Feb 23, 2017 testosterone rex myths of sex, science, and society by cordelia fine 266 pp. Review fines funny, spiky book gives reason to hope that weve heard testosterone rexs last roar. She is a full professor of history and philosophy of science at the university of melbourne, australia. The more i think about it, the more appalled i am that cordelia fines polemic, testosterone rex, won the royal society book prize for popular science writing. Testosterone rex an evening with cordelia fine the. Biological sex is one of the primary ways in which we divide the social world. Cordelia fine, an associate professor at the university of melbourne, is author of the muchacclaimed delusions of gender and a mind of its own. Cordelia fine, author of testosterone rex a powerpacked manifesto that envisions what our world might look like if we let go of tired gender stereotypes. A spirited polemic takes aim at biological sex differences. The trouble with inventing a belief system and ascribing it to your opponents is that you might inadvertently have built a straw man. Mar 01, 2017 unmaking the myths of our gendered minds. Testosterone, for instance, is not the potent hormonal essence of masculinity, and received wisdoms about differences between the sexes, from toy preferences to financial risk taking, are turned on their heads. When parents are expecting, one of the first things we want to know about their unborn child is whether its a boy or girl.
Testosterone rex is a disappointing and floundering answer to an alwaystimely subject. But what if the scientists and popular culture have got it wrong. Claudia hammond, also a broadcaster, has also written popular psychology books and also lectures on health and. In her new book, testosterone rex, she tackles the biggest myth of all. Her latest book testosterone rex won the royal society science book prize, 2017. Sarah richardson, author of sex itself gender mosaic is the book ive been waiting for. Its so much more disappointing because the book could have been so much more in the right hands. Beliefs about men and women are as old as humanity itself, but fines funny, spiky book gives reason to hope that weve heard testosterone rexs last roar. Fine takes the reader on a journey through the past, present and future of biological, social and psychological research and tries to demystify testosterones influence on human behaviour. Her goal is to show that sex inequalities in society cannot be attributed to evolved sex differences in the brain and to mens high.
Jan 12, 2017 bestselling author cordelia fine introduces her brilliant new book testosterone rex, published by icon books in february 2017 testosterone rex is the powerful myth that squashes hopes of sex. Cordelia fine wittily but meticulously lays bare the irrational arguments that we use to justify gender politics. Cordelia fine is a canadianborn british philosopher, psychologist and writer. Unmaking the myths of our gendered minds, by cordelia fine, icon, rrp. In her new book testosterone rex, university of melbourne psychologist cordelia fine takes on this men are from mars, women are from. She received the award for her work in challenging gender bias in science for her contributions to public debates about gender equality. Cordelias second book, delusions of gender was shortlisted.
Jan 25, 2017 in testosterone rex, psychologist cordelia fine wittily explains why past and present sex roles are only serving suggestions for the future, revealing a much more dynamic situation through an entertaining and welldocumented exploration of the latest research that draws on evolutionary science, psychology, neuroscience, endocrinology, and. Their selfperceptions are more balanced,they assign responsibility for success and failure more evenhandedly, and their predictions for the future are more realistic. Cordelia fine thank you very much for that lovely and generous introduction, and its a very great pleasure and honour to have been invited to speak at this conference, so thank you. Unmaking the myths of our gendered minds paperback. The more i think about it, the more appalled i am that cordelia fine s polemic, testosterone rex, won the royal society book prize for popular science writing. Jan 24, 2017 testosterone rex by cordelia fine humans, fine confirms, may be highly suggestible but we are also malleable. Myths of sex, science, and society does the public service of deconstructing the biological and societal tenets on which the. But when psychologist cordelia fine delved into evidence from neuroscience and endocrinology for her new book, testosterone rex, a very different picture emerged one which has important. Unmaking the myths of our gendered minds new scientist. Fine has written three popular science books on the topics of social cognition, neuroscience, and the popular myths of sex differences. Beliefs about men and women are as old as humanity itself, but fines funny, spiky book gives reason to hope that weve. Testosterone rex by cordelia fine men, women and myths. Myths of sex, science, and society by cordelia fine available from rakuten kobo.
Unmaking the myths of our gendered minds hardcover 2 mar. Cordelia fine october 14, 2015 for decades, science has told us that biology defines gender differences. After all, nobody actively signs up to these supposed philosophies. Its a fascinating read that really makes you think about the actual differences between the sexes for example whats in your pants, which is definitely different, and our gendered cultural norms such as. A demolition of the argument that traditional gender roles are hardwired. This is obligatory reading for anyone interested in gender equality at work or home your views on sex differences will never be the same. Myths of sex, science, and society, cordelia fine tackles the question from the perspective that has generated the most discussion. Cordelia studied experimental psychology at oxford university, followed by an m. There is in fact a category of people who get unusually close to the truth about themselves and the world.
Cordelia s most recent book, testosterone rex, won the royal society insight. Why testosterone rex is extinct cordelia fine life and. In her new book testosterone rex, university of melbourne psychologist cordelia fine takes on this men are from mars, women are from venus myth. I had read cordelia fine s earlier book, delusions of gender, a while back, enjoyed it greatly, and so i was eager to read her next book. I had read cordelia fines earlier book, delusions of gender, a while back, enjoyed it greatly, and so i was eager to read her next book.
