Overview

When did humans begin to kiss Why is kissing integral to some cultures and alien to others Do good kissers make the best lovers And is that expensive lip-plumping gloss worth it Sheril Kirshenbaum, a marine biologist and science journalist, tackles these questions and more in THE SCIENCE OF KISSING. It's everything you always wanted to know about kissing but either haven't asked, can't find out, or didn't realize you should understand. Sheril's a serious scientist, and the material here is informed by the results of the latest studies and theories, but she's also got an engaging, delightful voice and offers information with a light, humorous touch. Topics range from the kind of kissing men like to do (as distinct from women), to what animals can teach us about the kiss, to whether or not the true art of kissing was lost sometime in the Dark Ages, to what, really, makes us kiss. Employing an interdisciplinary approach--drawing upon classical history, evolutionary biology, psychology, popular culture, and more--Kirshenbaum's winning book will appeal to romantics and armchair scientists alike.

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9780446559904

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Reviews

What's the big deal? You pucker up, and there you are-right? Turns out there's a lot more to kissing than you might think. For instance, you never forget your first kiss isn't just a sappy sentiment; it's apparently quite literally true, and the fact that we remember more details about that first kiss than about our first sexual experience speaks volumes about the nature of memory. Men and women kiss differently; that's also true, but you might be surprised to learn why. Why is kissing important to some human societies, and unimportant-just plain foreign-to others? University of Texas research scientist and Discover magazine blogger Kirshenbaum draws on psychology, biology, history, and other disciplines in this highly engaging, highly informative book. -- Booklist David Pitt

This was the best science book I've read in a long time, offering a new level of understanding to an innate part of ourselves, and making it seem even more enchanting. --- Cosmos magazine

This was the best science book I've read in a long time, offering a new level of understanding to an innate part of ourselves, and making it seem even more enchanting. --<b><i>-<i>Cosmos</i> magazine</b></i>

Author Information

Sheril Kirshenbaum is a research associate at Duke University. She blogs on Discover magazine's website, The Intersection, and contributes to a variety of blogs and science publications

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