book thoughts: A Billion Wicked Thoughts (2011)

[orangerful]

A Billion Wicked Thoughts: What the World's Largest Experiment Reveals about Human Desire by Ogi Ogas

My rating: 4 of 5 stars


3.5 stars.

I listened to this book and I didn't listen to it alone. My boyfriend and I put it on as we drove around on our last few road trips. And I am so happy that we did because, while the subject matter was fascinating, what made this even better was having someone to discuss it with immediately.

This book made me change the way I think about my own personal desires/sexuality and sex/gender. It covers many topics and issues that most of us are aware of on some level, but hearing them discussed in more scientific terms made me understand them more.

The "experiment" itself was just a collection of internet searches from AOL and Dogpile, picked apart by these scientists to get a glimpse of what people will look for...when they think no one else is looking. Oddly enough, it did not make me lose faith in humanity. It DID help me get a better grasp on some of the rudimentary differences between the way the male and female brains work, specifically when it comes to sex and desire, but that can be applied to other aspects of life as well.

But having my boyfriend there to talk to after each section really made the book that much better because we could examine the hypotheses put forth by the authors and put in our own perspective. It got us discussing topics that we probably wouldn't have come to in a day to day conversation.

And, if anything is clear from this book, it's that we don't know much about sex and sexuality. On top of that, it's almost impossible to study such a private matter for several reasons. But it's worth a read or a listen. But I really recommend you get two copies - one for you and one for a very close friend. It doesn't have to be a boyfriend or partner, just someone you can talk to afterwards.

If you enjoyed this book, I would also recommend picking up Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex.



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