the clitoris has 8,000 nerve fibers, twice the number in the penis).
Also delving into topics such as exercise and menopause, female aggression and evolutionary psychologists' faddish views of "female nature," she creates a joyful, fresh vision of womanhood.
Description from Open Library.
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