Review Hung Like An Argentine Duck

Hung Like An Argentine Duck

A journey  back in time to the origins of sexual intimacy.

Author:                             Dr John Long

Publisher:                         Fourth Estate

Type:                                 Soft Cover

Pages:                                249

Genre:                               non-fiction

Published:                         2011

ISBN:                                9780732292737

 This is a neat book, its novel sized coming in at, a little over eight inches tall, more than five inches wide and about an inch thick. It was a perfect holiday purchase. I noticed absolutely no editing errors within the books pages. There are a few black and white diagrams thorough that help demonstrate the subject being covered, and there are eight full colour pages in the center of the book. 

 The book beings with an interesting forward and continues on with an interesting preface. The preface begins with a loving poem, somehow ends up at auto erotic asphyxiation before eventually explaining what the book is and what it sets out to do.

  Chapters one through seven detail the authors fossil discovery. In chapter one we look at the penis of ducks, whales and the largest human penis, we examine the genital sizes of the other great apes and are taken to an Australian desert on a fossil hunt. We examine those fossils in chapter two. Chapter three is shark sex 101. In chapter four we see the procedure in writing and releasing a scientific paper.

 In chapter eight we explore the origin of sex. Chapter nine deals with the sometimes horrific sex lives of insects, spiders and crustaceans. From there we move on to chapter tens examination of the first sex on land with amphibians and lizards. Chapter eleven details the difficulties of dinosaur sex. We finally arrive at mammalian sex in chapter twelve. Chapter thirteen has a detailed look at sperm. And finally chapter fourteen ties it all together showing us how we humans are indeed related to that first fossil fish from chapter one.

 We end the book with an epilogue and extensive notes were all the books mentioned are referenced, we then find acknowledgements and an exhaustive index.

 The book does have a brief look at homosexuality but this isn't the books focus, homosexuality is covered as a natural part of animal, human and sexuality, which is as it should be.

 While the book does get a little 'sciencey' at times, everything is quickly explained in an easy to understand manner using common day terms. The author needs to be commended in his ability to do this so well.

  

 I would highly recommend this book to anyone interested in history, sexuality, science, sex, animals, paleontology, evolution, or anyone just wanting a good read.