Sex at Dawn

How We Mate, Why We Stray, and What It Means for Modern Relationships

By: Christopher Ryan, Cacilda Jetha

Narrated by: Allyson Johnson, Jonathan Davis, Christopher Ryan (Preface)

Length: 10 hrs and 57 mins

Publisher's summary

Earphones Award Winner (AudioFile Magazine)

Since Darwin's day, we've been told that sexual monogamy comes naturally to our species. Mainstream science - as well as religious and cultural institutions - has maintained that men and women evolved in families in which a man's possessions and protection were exchanged for a woman's fertility and fidelity. But this narrative is collapsing. Fewer and fewer couples are getting married, and divorce rates keep climbing as adultery and flagging libido drag down even seemingly solid marriages.

How can reality be reconciled with the accepted narrative? It can't be, according to renegade thinkers Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha. While debunking almost everything we "know" about sex, they offer a bold alternative explanation in this provocative and brilliant book.

Ryan and Jetha's central contention is that human beings evolved in egalitarian groups that shared food, child care, and, often, sexual partners. Weaving together convergent, frequently overlooked evidence from anthropology, archaeology, primatology, anatomy, and psychosexuality, the authors show how far from human nature monogamy really is. Human beings everywhere and in every era have confronted the same familiar, intimate situations in surprisingly different ways. The authors expose the ancient roots of human sexuality while pointing toward a more optimistic future illuminated by our innate capacities for love, cooperation, and generosity.

BONUS AUDIO: Includes a Preface written and read by author Christopher Ryan.

©2010 Christopher Ryan, Cacilda Jetha (P)2010 Audible, Inc

Critic reviews

"A surprisingly non-titillating book about sex among prehistoric people makes for a terrific audio adaptation...With their straightforward approach, the narrators show professionalism and authority in this anthropological discussion of sex." ( AudioFile)

“ Sex at Dawn is the single most important book about human sexuality since Alfred Kinsey unleashed Sexual Behavior in the Human Male on the American public in 1948.” (Dan Savage)

"My favorite book of 2010...it's the only book I read this year that proved that I was badly mistaken about something." (Peter Sagal, host of NPR's Wait Wait... Don't Tell Me!)

Mind Blowing.

One of those books that will change the way you think about yourself and others. Well read and performed. Intensive research. A science book that reads like a thriller. Amazing.

A Serious Subject Made Interesting

This is the first somewhat serious scientific book I have listened to. A different experience from fiction or memoir. And this book is still written for a general audience, not a scientist, so it wasn't difficult to understand. It has some humor, which the reader was very skilled at presenting.

The subject is certainly controversial, but I thought the authors did a great job of making their point. They include many quotes from other scientists, both to support their theory, and from the other side. Then they point out the errors, or inconsistencies from the contrary position. Anyone with an interest in human sexuality would find this book to be interesting.

So good I went out and bought the hardcover too.

Everything I always thought and couldn't quite say at polite dinner parties! Brilliant and keeps your interest all the way through. One of the best non fiction I've read.

Transformational, controversial, funny

I like that the authors didn't pull any punches and took a very comical approach to deliver very taboo and controversial content that may have been heard with a different method of delivery. Our modern day social constructs have programmed us humans to exhibit behavior that is not congruent with our natural tendencies. "Sex at Dawn" exposes this programming as well as our nature.

I don't think there are other books that are this comprehensive on the history of sexuality. I would suggest that people read books on the PICKUP ARTIST MOVEMENT and Psychology books at large to better understand some of the content herein.

I'm usually not a fan of most audio book voices. I think the narrator was the right choice in this case because he was one of the writers and he clearly understood a great intonation to make it flow well. I thought the speed was pretty slow though, I listened to at 3x the speed and most all of it was intelligible although a few times I had to rewind.

I digested the book over a few sittings. I would suggest the same for a reader since the content might be pretty out there for a lot of folks.

I did not exactly agree with the way a lot of the content was portrayed. The authors did a good job of exposing the listener to new concepts of sexuality that they may not have heard. The next step is really drilling down into the different time periods of sexual progression in human evolution and helping people determine what relationship structure is most natural for them as individuals so that they can start planning sustainable relationships. I don't think this book is the bible on sexual evolution but is a great start and might be the best thing we've got to date. In our present day I can see this book alleviating a lot of concern of its readers who may wonder why they have urges that contradict their social programming. I can see this book being looked back upon as a major milestone in the shift of understanding in human sexuality.

Challenging and Articulate

What made the experience of listening to Sex at Dawn the most enjoyable?

Sound quality was clear and there were no technical issues.

Content was intellectually challenging and I have enjoyed exposure to the ideas. Going head to head with the accepted scientific backing for "how we relate" is daring and I am glad to have been enlightened to another intellectual approach.

Bravo.

Great Book!

This book is one of the most entertaining, fun audio books I have ever gotten. It is funny, clever and right on the money regarding sex in our culture. It is well worth the time. Great Job!

amazing! should be required reading for all!

this is by far the best book I've read/listened to on the subject so far!

Too much Bonobo need more modern age

I found the book valuable in the end. There was way too much discussion about bonobos in their behaviors. The majority of Bonobo behaviors were excluded. The reason for their sexual behavior, the length of time they spend, and who they are sexual with has no relevance to our society as humans today. However the last 45 minutes of the book were extremely valuable and pertain to every day life. I would like to have heard more on today’s world and a single woman past the age of childbearing and not a huge interest in marriage. I would like to hear how that independent woman adapt into this type of thinking in order to have a successful serious relationship with a man. I think this book has kick started me in the correct direction however I will continue to look for more books that will stay in modern times and away from monkeying around😆. The issue for a woman in her 40s giving up the idea of monogamy is to deal with jealousy and feeling unappreciated. Those are the feelings I want to work on and solve for so that we can all be happy and our best selves together.

Informative but Heavy

Great information but I found it hard to listen to it continually... took me a few weeks to finish it.... the information is heavy and not all of it is exciting to listen. But the information gave me some real insights into why our society is the way it is today regarding sex and infidelity. Good research book

Highly Entertaining

I listened with my husband and it sparked a lot of interesting discussions. None of the concepts where that new to me but I found the bending of science to fit the cultural view very interesting and apt. It was quite focused on the research which I find fascinating but may not suit everyone. I really liked the way they looked at many aspects for hunter gather life and not just sex.