Woman: An Intimate Geography
Despite scientific evidence to the contrary, as far as the health care profession is concerned the standard operating design of the human body is male. So when a book comes along as beautifully written and endlessly informative as Natalie Angier's Woman: An Intimate Geography, it's a cause for major celebration. Written with whimsy and eloquence, her investigation into fem...more
Published
(first published 1999)
Friend Reviews
To see what your friends thought of this book,
please sign up.
This book is not yet featured on Listopia.
Add this book to your favorite list »
Community Reviews
(showing
1-30
of
3,000)
An informative investigation into female physiology. I know I sound like a dunce when I say this, but I’ve never been into science. Didn’t do well in it at school and never found it particularly interesting. This book has been on my “to read” list for a while -- I even bought a copy for a friend as a gift, at her request, years ago. I finally got around to reading it. It was a tough read for me in a couple of ways. I had to overcome my distaste for science, I am opposed to testing on animals and...more
May 09, 2007
Genya
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
everyone but especially my sister and mother if they haven't already read it
Shelves:
non-fiction
This is such a great book. I just reread it. It is all about the biology of the female body, but it is funny, brilliant, totally accessible, and a little subversive. Her first paragraph reads, "This book is a celebration of the female body - its anatomy, its chemistry, its evolution, and its laughter. It is a personal book, my attempt to find a way to think about the biology of being female without falling into the sludge of biological determinism. It is a book about things that we traditionally...more
Aug 14, 2007
Kara
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
women interested in knowing more about their bodies
When I first read this, I was enamored with it - so much so that I was about ready to drop my business major and start majoring in Women's Studies! Luckily my dad stepped in on that one. ;)
This book is great and is written with a witty tone to it that only a fellow woman could have. It's frustrating to go through life being told how your body *should* act, by panels of men, no less. I felt like I could related to this book because it was written by someone who not only cared enough to research...more
This book is great and is written with a witty tone to it that only a fellow woman could have. It's frustrating to go through life being told how your body *should* act, by panels of men, no less. I felt like I could related to this book because it was written by someone who not only cared enough to research...more
Sep 29, 2012
Emma
rated it
3 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
educational-non-fiction
This was a weird one. On the one hand, the actual information contained in the book was fascinating and important. I learned a lot about ovulation, for example, and menopause, and breasts, and enjoyed the learning immensely.
But the prose. I suspect lines like, "by Hecate!" and, "the Grand Canyon, the world's grandest vagina," are meant to be a little tongue-in-cheek, but I just found them off-putting. Some of this is I think par for the course with feminists of a certain age (the book is PACKED...more
But the prose. I suspect lines like, "by Hecate!" and, "the Grand Canyon, the world's grandest vagina," are meant to be a little tongue-in-cheek, but I just found them off-putting. Some of this is I think par for the course with feminists of a certain age (the book is PACKED...more
This book taught me so much about what it means to be a woman from a physiological perspective. Angier writes in a witty, conversational style - not condescendingly, but in a way that keeps the reader willing to stick with her through some pretty hard-core biological science stuff. Just as importantly, she talks about the psychology of women and how we relate to our bodies and their sometimes mysterious ways. Every woman should read this book (and men who want to know more about what makes women...more
Favorite quotes:[return][return]"Women need muscle, as much as they can muster. They need muscle to shield their light bones, and they need muscle to weather illness& And being strong in a blunt way, a muscle headed way, is easier than being skilled at a sport. It is a democratic option, open to the klutzes and the latecomers, and women should seize the chance to become cheaply, frowzily strong, because the chance exists, and let� s be honest, we don� t have many. Being strong won� t make yo...more
1 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
From fascinating facts to blatant speculation..., August 3, 2002
I was intensely interested in reading this book when it first came out, and finally got around to it. From the beginning, Ms. Angier makes it clear that yes, there is much scientific fact in the book, but much of it is also her wild speculations as to why certain things happen (in regards to women and the female body, of course). She herself refers to this book as a 'scientific fa...more
From fascinating facts to blatant speculation..., August 3, 2002
