Bitch

Bookseller recommendation

“This book blew my mind wide open. Everything I’ve ever read about evolutionary biology and the polarity of male versus female has been through the same ultra-Victorian pinhole in which the 'God' of evolutionary science Charles Darwin presented it 200 years ago; males are aggressive and interesting, while females are boring passive babymakers, hardly worth studying. Well, Lucy Cooke tears Darwin and his successors’ theories on sex/gender a new one…respectfully…sort of. I was laughing out loud, snorting, rolling my eyes, and gasping as I listened to the audiobook. It is so funny, so engaging, and an extremely accessible piece of science writing that is perfect for folks who typically gravitate towards non-fiction science books and for those who are new to the genre (like me)!”

— Karen • Cellar Door Books

Bookseller recommendation

“Bitch: On the Female of the Species takes a humorous but thoroughly researched look at evolution and nature, and (I think) fairly successfully demolishes the stale and sexist myths of a male dominated animal kingdom once and for all. Cooke highlights research done by scientists of all genders to show that moving forward is a new world of thought, working hard to question everything the patriarchal establishment has entrenched as dogma over the centuries. Here, females have their day, their spotlight, as scientists try to learn more and show us what their lives are like, asking the reader to question what they think they know about the world around them, including what it means to be 'female.' If you love animals, science, or want to learn about a new avenue of feminism, you absolutely need to read Bitch: On the Female of the Species.”

— Anne • Theodore's Bookshop

Bookseller recommendation

“Lucy Cooke is an accomplished zoologist who interviews a bevy of scientists across the globe in order to expose the glaring gap in knowledge about the female of any species (from insects to mammals to birds). Her writing is feisty, fierce, and witty without being grandiose or over-embellishing facts. Learn about murderous meerkats, polyamorous birds, and frisky bonobos, all while discovering how scientific studies contradicting the patriarchy have been dismissed, hidden, or unfunded. I can’t get this book into your paws fast enough!”

— Riona • Books & Books @ The Studios of Key West