The Sexual Evolution How 500 Million Years of Sex, Gender and Mating Shape Modern Relationships

"In The Sexual Evolution, the US biologist Nathan Lents romps through the mating habits of the animal kingdom, from polyamorous swans to 'depraved' penguins [...] This is all marvellous fun"
– The Times

"Leave it to Lents to remind us that yes, we have sex for many reasons, and yes, they're often funny as hell. Bravo!"
– Cat Bohannon, author of Eve

"An entertaining and informative romp through mating strategies in nature [...] Garter snake orgies, gender-masking hyenas, lusty bonobos and the lesbian Laysan albatrosses of Hawaii – this book has it all. All that diversity is fascinating, and frequently funny"
– Guardian

"At a time when diversity is fast becoming a dirty word, The Sexual Evolution provides a powerful argument about why diversity not only exists, but wins. Lents' scholarly tome never lectures but guides the reader through a glorious array of gender and sexual diversity from across the animal kingdom, with authority and humour. An important addition to this important genre. My copy of this book will be read many times"
– Lucy Cooke, author of Bitch

"The Sexual Evolution is a thoughtfully and delightfully written book full of illuminating and entertaining information that will be new to most readers. At a time when ignorance and misinformation about sex, gender, reproduction and intimacy abound, we could all benefit from reading this research-packed tour"
– Science

"An unnaturally good book – funny, informative and refreshingly frank. The Sexual Evolution injects a timely splash of colour into a field increasingly polarised towards black and white. A must read"
– Ed Watkins, producer and director of Queer Planet

"A fascinating and important exploration of nature in all its rich, queer glory"
– David Farrier, author of Footprints and Nature's Genius

"Thought-provoking, insightful, and surprisingly dirty, The Sexual Evolution brings in-depth research of natural history to contemporary gender issues"
– Catherine Phipps, Lecturer in the History of Gender and Sexualities at the University of Bristol

"Enthralling [...] Lents gleefully tears down cis, hetero and monogamous norms, outlining surprising case studies that give the lie to restrictive conceptions of gender and sex. The result is an indispensable glimpse into the queerness of animals"
– Starred Review, Publishers Weekly

"In this multi-layered exploration of gender biology, Nathan Lents takes us on a wonderfully thoughtful journey through some of today's most challenging scientific terrain. The result is a book that expertly balances the complexity of the issues and the compassion needed to navigate them"
– Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning author of The Poison Squad