Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality by Christopher Ryan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

Are human beings naturally monogamous? When we shed the trappings of religious and social norms that dictate that a "proper" household is formed by the marriage between one man and one woman, what's left? When left to our natural instincts, when given the opportunity to indulge in our natural appetites, are humans a truly monogamous species? When we look at archeological evidence of our prehistoric existence, or to the lives of indigenous tribes untouched by Christian missionaries and their dictates, or even to the primate species whose genetic makeup and behaviors are closest to ours, do we find evidence of monogamous behaviors? These are the questions tackled by Christopher Ryan in Sex At Dawn, and his answer is a resounding "NO!"

Drawing from a variety of sources, Ryan gathers evidence to paint a compelling picture of a more community-oriented approach to both living and sexuality and argues that our futile centuries-old attempt to force human sexual behaviors into neat boxes has caused more harm than good, causing us as a species to be more disconnected, more violent, and more emotionally fraught than we would be otherwise. Ryan surveys the landscape of human sexuality and places our accepted "norms" under a microscope, analyzing the ways in which they go against the very nature of our being.

If you're here for the juicy bits, be prepared to slog through quite a bit of philosophical analysis of human nature and (pre)history. Ryan takes to task the assumptions made by classic philosophers, evolutionary psychologists, archeologists and even acclaimed primatologists, countering their arguments with more contemporary (or previously unseen) evidence regarding both human and animal behavior. Ryan purposely takes the time to build a solid philosophical and scientific foundation for his arguments before getting to the more interesting (and controversial) bits of information towards the end.

While I personally didn't agree with every single argument that Ryan makes (particularly his outdated notions about the physiological effects of soy on hormones), I did find his overall argument to be quite compelling and hard to refute without reverting back to socially imposed heteropatriarchal norms. I learned a whole lot about alternative conceptions of mating, marriage, and community, which really widened my perspective on different ways of living. While I'd already felt this way, I did find myself further convinced that humankind would absolutely benefit from a reevaluation of our social constructs surrounding relationships and sexuality. Maybe by shedding our conditioned shame and fear around sex and finding newer (or really, older), more flexible ways of relating to one another, we would find ourselves living in a more loving, more egalitarian, more peaceful, and less stressful existence.

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Washington Bullets by Vijay Prashad
My rating: 5 of 5 stars

"This is the way of the camp of the coup. It wants to steal the soul of the people so as to reduce people into zombies who must bow their heads down and work, putting their precious labour towards the accumulation of capital for the tyrants of the economy."

Vijay Prashad's Washington Bullets is one of the most powerful bodies of work that I've read all year. This collection of essay-like chapters guides the reader across nations and throughout time, giving us a birds-eye view of the variety of methods that Washington has used to violently squash attempts at self-determination. Washington's decades-old imperialistic quest to acquire and control the resources of nations across the globe has left an endless stream of bodies in its wake - and most Americans are none the wiser.

Utilizing powerful and poetic prose, Prashad presents us with a bloody mosaic illustrating the truth behind Washington's crusade to bring "freedom" and "democracy" to "uncivilized" nations across the globe. In telling their stories, Prashad pays homage to the freedom fighters, to the indigenous and the marginalized peoples who have dared to resist the stranglehold of U.S. imperialism. This is a chilling and gripping narrative driven by the empathy of someone who dares to bear witness to struggle, who seeks to bring into the light the truths that have been purposefully obscured and pushed into darkness.

While this work will inevitably attract readers of particular political leanings, it is necessary reading for all - especially for Americans who still buy into the standard propagandistic good guy/bad guy narrative that is presented in schools and in the media. Though it isn't a very long book (around 150 pgs or so), the material might be dense and heavy for some. It may require reading bits and pieces at a time, even if only to take a moment to breathe and absorb it all.

However one decides to read this book, it is worth reading in its entirety. The information contained within these pages puts both history and current events into perspective, challenging informed and uninformed readers alike to center the oppressed in their view of international politics.

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Count Down: How Our Modern World Is Threatening Sperm Counts, Altering Male and Female Reproductive Development, and Imperiling the Future of the Human Race by Shanna H. Swan
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

"The status quo has persisted for too long—and it’s endangering the reproductive health and survival of human beings and other species. The time to correct course is overdue and more important now than ever."

In late July of 2017, Dr. Shanna Swan went viral. Leading media publications from the BBC to the Financial Times to Newsweek ran shocking headlines based on Dr. Swan's research findings that sperm counts have dropped by a precipitous 50% in the last 40 years. Speculation abounded: Will this problem continue? What does this mean for our future here on Earth? The findings of Dr. Swan's research were indeed astonishing, but like every other sensational story, Dr. Swan's research disappeared from the news cycle, eventually to be forgotten. The problem, however, persists.

Count Down builds upon this and a plethora of other research findings that all point to one terrifying fact: our modern lifestyles are having deleterious effects on fertility and reproductive health, not only in humans, but in other species as well. Persistent chemical pollutants in our households, air, oceans, drinking water and food supply are having measurable effects on our ability to reproduce. Left unabated, this will inevitably have tragic consequences for our future here on this planet.

The findings presented in Count Down are unsettling, and Dr. Swan doesn't shy away from ringing the alarm. She makes it clear that the problem is urgent and backs up her claim with research that is presented in an organized, easy to follow, and easy to read manner. Leaving no stone unturned, Dr. Swan also presents a range of solutions, from individual tools for mitigating pollutant exposure (a "personal protection plan") to regulatory recommendations for bridging the gap between science and unchecked corporate practices.

Count Down is an important resource in the ongoing conversation on the destructive effect that Westernized, hyper-consumptive lifestyles are having on our bodies and our ecosystems. I highly recommend this book for anyone who is concerned about the future of life here on this planet.

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Plagued: Pandemics from the Black Death to Covid-19 and Beyond by John Froude
My rating: 4 of 5 stars

In Plagued: Pandemics from the Black Death to COVID-19 and Beyond, Dr. John Froude takes us on a historical and scientific journey through the world of pathogenic diseases. On its face, such a description may cause some eyes to glaze over, but this book isn't simply a list of facts about plagues. Nor is it simply a scientific exploration of how pathogens interact within bodies and throughout populations. We're given a little bit of everything, which makes this a book that readers from a variety of backgrounds can enjoy.

Froude does get into the genetic and biochemical intricacies of each pathogen, and while some may find this information to be easy to follow, other readers may feel a bit bogged down by it. However, this doesn't characterize the book in its entirety. Froude presents himself as scientist, doctor and storyteller all once, painting a narrative that in its totality is quite accessible. He deftly transports the reader to the places and times where viral and bacterial plagues ravaged populations, tracing each pathogen from its source and taking us along its journey from cell to full blown pandemic.

Froude also does a great job of illustrating how plagues themselves shape culture. He includes poetry, art, anecdotes, and excerpts from letters to give the reader an on-the-ground perspective of just how different peoples and nations dealt with plagues throughout time. I also appreciated the thread he weaved throughout the centuries, showing the intimate connection between war, colonialism, and the spread of pandemics around the world. This gave the book a more well-rounded narrative that makes it more enjoyable than your average science-based book.

This book was informative, entertaining, and terrifying all at once. I would recommend it to anyone hoping to expand their knowledge of how pandemics start, spread, and sustain themselves across spaces and throughout time.

Thanks to NetGalley, BenBella Books & John Froude, MD for an ARC of this book.

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