Attraction, Love, Sex: The Inside Story

“Why have sex?” asks neuroscientist LeVay (Gay, Straight, and the Reason Why) in this stimulating survey of the science of sexual desire. Admitting that there’s no simple answer, he explores the perspectives and research of neuroscientists, evolutionary biologists, and sociologists on why people are attracted to who they’re attracted to. Studies push back on common assumptions; for instance, LeVay notes there’s little evidence for the belief that men have more sexual kinks than women, who, according to a 2022 study, act on their kinks more privately than men. Other research baffles, such as the study that suggested hungry heterosexual men are more likely than men who are full to find women with high BMIs attractive. LeVay explores theories on sexual orientation and concludes that it “can be best understood in terms of biological processes,” specifically the way in which sex hormones affect the brain during prenatal development. Some will bristle at LeVay’s more provocative claims, as when his biological view of sexual orientation leads him to argue that because pedophiles can’t be “cured,” pedophiles “who have committed themselves not to offend sexually against children... deserve admiration and support” in trying to cope with desires that cause harm. Nonetheless, LeVay’s evenhanded approach carefully outlines uncertainties in the scientific literature while serving up surprising findings. Though there are some controversial points, this nonetheless sheds light on a fundamental part of human life. (May)