|
|
 - Bonking Made BoringThe information, such as it is, in this book is mostly trivial and/or useless. There is also not that much of it. The actual amount of info in the book might have made a long magazine article but no more. The book is shamelessly padded on almost every page with endless jokes and cutesy side remarks, found both in the text and in anecdotes in textual footnotes (the sole purpose for which the book uses footnotes). Since they often have nothing to do either with the book's subject or the material on the page at hand, they quickly become first disruptive and then irritating. A few are funny. More would be funny on their own but fail as irrelevant asides. Some are just stupid. The footnote on page 31 ending with former President Millard Fillmore's last words is an example of both irrelevance and idiocy. So also the one on page 263 that reveals that nominations for the Nobel prize are secret for 50 years so "make the claim, and nobody can prove otherwise until after you're dead. Add one to your resume today." The cutesy remarks in the main text can be found on virtually every page. Not a very well written book, not a very informative book, not a good book. Rating:  - Great writer, great bookI have enjoyed all Mary Roach's books and this is no exception. Good tongue in cheek approach to science subjects. Rating: - My review of "Bonk: The curious coupling of science and sex."This is a fascinating book, full of details and information on that most intriguing of subjects, sex. I laughed while I learned. Highly recommended. Rating:  - Decent readI really don't understand why so many others gave this book a 5 star rating. Overall it was an interesting book but the extensive footnoting was a bit annoying. Funny?...not really. Not as good as I had hoped but I don't regret the purchase. Rating: - Compulsive Mary Roach ReaderAs a steady reader of Mary Roach books I was so glad for Bonk! After Spook I must say I was a little discouraged, it got too opinionated, and judging by her wonderful ability to laugh at the impersonal and not take clear sides- I was worried she would not recover... and then there was Bonk. It is funny, as typical Roach, charming, awkward and a little endearing in only the way chapters about monkey mating and condom balloon insertion can get. If you liked stiff there are even some fun cadaver facts thrown in just for you. Definitely pick this book up.
|
