Why Do Fools: Understanding Human Sexual Strategies

Why Do Fools. . . ? Understanding Human Sexual Strategies, by Steven Hedlesky, MD, is a fascinating revision of current insight into human monogamy, love, marriage, and sexual preference, and the manner in which they interact. It is divided into three sections. The first focuses on the emotional bonds formed between humans. The author argues against the traditional idea of life-long human monogamy and instead adopts the time-limited concept of pair-bonding. The second section deals with the social bonds that form between humans. It reviews the history and variability of marriage down through the ages, and delves into the impact that sexuality has on religion, society, and warfare.

The third section is an analysis of human sexual preferences based on a mathematical model that is very different than current dogma. The author proposes that the determinants of sexual preference are multifactorial. Humans are scattered randomly over population distribution curves, and some are bisexual or homosexual simply because that is where they fall on a probability curve. He makes a strong argument for the normalcy of different sexual preferences, pointing out that homosexuals are effective reproducers, and that homosexuality is widely practiced in the animal kingdom and therefore a natural behavior.

Hedlesky supports his ideas with a variety of literary tools, including an extensive bibliography, personal vignettes and anecdotes, stories about how animals interrelate, and a sprinkling of clever off-color jokes. It keeps the text from reading too much like a science book. The ideas stay with the reader long after the pages have stopped turning.

Overall, Hedlesky makes the case that all forms of human love have important roles in the preservation of the species. He has crafted a mesmerizing, easy-to-read exploration into some of the most base desires and instincts that bond humans, and his book is a must-read for anyone who seeks wisdom about the true nature of their emotions.