I am currently half way through reading the book Bonk, by Mary Roach. Most easily described as a book of scientific history, she covers some interesting areas of research in the fields of both physiology and psychology, from the 1900's onward. Her approach is wonderfully humorous and manages to both make the material more interesting where it needs to be, and less interesting where it needs. Covering the world of sexual research, it would be easy I'm sure to sink into titilation, but she avoids that temptation well, while making it entertaining on the level of intellectual humour instead of crassness.
I am eager to pick up her other books covering the history of other areas of research, such as Stiff (the curious life of human cadavers), and Spook (science tackles the afterlife). I'd encourage anyone interested in any of these areas of 'research' to give Mary Roach a read.
I am eager to pick up her other books covering the history of other areas of research, such as Stiff (the curious life of human cadavers), and Spook (science tackles the afterlife). I'd encourage anyone interested in any of these areas of 'research' to give Mary Roach a read.