The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature,   ISBN:9780060556570

Customer Rating: 

I found this an absolutely facinating read. It's about the evolution of human nature and about sexual politics, in my opinion. It's also a very fun read and anyone who reads this might just come away from it with a better udnerstanding of the opposite sex, as I have. A good read to keep around to re-read, too.

Customer Rating: 

before i read this book, i preferred to read fiction. this book changed my mind, nonfiction can be just as fun. i think it is very interesting and its the first nonfiction book i read for pleasure rather than a school assignment.

Customer Rating: 

Whether you buy into the "Red Queen" theory or not, Matt Ridley perfectly describes evolution in terms anyone can understand, in an organized and metaphorical way. I hope he continues to write and resolve the unanswered questions of our most basic minute natures.

Customer Rating: 

i find the title of the book disturbingly misleading. i expected a lot more discussion on what the title says (ie sex and the evolution of human nature) and on the possible links between the two. instead, the author keeps ranting about birds and other animals. true, there is space for such discussions, but i find it hugely disproportionate. take this line from p174 for instance (the text in the book is approx 350 pages): 'so far this book has taken only a few, sideways glances at human beings.' this is true, and it only modestly improves even from here on. with a more suitable title, disappointments of this sort could be avoided

the author very often quotes from others. actually, large part of the book is quotations and references sewn together in a patchwork. i find very few original insights in the book, and the ones that are there are not always very well presented. the author does not seem to have found his own voice, and somehow the whole book lacks character

the only real merit of the book is that it is extremely well researched and the references and bibliography is presented in a very clear and neat manner

all in all, the book is kind of ok, but in no ways outstanding. if i could choose not to have bought and read it, i probably would, though

Customer Rating: 

just a short review, I've had this book for about 3 years and just not getting to do a review. If you like evolutionary stuff this is the book for you. an easy read and takes a lot of evolutionary idea's of animals and applies it humans and in a lot of ways makes sense. If you're interested in delving into the human mind this has some really great idea's and concepts.