I was intensely interested in reading this book when it first came out, and finally got around to it. From the beginning, Ms. Angier makes it clear that yes, there is much scientific fact in the book, but much of it is also her wild speculations as to why certain things happen (in regards to women and the female body, of course). She herself refers to this book as a 'scientific fa...more
The first half of this book is extremely interesting and insightful. The next half is a rant about hormones and evolution that just does not fit at all with the title of the book. The second half should be another book titled: Female Primates and other Creatures such as Prairie Voles: An Uncomfortably Intimate Speculation. I’ve been thinking about probability a lot lately, and the first chapter was thinking right along with me on that front. When I stop and think, it seems that life is so unlike...more
Although this text was published ten years ago, I found it to be very informative--although I don't regularly read in the field of biology, and I suspect there would be a lot to update in terms of what we understand about women's bodies. (This book was published before the human genome project was completed, after all.) Angier's rah-rah oversharing got uncomfortable at times (I really didn't need to hear about when she experiences her peak orgasms, for example.), but overall she presented the in...more
I ordered this title in response to other similar books which included this in their bibliography. I was not disappointed. Natalie Angier makes the scientific side of the subject of the working of a woman’s body very accessible with great writing and a sense of humor. The reader is awarded by follow-up comments which weave together the chapters. The chemistry of the body, serotonin, testosterone and estrogen sections did go on and on, chapter after chapter (after chapter!), a bit much for me. Al...more
Dec 29, 2008
Andrea
rated it
5 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
Women and girls, especially, but certainly boys and men as well
I recently re-read this book for a book club with female inmates. Direct quote from one of the women: "I didn't even know books like this existed!" I was reminded just how powerful information, particularly timely information, really is. Here is a book that looks in depth at the biology of the women's body and questions traditional assumptions about females as the "default" sex and more. Angier is a woman passionate about science and about women and the combination is inspiring, refreshing, and...more
(Si goodreads le permettait, j'aurais peut-être mis trois étoiles & demie? Je pense? Mais soyons généreux.)
Ce livre se veut une exploration & une célébration de l'anatomie féminine, des chromosomes jusqu'aux organes eux-mêmes, & finit forcément par aborder, parfois un peu par la bande mais souvent carrément de front, des questions qui débordent du cadre biologique pour toucher la justice sociale, le féminisme, les excentricités de l'évolution, nos grands amis les primates, les postul...more
Ce livre se veut une exploration & une célébration de l'anatomie féminine, des chromosomes jusqu'aux organes eux-mêmes, & finit forcément par aborder, parfois un peu par la bande mais souvent carrément de front, des questions qui débordent du cadre biologique pour toucher la justice sociale, le féminisme, les excentricités de l'évolution, nos grands amis les primates, les postul...more
I have never read a more in depth book on "woman." I am talking everything from physiology, to biology, to psychology. Although the book it quite dense and at times chalk full with complicated medical jargon, it will answer all your burning questions and shed light on the history and reasons behind why and how women came to be.
I wanted to like this book. Oh, how I wanted to. And I will say, it was packed with interesting information. I did learn a few things. I shared any anecdote or theory my husband would listen to.
But, I finally got fed up with her writing style. This writer cannot pass up any chance for wordplay, puns, double entendre, thesaurus-izing, or clever euphemism. Since I'm such a word-lover, you might think this was a good thing, but I couldn't get past it. I found it annoying, stupid, distracting, flip...more
But, I finally got fed up with her writing style. This writer cannot pass up any chance for wordplay, puns, double entendre, thesaurus-izing, or clever euphemism. Since I'm such a word-lover, you might think this was a good thing, but I couldn't get past it. I found it annoying, stupid, distracting, flip...more
I'd like to think this has nothing to do with "being a man." But I was tempted to give it 2 stars. The interesting information in the first half won it the extra star.
Although I never liked her writing style, the information presented in the first half was well worth working through it. Within her disjointed text (which never found a way to accessibly present facts in a conversational tone) were pearls of knowledge about the body. Then, the second half got a little too preachy... and very illogi...more
Although I never liked her writing style, the information presented in the first half was well worth working through it. Within her disjointed text (which never found a way to accessibly present facts in a conversational tone) were pearls of knowledge about the body. Then, the second half got a little too preachy... and very illogi...more
"...intellegence means that you are not condemned to remain just like yourself."
