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Bonk by Mary Roach

By Genny (also Rusty) | Posted Under Book Reviews | Comments (26)

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Bonk by Mary Roach is quick, fun, and dirty, much like the subject matter it discusses. A thorough examination of the research done on human sexuality that exposes the gaps but also discusses how much further along the research is now than it was just a couple decades ago, it’s packed full of information. However, Roach’s engaging writing style helps the pages move along well.

That doesn’t mean that all of it is easy to read, however. There are sections of the book that made me want to cross my legs in sympathetic agony or where I had to put the book down and take a few deep breaths, and I don’t even have a penis. Be warned, Mary doesn’t shy away from any piece of information or statistic that might be relevant, which includes inter-urethral masturbation methods, surgery to move the clitoris closer to the vaginal opening, efforts at transplanting testicles to improve vitality, and exactly how sex researchers complied their data which does not always seem friendly. In spite of this, overall the book is incredibly well researched and well presented and even down right funny in parts.

Roach covers a lot of ground familiar to anyone who’s taken a few basic psychology classes (Kinsey gets plenty of mentions) but also discusses a lot of studies and doctors on the fringe of “acceptable” research or procedures and talks about their work. One of the more interesting sections of the book is about people with spinal cord injuries and how they are able to achieve orgasm even though it would seem that those nerve impulses have no way of reaching the brain.

If you’ve got a bit of a strong stomach and a healthy dose of innate curiosity (because Roach is a huge fan of the footnote, which occasionally provides more information but more often just diverges into a different area of research that’s related but not necessarily needed) Bonk is a good read and I encourage anyone who wants to know more about why their body functions the way it does, sexually, to pick it up.

See also: The Boozehound’s interview with Mary Roach.

Check here for more of Genny’s reviews.

And hey! Look: Genny (also Rusty) with Neil Gaiman. Jealous?

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Comments

...inter-urethral masturbation methods, surgery to move the clitoris closer to the vaginal opening...

Oh my gross. These sound like things people do in their garages with rusty implements until they are caught and their arrest is featured on The Smoking Gun. Gah.

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits at May 5, 2009 9:07 AM

NEEEIIILLL!

You make me jealous. He lives in Minneapolis but I hear he's kind of reclusive (probably for good reason), so he's not really out and about in town very often.

Posted by: Snath at May 5, 2009 9:12 AM

Wait, you can transplant testicles? Because I've been playing a man short since an unfortunate incident in high school (Google "testicular torsion." Then go lay down in a dark room and focus on not crying). It hasn't really affected my performance (Make no mistake, the Bullet makes the pussy smoke) but I'd like a matched set for cosmetic reasons. I wonder if the human body would reject gorilla balls?

Posted by: Tracer Bullet at May 5, 2009 9:17 AM

I love this book! I want to read Roach's other works. She has a great sense of humor. And she has a very understanding husband - I'm not sure that my fiance would agree to do what her husband does in the book!

Posted by: Melissa at May 5, 2009 9:19 AM

But if you get a testicle transplant, would it come from a masochistic donor or would it be like the neuticles for dogs and cats?

If you did get a transplant of a gorilla ball, Tracer, you could call that nut King Kong.

Posted by: Pinky McLadybits at May 5, 2009 9:21 AM

I still cringe at "gloving," and I'm a chick!

Posted by: meaux at May 5, 2009 9:24 AM

She is so tall and hot.I know a place you can date with such girls.
*** SeekBi.com *** which I have joined.­ I think it is interesting and you will like it.

Posted by: salawhite at May 5, 2009 9:44 AM

"the Bullet makes the pussy smoke"?!?

Who, Billy, hold back on the sonnets.

Posted by: Duane at May 5, 2009 9:55 AM

This book made me CACKLE at the beach last summer.

Posted by: Julie at May 5, 2009 10:13 AM

I love, love, love Mary Roach. She's just as witty and hilarious in person.I tried to read this book out loud to mt husband on a long car trip, but he just couldn't handle it. I also highly recommend Stiff, The Curious Lives of Human Cadavers!

Posted by: peachfish at May 5, 2009 10:15 AM

"Stiff" was a fantastic read. "Spook" not so much. When I get back into a scientific mood, I'll seek this one out.

Posted by: Kballs at May 5, 2009 10:17 AM

which includes inter-urethral masturbation methods
---
Now you KNOW you can't just throw a thing like that out there and not give us an explanation.

Posted by: , (the commenter formerly known as bucdaddy) at May 5, 2009 10:34 AM

Ms Roach is awesome. But I think that book should have been called Boink.

