--- product_id: 4132374 title: "Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex Hardcover – March 17, 2008" brand: "mary roach" price: "VT3476" currency: VUV in_stock: true reviews_count: 9 url: https://www.desertcart.vu/products/4132374-bonk-the-curious-coupling-of-science-and-sex-hardcover-march store_origin: VU region: Vanuatu --- # Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex Hardcover – March 17, 2008 **Brand:** mary roach **Price:** VT3476 **Availability:** ✅ In Stock ## Quick Answers - **What is this?** Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex Hardcover – March 17, 2008 by mary roach - **How much does it cost?** VT3476 with free shipping - **Is it available?** Yes, in stock and ready to ship - **Where can I buy it?** [www.desertcart.vu](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/4132374-bonk-the-curious-coupling-of-science-and-sex-hardcover-march) ## Best For - mary roach enthusiasts ## Why This Product - Trusted mary roach brand quality - Free international shipping included - Worldwide delivery with tracking - 15-day hassle-free returns ## Description Full description not available ## Images ![Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex Hardcover – March 17, 2008 - Image 1](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/310HaQelOHL.jpg) ![Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex Hardcover – March 17, 2008 - Image 2](https://images-na.ssl-images-amazon.com/images/I/51h6KncLoaL.jpg) ## Customer Reviews ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐ The odd coupling of sex and scientific research *by B***Y on Reviewed in the United States on March 12, 2019* Mary Roach specializes in nonfiction on quirky topics that offer plenty of opportunities for humor – if of an uncomfortable variety of humor. Few topics hit those marks better than sex, especially when it is juxtaposed with science. Sex has a long history of being on the fringes of scientific study because the value judgments society applies to the topic makes it hard to attract both scientists and subjects, and when neither are lacking there is the matter of convincing agencies and institutions to fund one’s work. On the other hand, there is both demand for better information about sex and a great deal of potential for earnings to be gained by making both the experience and result of sex better or more reliable (more or less fertility as is desired.) All this has led to sex and science becoming strange bedfellows -- that have sometimes let in pseudo-science for an awkward threesome.Roach presents a wide variety of studies from famous early scholars like Kinsey and Masters & Johnson to obscure present-day scientists like the Egyptian researcher who has to find prostitutes to have intercourse with inflated condoms in order to study nerve reflexes in the female nether regions. Sometimes, the research involves animals, as in the case of researchers trying to determine whether the female orgasm draws semen up further toward the fallopian tubes by studying pigs, or studies of mating rituals of monkeys and how they compare and contrast to those of humans. Though most often the studies are human-centric and ask questions such as: why do a few women orgasm with excessive (and, unfortunately, embarrassing) ease, while too many others have difficulty achieving that result at all? And, why aren’t sex toys better designed to achieve their objective?I give Roach bonus points on a couple grounds. First, there is the plentiful combination of humor and fun facts that make the book extremely readable. Second, Roach takes some personal risk when, for example, taking part in an imaging study with her husband that involved intimacy in an MRI. That is not even to mention the many things she must have seen that she can never unsee on her global tour that took her to places like Taiwan and Egypt as well as to conventions and research parks across the US.It should be pointed out that there are important and serious topics being addressed by the science in the book, issues like: erectile dysfunction, sexual dissatisfaction (and its adverse effects upon relationships), and fertility difficulties. So, it’s not all jokes and quirky facts. Solutions to problems (surgical, pharmaceutical, and even psychological) are discussed, though there is a lot of basic science to consider as well. (For the less scientifically-oriented, basic science is that which doesn’t have a specific objective, but is rather to enhance understanding so that further down the road economically and practically viable solutions can be achieved. The lack of specific objective means this type of science can be particularly tricky to get funded. It also makes for some of the more amusing anecdotes because – unlike painful issues of persistent genital arousal disorder or erectile dysfunction – its easier to form jokes about penis cameras and romancing a sow.)The book consists of fifteen chapters. As is common in Roach’s book, there’s not an obvious organizational schema – except the first chapter which is a bit more general and the last which answers the old question, “who has more fun, and why?” [except the answer isn’t “blondes or redheads” but rather heterosexual or homosexual couples.] That said, there is a grouping of male genitalia (ch. 6-8) versus female genitalia (ch. 9-12) studies. There are some photos (not particularly graphic) as well as endnotes and references.I found this book to be fascinating and highly readable, and would recommend it for anyone with an interest in anatomy and physiology, or in sex for that matter. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mary Roach continues her trend for delivering fun, funny, and informational popular science books *by C***G on Reviewed in the United States on December 9, 2018* Mary Roach continues her trend for delivering fun, funny, and informational popular science books. This time she tackles the science of sex and the history of sex research. Topics include:• Why is there such historical resistance to sex researchers? ("Their lives are not easy. But their cocktail parties are the best.")• Why do some people with spinal cord injuries get aroused only by genital stimulation? Why are others aroused only by viewing erotic films? Why are others unable to generate any sexual response at all? (It has to do with the location of the injury on the spine and the direction the electrical signals are traveling over the nervous system.)• The man who has an orgasm every time he has a bowel movement ("He enjoyed his toilet")• Do animals have orgasms? (The answer is often yes. Female chimpanzees can have an orgasm in only ten seconds, but unfortunately most male chimps climax in seven seconds or less.)• The testicle grafting craze of the 1920's.• Do short women have more orgasms than tall women? (Some research suggests the distance between vagina and clitoris, which is generally proportionate to height, may impact frequency of orgasms.)• The French impotency trials of the 17th century.• Some off-the-wall sex toys (includes the author's personal assessment of their effectiveness)• Is there any correlation between the female orgasm and fertility?• Has science proven gay couples have better sex than straight couples?• Are women more turned on by porn than men? (Surprisingly, women have faster biological arousal responses to porn, but whether they are "turned on" is still a matter for debate. These physical responses register whether or not the women are watching images they might deem pleasurable. For example, images of animals copulating will affect a woman's physical sexual response even though she would presumably not be attracted to having sex with an animal herself.)• Are rape fantasies more common in men or women?Highly recommended. ### ⭐⭐⭐⭐ Mostly Just A Reminder of How Messed Up and Weird Humanity Is *by 茉***花 on Reviewed in the United States on April 22, 2019* I was kind of looking more for a book that would help my husband understand and be more openind minded about sex. This is defnitely not that. I haven't finished it yet but I would never give this to my husband to read, first of all he couldn't read this and secondly if he did he would probably be scarred for life. So far it reads more like a history of how ignorant humanity has been about sex and all of the completely moronic sexual things that humanity has done and some of them are really quite horrific like how some African slaves were given repeated vaginal surgeries in the early days of gynocology. I will probably finish it but it ifeels like it was written more for the novelty, which admittedly is a solid genre. --- ## Why Shop on Desertcart? - 🛒 **Trusted by 1.3+ Million Shoppers** — Serving international shoppers since 2016 - 🌍 **Shop Globally** — Access 737+ million products across 21 categories - 💰 **No Hidden Fees** — All customs, duties, and taxes included in the price - 🔄 **15-Day Free Returns** — Hassle-free returns (30 days for PRO members) - 🔒 **Secure Payments** — Trusted payment options with buyer protection - ⭐ **TrustPilot Rated 4.5/5** — Based on 8,000+ happy customer reviews **Shop now:** [https://www.desertcart.vu/products/4132374-bonk-the-curious-coupling-of-science-and-sex-hardcover-march](https://www.desertcart.vu/products/4132374-bonk-the-curious-coupling-of-science-and-sex-hardcover-march) --- *Product available on Desertcart Vanuatu* *Store origin: VU* *Last updated: 2026-05-11*