A fast-paced and often humorous read, The Shortest History of Sex covers two billion years, from the big bang and microbes all the way down the evolutionary tree to humans. The book explores how the complex sex lives of primates transformed into the weird and wonderful aspects of human sexuality from our foraging ancestors to our futuristic selves. Without judgment, David Baker takes us on this long, strange trip, uncovering instinctual behaviors, multifaceted passions, relationship patterns, curious desires, and so much more. You may not learn new bedroom tricks but you may be able to explain your peccadillo by saying the bonobos did it too.

This should not have been as funny as it was. There's a lot of real science here and I can't keep a straight face. Baker gives you a history of sexual development, but along the way, he asks the real questions about why things are the way they are.
There is an exploration of the physical (how did penises even become a thing when they used to be unnecessary?) to the social (so many surprising sexual relationships in the animal kingdom) to what sex is like in modern times for humans. Thanks to NetGalley for letting me read this

Spanning two billion years from the first stirrings of life to the present day, this interesting and informative book traces the evolutionary origins of sexuality in all its modern complexity. It mixes scientific and crude language in a way that can be jarring. Some of the claims about the sexuality of ancient Homo species seem speculative, as does the analysis of BDSM and other fetishes. The book is food for thought, but I wouldn’t call it authoritative.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

Oh, baby! 'The Shortest History of Sex' is the most delightfully saucy book I've ever gotten my hands on! It's like a naughty best friend telling you all the juicy secrets about sex through the ages. I laughed so hard, my abs still ache! And let's be real, who wouldn't want to learn about dinosaur sex?! It's like the ultimate icebreaker at a party. 'So, did you know that stegosaurus had a what?!' 🤣 I mean, it's educational, people! I'm basically a sex historian now. Okay, maybe not, but I can't wait to impress/scandalize my friends with my newfound knowledge. If you're ready to giggle and get schooled, grab this book and get ready for a wild (and wicked) ride!

Thank you Netgalley for and Arc ♥️

This was a highly entertaining history of sex and procreation, written with a clear and irreverent voice. I rarely find myself learning so much while also having fun. Thank you to Net Galley for this e-copy of The Shortest History of Sex by David Baker in exchange for a honest review.

Thank you to Net Galley for this e-copy of The Shortest History of Sex by David Baker in exchange for a honest review.This is a very informative book that tells how sex plays a role in not only procreation through the ages but in social hierarchies and attitudes towards males and females .From ancient times with dinosaurs to the present this book is very informative but also offers a healthy dose of comedy.This book offers a wealth of knowledge!

The Shortest History of Sex is the punniest, roaring laughter-induced, educational book I've ever read! If you have ever been curious about the origins of sex, but aren't interested in mundane educational texts, this is definitely for you! I laughed the entire read, and learned numerous new things along the way! This is a must-have book for any and all sec-positive individuals. I mean, IT. HAS. DINOSAURS in it! Dinos and sex education? It doesn't get much better than that. You'l be missing out if you don't add this to your TBR. Thank you Netgalley for the ARC opportunity!

I loved this book. I liked the writing style with its clarity, conversational tone, and humour, including the laugh-out-loud parts. I found the explanations were great. The book is fast-paced and impossible to put down, yet it doesn’t feel rushed. This book is a great addition to the Shortest History series. Thank you to Netgalley and The Experiment for the advance reader copy.