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David M. Buss
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The Evolution Of Desire: Strategies of Human Mating Paperback – June 26, 2003

by David M. Buss (Author)
4.3 out of 5 stars 135 ratings
With two new chapters by the author.If we all want love, why is there so much conflict in our most cherished relationships? To answer this question, says noted psychologist David Buss, we must look into our evolutionary past. Based on the most massive study of human mating ever undertaken, encompassing more than ten thousand people of all ages from thirty-seven cultures worldwide, The Evolution of Desire is the first book to present a unified theory of human mating behavior. Now in a revised and updated edition, Buss's classic presents the latest research in the field, including startling new discoveries about the evolutionary advantages of infidelity, orgasm, and physical attractiveness.
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  1. Print length
    368 pages
  2. Language
    English
  3. Publisher
    Basic Books
  4. Publication date
    June 26, 2003
  5. Dimensions
    5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  6. ISBN-10
    046500802X
  7. ISBN-13
    978-0465008025
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Evolution of Desire
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Editorial Reviews

Review

"An ambitious addition to the ever-growing shelves of books on sex wars.... Buss is refreshingly evenhanded." -- Elle

"Clear, coherent, and convincing...." -- Philadelphia Inquirer

About the Author

David M. Buss is Professor of Psychology at the University of Texas, Austin, and the author of six books, including Personality: Domains of Knowledge about Human Nature and The Dangerous Passion: Why Jealousy is as Necessary as Love and Sex. He lives in Austin, Texas.

Product details

  • Publisher ‏ : ‎ Basic Books
  • Publication date ‏ : ‎ June 26, 2003
  • Edition ‏ : ‎ 3rd
  • Language ‏ : ‎ English
  • Print length ‏ : ‎ 368 pages
  • ISBN-10 ‏ : ‎ 046500802X
  • ISBN-13 ‏ : ‎ 978-0465008025
  • Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 14.4 ounces
  • Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 1 x 8.25 inches
  • Customer Reviews:
    4.3 out of 5 stars 135 ratings

About the author

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David M. Buss

David M. Buss

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After completing his doctorate in at the University of California, Berkeley, David Buss spent four years as Assistant Professor at Harvard University. He then migrated to the University of Michigan, where he taught for 11 years before accepting his current position at the University of Texas at Austin. His primary interests include the evolutionary psychology of human mating strategies; conflict between the sexes; prestige, status, and social reputation; the emotion of jealousy; homicide; anti-homicide defenses; defenses against sexual victimization; and stalking.

Customer reviews

4.3 out of 5 stars
135 global ratings

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Customers find the book extremely well-written and truly insightful, describing it as a compelling read.

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ReadabilityInsight
16 customers mention "Readability"16 positive0 negative

Customers find the book extremely well-written and easy to read.

"...studies he references, this book is food for thought and does not disappoint...." Read more

"What a great book - the author really encourages the reader to ask WHY men and women behave the way they do with one another...." Read more

"...You can definitely see this method in his writing but, overall it is well written and kept my attention...." Read more

"...economic and geographic boundaries, Dr. David Buss has produced a masterpiece that provides extensive rationale for why we as humans act as we do...." Read more

11 customers mention "Insight"11 positive0 negative

Customers find the book insightful and compelling, with one customer noting its extensive rationale and another describing it as intriguing non-fiction for those interested in psychology.

"...It may not be written like a thriller, but the facts are so interesting that it makes for a compelling read." Read more

"Intriguing non-fiction for those interested in psychology, especially having to do with evolution and mating. Lots of interesting facts and studies...." Read more

"...The work is well documented and comprehensive, but after a while reading about rape, infidelity, and "mate-poaching" (for example) as adaptive..." Read more

"...boundaries, Dr. David Buss has produced a masterpiece that provides extensive rationale for why we as humans act as we do...." Read more

