Why is Sex Fun? by Jared Diamond Summary
Overview of Why is Sex Fun?
Why is human sexuality so uniquely complex? Jared Diamond's scientific masterpiece explores concealed ovulation, recreational sex, and evolutionary paradoxes that shape our intimate lives. Praised by biologist Steve Jones and considered essential reading on human sexuality despite being "informative but too thin" by anthropologists.
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Key takeaways
When Your Dog Would Find You Weird
Most animals would be utterly baffled by human sexuality. We have sex when we're infertile, continue through pregnancy, maintain intimacy after menopause, and insist on privacy. These everyday behaviors are actually extraordinary aberrations in the natural world. While your dog mates publicly and only during fertile periods, humans have developed a relationship with sex that's as complex as our relationship with food, art, or spirituality. Consider the stark contrast: most mammal fathers contribute nothing beyond sperm. A lion doesn't recognize his cubs specifically; a wolf protects the pack but doesn't focus on his own offspring. Yet human fathers invest years-sometimes decades-in raising children, a commitment so unusual it required profound evolutionary rewiring. Female baboons advertise fertility with swollen, brightly colored buttocks; house cats release distinctive scents. Human women? No visible signals whatsoever. Menopause, which defines the second half of women's lives, barely exists in wild mammals-only certain whales share this peculiarity. Even bonobos, our closest relatives in recreational sex, lack our unique combination of concealed ovulation, strong pair bonds, and dedicated fatherhood. These aren't minor quirks-they're the evolutionary adaptations that made language, art, and civilization possible.
The Cold-Blooded Race to Abandon Your Children
Why Men Don't Breastfeed (But Could)
The Hidden Calendar: Sex Without Knowing Why
The Show-Off and the Provider: Two Paths to Fatherhood
Making More By Making Less: The Wisdom of Menopause
The Evolutionary Mirror We Can't Stop Looking Into
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From Columbia University alumni built in San Francisco
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
"Instead of endless scrolling, I just hit play on BeFreed. It saves me so much time."
"I never knew where to start with nonfiction—BeFreed’s book lists turned into podcasts gave me a clear path."
"Perfect balance between learning and entertainment. Finished ‘Thinking, Fast and Slow’ on my commute this week."
"Crazy how much I learned while walking the dog. BeFreed = small habits → big gains."
"Reading used to feel like a chore. Now it’s just part of my lifestyle."
"Feels effortless compared to reading. I’ve finished 6 books this month already."
"BeFreed turned my guilty doomscrolling into something that feels productive and inspiring."
"BeFreed turned my commute into learning time. 20-min podcasts are perfect for finishing books I never had time for."
"BeFreed replaced my podcast queue. Imagine Spotify for books — that’s it. 🙌"
"It is great for me to learn something from the book without reading it."
"The themed book list podcasts help me connect ideas across authors—like a guided audio journey."
"Makes me feel smarter every time before going to work"
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