Posted by: HowardBollixter at May 5, 2009 10:45 AM

I loved Stiff. Gonna have to check this out. And yes, I'm VERY jealous, I'm a big fan of Gaiman's. I don't really get how a person goes from London to Minneapolis as places to live, but eh, each to his own.

Posted by: Snuggiepants the Deathbringer at May 5, 2009 11:26 AM

Wow, I got a picture and everything. Wish I'd done my hair for that now.

I'm actually reading Stiff right now and it's pretty much sealed my decision to donate my body to science.

Tracer, they did actually attempt animal to human testicle transplants, but because they believed it would help increase "vitality" in old age. If you're going for cosmetic reasons, you can order yourself a neuticle in, like, Great Dane size and probably get the same result.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at May 5, 2009 11:34 AM

Oh, also for Tracer, I know what testicular torsion is because there was a whole episode of the Venture Brothers dedicated to the topic as one of the creators of the show had it happen to him. It's called Are You There, God? It's Me, Dean and it's from the first season. I cringe in retroactive empathy.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at May 5, 2009 11:38 AM

I actually picked this book up a while ago and it's been sitting on my bedside table for ages. It was annoying the boyfriend when I would come to bed and get all randied/grossed out by the book rather than him.

This review has just given me the nudge I need to suck it up and finish it.

Also, extremely jealous of the Gaiman meeting. When we had the diversion ages ago about who we would like to buy a beer for he was number 2.

Posted by: Wormer at May 5, 2009 12:08 PM

I saw that episode. I had to laugh through my tears.

Posted by: Tracer Bullet at May 5, 2009 12:53 PM

This book has been on my must-read list since it came out. I just may have to splurge today and pick up a copy.

And Genny, I'm not only jealous of you being so close to Gaiman (physically, anyway), I'm also extremely jealous of your uber-photgenic, gorgeous smile.

Posted by: Shinykate at May 5, 2009 2:07 PM

I put this book on my list. And yes, way dang jealous! Does he smell good?

Posted by: MissNev at May 5, 2009 2:50 PM

Tracer Bullet wrote: "I wonder if the human body would reject gorilla balls?"

They're pretty small, actually. Unless that's what you're going for. Like, the one remaining ball you have is a shorty, and you want a matching set.

The current thinking is that since gorillas are basically monogamous*, there's no need for larger testicles. The more promiscuous you are, the larger the testes and the more interesting the penis becomes.** The slide rule would go, from largest to smallest: Chimpanzee, Human Males, Gorillas.

* A mature adult silverbacked gorilla presides over a harem of females, and he's the only guy allowed to mate. There's some cheating here and there because, to quote the famous naturalist Jeff Goldblum: "Nature finds a way." But, for the most part, gorillas are more monogamous than humans. Take that, morality!

** Invertebrates have craaaaazy penises that are all prehensile and studded with daggers and scoops and ribbed not necessarily for her pleasure. 'Course, there's a lot of promiscuity in invertebrates.

Posted by: Mike B. at May 5, 2009 4:48 PM

Mike B. - Well, you learn something new everyday!

Posted by: tamatha at May 5, 2009 5:00 PM

MissNev, he smelled like rainbows and freshly laundered kittens.

Posted by: Genny (also Rusty) at May 5, 2009 5:20 PM

Mike B - The more promiscuous you are, the larger the testes and the more interesting the penis becomes
Holy crap, the baboon must have some crazy genitals.

Genny - I really enjoyed Bonk. I leant my copy to my co-worker, because her partner works at a piggery, and really wanted to read the 'Sow-pleasing' chapter. Now they're trying to get their hands on a copy of that poster the Norweigan government made, just to put up in the tea-room.
I loved Stiff, but one little footnote changed my mind about donating my skin. Not sure if you've gotten up to that bit yet, so I'll say no more.

Posted by: ScienceGeek at May 6, 2009 3:16 AM

ScienceGeek wrote: "Holy crap, the baboon must have some crazy genitals."

[At a certain point I thought, "You're not doing yourself any favors, Mike, really, going on and on about the nut-and-dick sizes of primates and invertebrates." But then I thought: ">Fuck it. The people need to know."]

Depends on the baboon subspecies. If you're a baboon that participates in harum society, and you're the alpha male of that harum, then your testes aren't going to be terribly big because they don't need to be terribly big because you're going to be the one doing all the inseminating.

But if you're an anubis baboon, say, then you've got some mighty gonads because there's significant competition for fertile females.

If you can't get enough reading about monkey balls, then I recommend this article from Earthwatch Institute.

Posted by: Mike B. at May 6, 2009 6:22 AM

Tracer, they do make prosthetic testes for folks in your situation. One of the many random things I learned working at a urologists office....
Nice review, Genny!

Posted by: GreenMyEyes at May 6, 2009 7:45 AM