To briefly introduce myself, i am an academic psychologist at the university of melbourne, and a writer, with a particular focus in the past ten years on the. Testosterone rex brings together evolutionary science, psychology, neuroscience and social history to move beyond old nature versus nurture debates, and to explain why its time to unmake the tyrannical myth of testosterone rex. In testosterone rex, psychologist cordelia fine wittily explains why past and present sex roles are only serving suggestions for the future, revealing a much more dynamic situation through an entertaining and welldocumented exploration of the latest research that draws on evolutionary science, psychology, neuroscience, endocrinology, and. Jan 24, 2017 i had read cordelia fine s earlier book, delusions of gender, a while back, enjoyed it greatly, and so i was eager to read her next book. Fines entertaining and thoughtful book is a valuable addition to the discussion about gender. By bring together evolutionary science, psychology, neuroscience and more, psychologist cordelia fine moves beyond old nature versus nurture debates to explain why its time to unmake this tyrannical myth. Review fine s funny, spiky book gives reason to hope that weve heard testosterone rex s last roar. Myths of sex, science, and society does the public service of deconstructing the biological and societal tenets on which the continued inequality of the sexes is largely founded. We are an adapted species of course, but also unusually adaptable, writes fine.
Unmaking the myths of our gendered mind by cordelia fine is published by icon books at. Unmaking the myths of our gendered minds by psychologist and author cordelia fine is the 30th anniversary winner of the booker prize of science writing, the prestigious. In testosterone rex, cordelia fine addresses and destroys many of the myths around the perceived differences between men and womens brains. Testosterone rex by cordelia fine humans, fine confirms, may be highly suggestible but we are also malleable. Fine has a delightful writing style, combining personal anecdote and a great deal of humor with clear arguments and large amounts of evidence supporting her views. If you hear a metallic rasp as you open the cover of cordelia fines new book, dont. For fans of fine whose delusions of gender could have farreaching consequences as significant as the. Cordelia fines testosterone rex wins 2017 royal society.
Fixed in an ancestral past that rewarded competitive men and caring women, these differences are supposedly recreated in each generation by sex hormones and male and female brains. Testosterone rex myths of sex, science, and society by cordelia fine 266 pp. Testosterone rex myths of sex, science, and society. But in light of the recent award by the royal society i felt that a.
Cordelias most recent book, testosterone rex, won the royal society insight. Cordelia s latest book, testosterone rex won the royal society insight investment science book prize 2017, and was shortlisted for the orwell prize 2018. Cordelia fine was awarded the edinburgh medal 2018, a prestigious award that recognises scientists who have excelled in their field and contributed significantly to our understanding of humanity. Oct 22, 2015 cordelia fine october 14, 2015 for decades, science has told us that biology defines gender differences. Unmaking the myths of our gendered minds by cordelia fine hardcover. Testosterone rex an evening with cordelia fine the royal. Enlightening, funny and never dogmatic, joel plumbs the science, offering great insights into how. Testosterone rex is the powerful myth that squashes hopes of sex equality by telling us that men and women have evolved different natures. Jan 12, 2017 10 best books of january 2017, according to amazons editors. A new critique of cordelia fines testosterone rex why. Testosterone rex, fines target, is the name she gives to that familiar, plausible, pervasive and powerful story of sex and society, which holds. Pdf testosterone rex download full pdf book download. Just two of the five judges fortey and gilbert are practicing scientists, one is a novelist, and one is a broadcaster.
Claudia hammond, also a broadcaster, has also written popular psychology books and also lectures on health. Like the tape measures and weighing scales of the victorian brain scientists have been supplanted by powerful neuroimaging technologies, but there is still a lesson to be learned from historical examples such as these. Moving beyond the old nature versus nurture debates, testosterone rex reinvigorates hope and determination for a more equal future. Testosterone rex is an important, yet wickedly witty, book about the 21st century which touches on the current debates around identity and turns everything on its. Its that familiar and compelling set of interconnected beliefs that tells us. Bestselling author cordelia fine introduces her brilliant new book testosterone rex, published by icon books in february 2017 testosterone rex is the powerful myth that squashes hopes of sex. From risk taking to competitiveness, we need to take an axe to powerful myths about sex differences, argues cordelia fine. From risk taking to competitiveness, we need to take an axe to powerful myths about sex differences, argues cordelia fine in her book testosterone rex. Testosterone rex by cordelia fine, 9781785783180, available at book depository with free delivery worldwide. Testosterone rex is the powerful myth the squashes hopes of sex equality by telling us that men and women have evolved different natures.
1153 1038 306 1261 397 1364 1501 15 1455 489 967 107 514 354 140 507 988 1491 1407 560 271 1111 865 1018 813 1483 349 653 1461 857 805 254 374 616 1029 83 960 61 239 1210 1424 288 1368 486 842 1442 1430