Review: The Red Queen: Sex and the Evolution of Human Nature

Author: Matt Ridley

This book got me in a lot of trouble when I expressed the ideas contained within.  It does not follow the woke narrative of the nature of sex.  It gained a rare five-star rating from me. I am so lucky this year to have read a number of books that have changed my perspective on life, and given me a greater understanding of myself. 

I have always struggled with my relationship with sex. This book has gone a long way to giving me an intellectual understanding of myself from an evolutionary perspective. I can accept why I am so drawn (unsuccessfully) to having sex with multiple women. I (like all men) am programmed for it by my genetics. The premises are not rocket science and conform to all the old stereotypes (and reject postmodern explanations). They are just so well explained and make sense for me to be the way I am.

It has also given me a clearer understanding of the motivations of women (which again conform to all the old stereotypes) from an evolutionary perspective. If we are to understand ourselves, we must understand why certain traits evolved. I have long tried to think of traits from an evolutionary perspective – This book does a wonderful job of explaining the “why” of such traits to me.