In order to write that book I had struggled to master a great deal of information that biologists usually acquire as undergraduates—topics such as the influence of hormones on aggression, sociobiological theory, and so on. It was hard work but worthwhile. Before expanding my knowledge I had felt ill at ease when talking to “proper” scientists. Snide remarks in the 1960s and 1970s about the “Geographic cover girl” had, I suspect, rankled more than I had admitted, even to myself. But the book was well received when it was finally published, and my self-confidence had a terrific boost.
