Summary of Sex at Dawn

Sex at Dawn: The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality is a groundbreaking book by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá that challenges we have long accepted about human sexual behavior. This book explores why — despite the human inclination towards monogamous relationships — sexual promiscuity has been a cross-cultural norm throughout our prehistory. Through the analysis of historical data, evolutionary biology, anthropology, and anatomy, the authors make the case that humans are better suited for free love rather than monogamy. The authors also challenge the notion that monogamy and responsibility are innate characteristics of human nature, and argue that our Heather biology and behavior are more closely aligned with our prehistoric ancestors. Sex at Dawn offers an insightful and provocative look at how our modern concepts of sex and relationships evolved, and how they might be valued differently in the future.