The Second X: The Biology of Women

This book was written as a textbook for an introduction to the biology of women by two women who, as biologists, have both a deep understanding of their subject matter, and the skill to convey their knowledge to others. We all accept on at least a superficial level that women are different from men, and that their biology is unique and specific, but we often fail to know just how and where those differences are. In the history of western medicine many strictly feminine characteristics have been explained by men in masculine terms, and this book does not do that.Other recent books on about women rhapsodize or celebrate the female body, but this one explains it. This is not a roadmap or a geography, this is an owners manual-like an owners manual for a high performance, sleek and exciting sports car-and like any maintenance manual for an exotic and tempestuous machine, it makes for interesting reading even if you don't happen to own one.As a practical matter this manual should be in the hands of all the owners-young to old-and read by all those who love them.