Y: The Descent of Men

Publisher's description: Renowned scientist and author Steve Jones reveals the mysteries of maleness and arrives at a startling conclusion: men are actually the second sex. Beginning with what men consider the "prince of chromosomes"--Y -- Jones delves into the latest research on what makes a man. He explores hormones, hair loss, and the hydraulics of erections. We learn that estrogen, the so-called female hormone, is critical in male puberty and intercourse, yet men who take additional doses of the "male" hormone, testosterone, risk medical problems. And the notion that bald men have extra testosterone is a myth. Building on such findings, Jones corrals the new wealth of research on the science of men to show how males are "wilting away"--their true destiny. Women are living ever longer than men, who are less successful at fighting off diseases. What's more, the latest information about sperm counts and chemical pollution indicates that males are being feminized. (Even a week's indulgence in licorice leads to lower sperm production.) And factors such as violence and education play a role. According to Jones, men may have to accept that the twenty-first century might be the "age of women." This book will captivate every man--and woman.