Woman: An Intimate Geography

by Natalie Angier

Hardcover, 1999

Status

Available

Genres

Publication

Virago (1999), Edition: First Edition, 416 pages

Description

Angier takes the reader on a mesmerizing tour of female anatomy and physiology. She shows how cultural biases have influenced research and consequently lead to dubious conclusions about "female nature." An essential read for anyone interested in how biology affects who we are-as women, as men, and as human beings.

Media reviews

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User reviews

LibraryThing member kokipy

this book is wonderful. I wish I had written it, and I wish I had read it when I was 18. It is empowering, entertaining, educational, and inspiring.

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LibraryThing member SeriousGrace

Angier's style of writing is a cross between know-it-all scientist and folksy I'm-Going-To-Explain-It-All-To-You girlfriend. I happened to like the science with sass approach. It made reading about my personal landscape a great deal more interesting. It's informative AND funny - my kind of read.

Because let's face it, who wants to pick up something that reads like a gross anatomy textbook? I want (and got) something with spunk and humor; for example, who knew 'piglet' was a vocal range? You wouldn't think describing the physical attributes of the vagina could be interesting but when Angier describes it as, "a Rorschach with legs" you have to sit up and take notice. Amid education and explanation Angier periodically debunks myth and dispels rumor concerning the female form. The vagina is not dirty! She is on a one woman rampage to bring honor to her sex. While her sassy sexy tone dissuades some readers from thinking of Woman as a reference tool I, for one, am sorry she didn't write this 30 years earlier.

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LibraryThing member Devil_llama

For someone who dislikes navel gazing, and rarely reads books that try to explain women to women, this book was a refreshing entry in a field that is all too often either densely abstruse or fluffy. A joyous look at what it means to be a woman, and the ways in which women differ...and the ways they

don't...from their masculine counterparts. This book doesn't try to set women up as inferior, superior, or exactly the same as men, but instead looks at women on their own terms without judgement and with a loving eye.

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LibraryThing member turbojenn

very educational. Made me feel very powerful, and in awe of the things my body does without my even thinking about it.

LibraryThing member gbarrett

Bought for my wife who absolutely loves it. Pulitzer Prize winner.

LibraryThing member beau.p.laurence

very interesting fairly scientific book answering questions about the natural and societal influences that determine a "woman"

LibraryThing member name99

A fine example of that twice horrible species, the "artsy" science book written by a journalist.

Artsyness means that the descriptions appear constructed more for euphony than for utility, with frequent wordplay and classical allusions.
The journalism gives us the frequent reporting of anecdotes

with little attempt to convert these into hard data.
To top it off, we have the obligatory misunderstood Darwinism leading to situations that supposedly show how wrong Darwinians are.

All in all immensely frustrating. Enough interesting material to keep me going till the end, but hardly a book to recommend.

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LibraryThing member RavenousReaders

Think biology is boring? Think again. Science writer for the New York Times, Natalie Angier, has penned an entertaining and instructional tour of the human female body.

Reviewed by: Sherrie

LibraryThing member damsorrow

If you've ever wanted a qualitative, beautiful and well-written review of women's biology, this book is half of a "here ya go." The other half is going to incur some eye rolls with the seriously dated "women drive like this! men drive like this!" kinda stuff.

LibraryThing member debnance

Woman is a close look at our womanly bodies. I wasn't expecting to like this book, but Angier is mesmerizing. Recommended.

LibraryThing member Julie_Brock

Good writing about science is hard to come by, folks. This is some vivid biology with great social commentary. I couldn't put it down. Thanks, Christine!

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