"Okay, maybe we shouldn't read too much into fluffernutter entertainment. But if you think it's sweet and harmless and you keep eating it, one day you wake up and all your teeth have fallen out."
"Notoriety was my gnosis, the spirtual truth, but firmer and darker, and my experienced one had to be a woman, for the idea of an experienced man smacked of the satyric. I had no idea how to find Experience; my female profess...more
"Okay, maybe we shouldn't read too much into fluffernutter entertainment. But if you think it's sweet and harmless and you keep eating it, one day you wake up and all your teeth have fallen out."
"Notoriety was my gnosis, the spirtual truth, but firmer and darker, and my experienced one had to be a woman, for the idea of an experienced man smacked of the satyric. I had no idea how to find Experience; my female profess...more
AMAZING. Natalie Angier combines lyricism, wit, humor, feminism and science to create a very readable and insightful compendium on all things wicked and wonderful of Womanhood.
I really, really liked this book for the first four chapters; after that, I think it was just too much. The author is hilarious, which is a real plus when you're discussing the particulars of female anatomy and physiology and its socio-political implications. The book brings up many interesting, debateable topics (with a decidedly humanist-feminist tone); perhaps it was because so many of these issues were left open-ended that I found the book, in the end, not completely satisfying. But worth re...more
This was a really fascinating read. Angier is fierce, funny, and erudite. She writes playful, engaging prose and explains scientific concepts, all without any visible effort.
(I started reading this and Catherynne Valente's book at the same time, which is probably why Valente's work struck me as being so strained, while Angier in comparison made it look easy.)
I would love to see an updated version of this, but most of the information is still relevant. Sadly, there have been few changes in the o...more
(I started reading this and Catherynne Valente's book at the same time, which is probably why Valente's work struck me as being so strained, while Angier in comparison made it look easy.)
I would love to see an updated version of this, but most of the information is still relevant. Sadly, there have been few changes in the o...more
Whenever I told anyone the title of the book, they were confused on its content. It's a book about female biology--and not staid biological determinism. I just finished it and I want to immediately start it again. She challenges so many male/female stereotypes, and does it so poetically. If the phrase "scientific fantasia of womanhood" piques your interest, you must go out and read it. She has amassed an amazing amount of studies on the supposed gender wars. My only complaint is that she doesn't...more
This book is a must-read for every woman, and I think especially every young woman. Angier does an incredible job of painting what can at times seem more like a liability than an asset as something to be treasured and celebrated by every person born a woman. The factual information is good and her connections with history and mythology prove enriching and useful to the book. Angier takes what we have learned in health class and not only expands upon it, but makes us feel special for having it. I...more
This book is an interesting read. Very informative. Not entirely my cup of tea (hence the 3 stars), but it's not a bad book.
Would definitely recommend to friends. I skimmed through a couple of chapters because they bored me (a chapter about how hormones work and the final chapter).
This book is really informative about how your body works when pregnant/breastfeeding, the different releases of hormones through your body that make you bond with the new baby instead of wanting to get rid of it (I m...more
Would definitely recommend to friends. I skimmed through a couple of chapters because they bored me (a chapter about how hormones work and the final chapter).
This book is really informative about how your body works when pregnant/breastfeeding, the different releases of hormones through your body that make you bond with the new baby instead of wanting to get rid of it (I m...more
Apr 05, 2012
Amanda
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Shelves:
feminism,
light-science
This book took me some time to sink into. Angier's writing style is chock full of five dollar words and references to literature, pop culture, and history. It is also breathtakingly lyrical. For the first few chapters, her exhortions seemed over the top, but either she settled down or I embraced it because I found myself really enjoying her enthusiasm as I progressed.
Angier has a wry humor and often writes sarcastically, relying on the reader to pick up on the sly tone.
The book focuses on female...more
Angier has a wry humor and often writes sarcastically, relying on the reader to pick up on the sly tone.
The book focuses on female...more
Best book I read in 2011, by a long shot. Continues to resonate. My dad gave this to me as a present in 2000 or 2001 and naturally I refused to read it. An argument with a friend prompted me to look for an answer in one of its chapters, and I was riveted, started from the beginning and worked my way to the end, intrigued by subjects that had never held any interest at all for me, like menopause, and hormones, and ones I have never seen discussed with half the wit or dynamism, such as female aggr...more
I'm actually giving up 100 pages into this one (thus the lack of a rating: I've only read a quarter of the book). It's not that it's bad, it just doesn't feel worth my time.