Top reviews from the United States

  • Joh
    5.0 out of 5 stars Highly Recommended, IMO, A Must Read For All People!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2017
    Verified Purchase
    Wow, this book changes the I interpret interaction with the opposite sex. I loved David Buss when I was in college, he was one of my favorite researchers. Whether you love or hate the results of the clinical studies he references, this book is food for thought and does not disappoint. It may not be written like a thriller, but the facts are so interesting that it makes for a compelling read.
    3 people found this helpful
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  • Julie
    5.0 out of 5 stars Blew my mind!
    Reviewed in the United States on January 31, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    What a great book - the author really encourages the reader to ask WHY men and women behave the way they do with one another. Already I have found myself explaining my SO's actions with ideas proposed in this book! If you ever feel like you don't understand the opposite gender, this is a great book to explain mating strategies and consequences of those strategies. GREAT READ!
    2 people found this helpful
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  • Amanda Dahms
    4.0 out of 5 stars For psych lovers and everyone else
    Reviewed in the United States on January 18, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    Intriguing non-fiction for those interested in psychology, especially having to do with evolution and mating. Lots of interesting facts and studies. You'll learn a lot about your species and yourself. Buss does tend to be a little repetitive with his writing at times and some topics are over done, but that is often how scientific writing works: say what you're going to say, say it, then say what you've said. You can definitely see this method in his writing but, overall it is well written and kept my attention. I would definitely recommend this book to anyone and everyone. I think it's important for us all to know what science has learned about our own species, our own minds and subconciences.
    7 people found this helpful
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  • Dr. Scooter
    3.0 out of 5 stars OK
    Reviewed in the United States on September 29, 2012
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Who would think that a book melding sex and evolution would in the end be tedious? The work is well documented and comprehensive, but after a while reading about rape, infidelity, and "mate-poaching" (for example) as adaptive mating strategies gets dry. Interestingly the author's attempt to fit homosexuality into his thesis weakens the entire effort, since he utterly fails to offer any convincing "adaptive" functions for it. Fans of great books about evolution should stick with Matt Ridley and the master himself, Stephen Jay Gould.
    2 people found this helpful
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  • BC
    5.0 out of 5 stars The Immaculate Truth.
    Reviewed in the United States on June 16, 2004
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Through his analysis of 37 cultures across all economic and geographic boundaries, Dr. David Buss has produced a masterpiece that provides extensive rationale for why we as humans act as we do. Buss uses reams of research (and also, obviously his own) to showcase what men want from women and what women want from men. They are certainly not the same thing, and the denial of this actuality has caused considerable friction between the sexes. I've found that when most people are exposed to the arguments of evolutionary psychology they immediately recognize it...as the truth. Read away, you'll never deny anything again.
    4 people found this helpful
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  • Jasmine Dunn
    5.0 out of 5 stars INTERESTING READ
    Reviewed in the United States on July 23, 2017
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    Dr. Buss was my professor and this was one of our required readings. I love this book so much, it's really informative and was one of the factors on why I chose to decide to study psychology!
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  • JoePat527
    5.0 out of 5 stars Great and Insightful book
    Reviewed in the United States on June 2, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    When i was getting my Bachelors degree one of my professors recommended this book as an "insightful read" and it truly is. Very interesting and easy read.
    One person found this helpful
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  • H. W.
    4.0 out of 5 stars A book worth reading but it had more pages than necessary
    Reviewed in the United States on November 12, 2008
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I bought this book after attending a great speech given by the author. I have always been interested in understanding differences between men and women in terms of dating and relationships. The author provided insights from the evolutionary psychological point of views. I particularly enjoyed to read sections containing related examples observed in animals and results from various studies. It was my first time to read such a book. It was refreshing but I think it was lengthier than necessary.
    6 people found this helpful
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Top reviews from other countries

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  • Alex DiMattia
    5.0 out of 5 stars An overview of human psychology
    Reviewed in Canada on November 24, 2013
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I give this book a 5. The reason being is that this book gives a very educational and detailed review of how humans and other species of life share similar mating patterns: very useful for learning how women think and why they are attracted to the men they find themselves attracted to. I haven't read the whole book yet, but from what I have, excellent read. I definitely recommend it for those who want to study female or male psychology.
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  • Bibiphoque
    4.0 out of 5 stars La bible
    Reviewed in France on February 9, 2016
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    La bible des relations hommes/femmes à travers les ages et les différentes cultures. A must have dans chaque bibliothèque. G
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  • ferran
    5.0 out of 5 stars Excellent summary
    Reviewed in Spain on March 6, 2016
    Verified Purchase
    A wide and thorough vision of human mating available for everyone. If you want to understand how and why we are attracted to what kind of features, just read this book.
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  • C. Ford
    5.0 out of 5 stars This book tells you how people work
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on June 17, 2014
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    I bought this book because I didn't understand people well. That's changed a little. Now I see myself and the other fleshy 2 legs out there all shuffling around to the tune of ancestral genetic mating protocols. I think it's why we do what we do.

    It has one downside - seeing everything laid out like this could take the romance out of the whole procedure. Then again, the knowledge in this book could stop you getting stung, badly. You only live once, so best not to spend it caring for someone else's babies or being a dispensable sex object / status object.

    If you're human, I have to recommend you read this book.
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  • anozama
    5.0 out of 5 stars There's Reason in Romance
    Reviewed in the United Kingdom on March 10, 2011
    Format: PaperbackVerified Purchase
    In a thorough analysis of human reproduction through the lens of evolutionary psychology, David Buss carefully examines a variety of its aspects.

    Attraction, mating strategies, wooing, one-night stands, commitment, monogamy, fidelity, lifetime mating, jealousy, infidelity, abuse,divorce...it's all part of nature's meticulous design. So is (presumably) the female orgasm, and so is (presumably) homosexuality.

    Throughout the approach is objective and scholarly. It's quite amazing to consider this array of hot topics in such a sober and scientific fashion.

    I would unreservedly recommend this book to anyone.
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