Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray by Christopher Ryan & Cacilda Jethá - Non Fiction - Paperback

Details:
Condition: BRAND NEW
Format: Paperback
ISBN: 9780061707810
Publisher: Harper Perennial

Overview:
Sex at Dawn: How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What It Means for Modern Relationships is a bold, myth-busting exploration of human sexual evolution. Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá challenge the standard narrative that humans are naturally monogamous, drawing on anthropology, primatology, and archaeology. Written for curious general readers, this accessible and provocative paperback blends rigorous research with engaging storytelling, inviting readers to rethink everything they assumed about desire, fidelity, and the origins of modern romantic relationships.

About the Book:
Sex at Dawn overturns the popular assumption that lifelong sexual monogamy is our species' natural state. Instead, Ryan and Jethá argue that early humans lived in cooperative, egalitarian groups where food, childcare, and sexual partners were often shared. Drawing on evidence from primatology, anthropology, anatomy, and psychology, the authors compare our closest evolutionary relatives - bonobos and chimpanzees - alongside surviving hunter-gatherer societies to build a compelling, if controversial, case for a far more fluid prehistoric sexuality than most people assume. The book traces how agriculture, private property, and paternity certainty reshaped human mating systems, giving rise to the possessive, jealousy-prone monogamy many now consider natural. Along the way, the authors tackle topics such as female sexuality, the size and shape of human genitals as evolutionary evidence, sperm competition, and the disconnect between the sexual instincts encoded by evolution and the social expectations imposed by modern marriage. Rather than prescribing a single lifestyle, Sex at Dawn encourages readers to understand the evolutionary pressures underlying jealousy, infidelity, and desire so they can build more honest, self-aware relationships. Combining hard science with wit and readability, it became a bestselling and widely discussed work of popular anthropology, sparking debate among academics and general readers alike. It remains a thought-provoking read for anyone interested in psychology, evolution, or the messy realities of modern love.

Key Benefits:

• Bestselling, myth-busting exploration of human sexuality and evolution.
• Backed by anthropology, primatology, and evolutionary science.
• Accessible, witty writing style for general non-fiction readers.
• Sparks honest conversations about desire, fidelity, and relationships.
• Brand new paperback edition, perfect for gifting or your own shelf.

About the Author:
Christopher Ryan is a psychologist and writer whose research focuses on the evolution of human sexuality. Cacilda Jethá is a psychiatrist with extensive clinical and cross-cultural experience studying sexual behaviour across different societies. Together, the pair combine psychological insight with ethnographic and biological evidence to challenge conventional wisdom about monogamy. Their collaborative work on Sex at Dawn has been translated into numerous languages and continues to influence popular and academic discussions of relationships, gender, and evolutionary psychology worldwide.

Why You'll Love This Book:
Sex at Dawn offers a fascinating, evidence-rich challenge to conventional thinking on love and monogamy. It's an engaging, conversation-starting read for anyone curious about psychology, evolution, or relationships, and makes a memorable gift for the inquisitive reader in your life.

Please Note: Cover design may vary slightly; ISBN and edition are for the UK paperback as shown.