The Score: The Science of the Male Sex Drive

In one of the episodes of the TV show "Frasier", the lead character, radio psychiatrist Frasier Crane, is having a dispute with his station manager, an attractive female. As he's describing the situation to his housekeeper, Daphne, he remarks that he thinks the manager is using her charms to get what she wants. Daphne says, "Oh, come on now, Dr Crane. It's not like men have never used sex to get what they want," - to which Frasier replies, "How can we possibly USE sex to get what we want? Sex IS what we want." That certainly rings true, but the interesting question is: why is it true? This book provides an entertaining, extremely readable, and scientifically sound look at the reasons men behave the way they do when it comes to sex. It made me smile, laugh out loud sometimes, nod in agreement often, and shake my head in wonder other times. Faye Flam, science reporter for the Philadelphia Inquirer and one of the best and most versatile science writers around, wrote a delightful weekly column for that paper, called "Carnal Knowledge", about the science behind sex. Here she expands on that to focus on how the quest for sex has shaped the male of the species, and when I say "shaped", I mean everything from his behavior to his physical characteristics (check her discussion of "fibroelastic" vs "vascular" male equipment for one example). Flam, who majored in physics at Cal Tech, has written on subjects ranging from genomics to astronomy, so you'd expect her to get the science right, and she does. Based on her previous journalism, you'd also expect her to make that science understandable and fun to read, and that she does as well. The book is written in a clear, enjoyable style that brings the evolutionary biology, human physiology and psychology to life. Chapter topics range from a boot camp for would-be pickup artists to how testosterone determines the male brain and body to why men seem to be attracted to pornography. I learned about alpha males and why they don't always win the competition for sex. I learned about gay sheep. There's a great chapter about the secret life of the sperm. If you're a man you'll understand better why we are the way we are, and if you're a woman, you may realize how difficult it is to change us! Regardless, it's a great read, for the summer or any time.

"The Score" is a science-based book that takes its topic seriously, but avoids falling into twelve-syllable jargon and "geek speak." Instead, its conversational tone feels more like an interesting chat than a pedantic lecture. A science-based book that makes you laugh while you learn can be a rare thing, but this accomplishes that -- and more. Her descriptions of the "pickup artists' training," the explanations of "peacocking" behavior, the quirkiness of species that can change genders on a whim ... It's fascinating stuff, and presented with the authority of an expert in the enjoyable voice of an everyman (or everywoman, as the case may be).

The Score is high quality science book successfully masquerading as a clever, witty and completely entertaining treatment of the nuts and bolts of male sexuality. It gives an objective and balanced tour of how man-things work. Most refreshing is the way Ms. Flam just yanks the covers off of stereotypes and folk wisdom using real science while maintaining a great sense of humor and style. From the rough crowd of praying mantises and giant squids to Mister Mom, she has it covered. It will satisfy and entertain those who are interested in the facts and it will annoy the heck out of anyone who has their mind stuck in a prior century. The highest praise I can give it is that it will probably be banned in some countries. The Score is well researched and credit is freely given where it is due. I'm waiting for the sequel!

For me, this book hit the nail on the head. I found myself reading from cover to cover in five lengthy sessions, two while captive on long flights, becoming engrossed each time. That was a bit of a surprise because the topic--everything male--doesn't easily lend itself to an integrated narrative. Also the book is structured as a couple of dozen blocks that can stand alone. Despite this I read straight through. This is really because the author has such an engaging, conversational tone that I didn't want to just jump to the "juicy bits". Flam moves effortlessly from topic to topic, melding together anecdotes, such as a visit to a penis museum in Iceland, with explanations of some fairly complex biology that were weighty and clear. The explanation of why two sexes is optimal, and not three or ten or two hundred, sticks in my mind. This back and forth between personal experience and imparting information felt just like a conversation with a likeable, knowledgeable friend. Confession: I set out enthusiastically anticipating the more prurient components--hey, I'm a man. These didn't disappoint but on balance the insights into evolutionary strategy and reproductive biology shaded it. If you're looking for some insight into why us men do the things we do, and some sense of how we got to be this way, read The Score.

If you're at all like me, "The Score" will give you new ideas about men and women and why we men are the way we are. But it may not be the book you think. Faye Flam, a science journalist who also wrote a newspaper column on the science of sex, here surveys biology, popular culture, zoology, evolutionary psychology, theology, anthropology, neurochemistry, and more to deliver science-based insight into the human male (and females as well). Flam writes clearly and wittily. She begins at the beginning, with the origin of sex and the sexes, and explains how evolution takes the fundamental difference between male and female (a male makes millions and millions of sperm whereas a female produces but dozens of eggs) and runs with it over eons to produce monogamous penguins, cuckolding chimpanzees, tiny parasite-like male anglerfish, 30,000 sexes of mushrooms--and us, human men and women. "The Score" is a fun read throughout, never dry or dull, and with the possible exception of the evolutionary psychology bits, sound science too. In the end, this book could change how we think about our humanity. It's already changing the way I look at the world and my place in it.