How we do it : the evolution and future of human reproduction /
Martin, R. D.(Robert D.),1942-author.
"Despite our seemingly endless fascination with sex and parenting, the origins of our reproductive lives remain a mystery. Why are a quarter of a billion sperm cells needed to fertilize one egg? Are women really fertile for only a few days each month? How long should women breast-feed? In this book, the author, a primatologist draws on forty years of research to locate the origins of everything from sex cells to baby care, and to reveal what's really natural when it comes to making and raising babies. He acknowledges that although it's not realistic to reproduce like our ancestors did, there are surprising consequences to behavior we take for granted, such as bottle feeding, caesarean sections, and in vitro fertilization."--Amazon.com.
"Despite the widespread belief that natural is better when it comes to sex, pregnancy, and parenting, most of us have no idea what "natural" really means; the origins of our reproductive lives remain a mystery. Why are a quarter of a billion sperm cells needed to fertilize one egg? Are women really fertile for only a few days each month? How long should babies be breast-fed? In How We Do It, primatologist Robert Martin draws on forty years of research to locate the roots of everything from our sex cells to the way we care for newborns. He examines the procreative history of humans as well as that of our primate kin to reveal what's really natural when it comes to making and raising babies, and distinguish which behaviors we ought to continue--and which we should not. Although it's not realistic to raise our children like our ancestors did, Martin's investigation reveals surprising consequences of--and suggests ways to improve upon--the way we do things now. For instance, he explains why choosing a midwife rather than an obstetrician may have a greater impact than we think on our birthing experience, examines the advantages of breast-feeding for both mothers and babies, and suggests why babies may be ready for toilet training far earlier than is commonly practiced. How We Do It offers much-needed context for our reproductive and child-rearing practices, and shows that once we understand our evolutionary past, we can consider what worked, what didn't, and what it all means for the future of our species." -- Publisher's description.
Includes bibliographical references (p. 257-288) and index.
Sperms and eggs -- Cycles and seasons -- From mating to conception -- Long pregnancies and difficult births -- Growing a large brain -- Feeding babies: a natural history of breast-feeding -- Baby care: the broader picture -- Monkeying with human reproduction.
"Despite our seemingly endless fascination with sex and parenting, the origins of our reproductive lives remain a mystery. Why are a quarter of a billion sperm cells needed to fertilize one egg? Are women really fertile for only a few days each month? How long should women breast-feed? In this book, the author, a primatologist draws on forty years of research to locate the origins of everything from sex cells to baby care, and to reveal what's really natural when it comes to making and raising babies. He acknowledges that although it's not realistic to reproduce like our ancestors did, there are surprising consequences to behavior we take for granted, such as bottle feeding, caesarean sections, and in vitro fertilization."--Amazon.com.
"Despite the widespread belief that natural is better when it comes to sex, pregnancy, and parenting, most of us have no idea what "natural" really means; the origins of our reproductive lives remain a mystery. Why are a quarter of a billion sperm cells needed to fertilize one egg? Are women really fertile for only a few days each month? How long should babies be breast-fed? In How We Do It, primatologist Robert Martin draws on forty years of research to locate the roots of everything from our sex cells to the way we care for newborns. He examines the procreative history of humans as well as that of our primate kin to reveal what's really natural when it comes to making and raising babies, and distinguish which behaviors we ought to continue--and which we should not. Although it's not realistic to raise our children like our ancestors did, Martin's investigation reveals surprising consequences of--and suggests ways to improve upon--the way we do things now. For instance, he explains why choosing a midwife rather than an obstetrician may have a greater impact than we think on our birthing experience, examines the advantages of breast-feeding for both mothers and babies, and suggests why babies may be ready for toilet training far earlier than is commonly practiced. How We Do It offers much-needed context for our reproductive and child-rearing practices, and shows that once we understand our evolutionary past, we can consider what worked, what didn't, and what it all means for the future of our species." -- Publisher's description.
Human reproduction.
Human evolution.
Evolution (Biology)