Part of the problem is that very little here is new to me; perhaps it would be a more engaging book for someone who's just beginning to explore the science of--and cultural (mis)representations of--the clitoris, uterus, breast, etc., etc. Part of it is that I simply find the writing annoying. It's far too cute for my taste: a...more
Part of the problem is that very little here is new to me; perhaps it would be a more engaging book for someone who's just beginning to explore the science of--and cultural (mis)representations of--the clitoris, uterus, breast, etc., etc. Part of it is that I simply find the writing annoying. It's far too cute for my taste: a...more
Oct 07, 2010
Sidewalk_Sotol
rated it
2 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommended to Sidewalk_Sotol by:
juasanera18@yahoo.com
Shelves:
western-med-science
I could see giving this book 3 stars. It really depends on what you're looking for. I tried to use this book as a supplement to my anatomy & physiology textbook. Not a good idea. I did not get to finish it, but since the organization of the book depends only a bit on linear reading, there is not too much lost by not getting to the conclusive chapter.
What Natalie Angier does well is pull together a lot of different perspectives of feminist or feminist sympathetic researchers into one volume...more
What Natalie Angier does well is pull together a lot of different perspectives of feminist or feminist sympathetic researchers into one volume...more
May 30, 2010
Jessica
rated it
4 of 5 stars
·
review of another edition
Recommends it for:
women, people who know women
Shelves:
health-medicine
I loved this book but found it challenging and eventually had to assign myself 5-10 pages a day. Every paragraph of Angier's study of women's physiology is packed with enough scientific concepts and ideas to fuel a half-day discussion, and she is one of those writers who makes you use your dictionary, who makes you think, and who also makes you think "I could never write that." She starts with a study of the human egg cell and takes you into the operating room where a woman is donating her eggs....more
This book is really fascinating and I've learned a lot of very interesting concepts. Yet I don't think I really like it all that much because the author is a evolutionary biologist and tries to explain everything by showing how women's bodies are a lot like female monkey's or have evolved from other type of animals. I just don't quite by into that. For me women's bodies were divinely designed by a wise and loving God, and the reason that they are as amazing and incredible as they are is because...more
I found this for a dollar when I was reading Angier's later book, The Canon, which I absolutely loved. But owning books is the most efficient way for me to not read them, so I was excited to be isolated from my library books in China and give this one a try.
There is a lot of interesting info in the book. Angier has a disclaimer in the beginning that she just kind of throws out theories, take them or leave them, and that is true - some seem more reasonable than others. The book says it is suppose...more
There is a lot of interesting info in the book. Angier has a disclaimer in the beginning that she just kind of throws out theories, take them or leave them, and that is true - some seem more reasonable than others. The book says it is suppose...more
I've always enjoyed Angier's journalism and had bought a copy of this book maybe a couple years ago (?) and had it on my informal "to-read" list (which is comprised of the stack of books purchased but not yet opened). I saw my neighborhood coffee shop book club was reading it and pulled it out.
I loved it.
I learned more about how my body works (always new science out there, kids, so even if you think you know everything about ovaries, don't count on it), more about genetics and human development,...more
I loved it.
I learned more about how my body works (always new science out there, kids, so even if you think you know everything about ovaries, don't count on it), more about genetics and human development,...more
There are no discussion topics on this book yet.
Be the first to start one »
Share This Book
No trivia or quizzes yet. Add some now »
“Women never bought Freud's idea of penis envy: who would want a shotgun when you can have an automatic?”
—
32 people liked it
“The clitoris not only applauds when a women flaunts her mastery; it will give a standing ovation. In the multiple orgasm, we see the finest evidence that our lady Klitoris helps those who help themselves. It may take many minutes to reach the first summit, but once there the lusty mountaineer finds wings awaiting her. She does noy need to scramble back to the ground before scaling the next peak, but can glide like a raptor on currents of joy.”
—
23 people liked it
More quotes…

Loading...
























Jan 02, 2013 08:46am