Woman is a mesmerizing anatomy and physiology lesson that culminates in a fascinating revelation about the ways in which cultural biases have influenced research in evolutionary psychology (the study of the biological bases of behavior). In lively, elegant prose, Angier shows just how natural selection has been misused as a model for confirming gender stereotypes, such as the idea that women are innately monogamous while men are natural philanderers. In so doing, she has galvanized both scientific thought and feminist rhetoric, and deftly combined the two to ignite a new wave of feminism that scientists, feminists, and the media have aptly dubbed "liberation biology".

But Natalie Angier doesn't just point fingers, she offers optimistic alternatives, and Woman is a seminal work with universal appeal that" proposes revolutionary possibilities for both men and women" (Gloria Steinem). This is a book that will be read and discussed for many years to come, and that will endure as an essential read for anyone interested in how biology affects who we are -- as women, as men, and as human beings.