Useful Resources

Class Readings:

Textbook:     Cooke, Lucy.  2021.  Bitch:  On the Female of the Species.  Kindle $19,  Hardcover $25

The course topics will loosely follow the book.  The best approach is to read the entire book once and then review relevant sections as the course progresses.  

Enrichment reading:  a few articles will be posted on the Course Readings subpage for each week.  

These readings are available for people who would like to go into more depth or explore side issues.  

General information:  see file(s) to download at bottom of page

      Topic and Reading Schedule:  This may be updated as course progresses.     Updated 3-30-2023

Additional Resources: There are many.  Here are just a few.

Suggested books:   (also check out the bibliography in Bitch)

Roughgarden, Joan.  2004.  Evolution's Rainbow: Diversity, Gender, and Sexuality in Nature and People

(referenced in Cooke's book)

Zuk, M and LW Simmons.  2018.  Sexual Selection: A Very Short Introduction

(a succinct overview of the animal behavior background to sexual selection:  mating systems, competition,  

sex roles, stereotypes, conflicts, survival adaptiveness)

There are very few textbooks that cover the same material that are modern.  Here are some more general books.

Wyatt, T. A.  2017.  Animal Behavior: A Very Short Introduction .  Oxford University Press.  

(provides a quick overview of the entire field of animal behavior)

Jong, Ed.  2022.  An Immense World: How Animal Senses Reveal the Hidden Realms Around Us

(a great overview of animal senses and their view of the world by a great writer)

Web resources:

    Science Alert:   an excellent online science “newspaper” for the curious

Sends one email daily with article links; many topics covered, including animal behavior and evolution

https://www.sciencealert.com/

Note:  podcast links below are to websites.  Podcasts can also be accessed through generic podcast apps 

on smart phones

Huberman Lab podcasts (https://hubermanlab.com/)  

Huberman covers topics related to neuroscience and hormone chemistry with a human focus

The Science of Emotions & Relationships

https://hubermanlab.com/the-science-of-emotions-relationships/ 

Biological Influences On Sex, Sex Differences & Preferences

https://hubermanlab.com/biological-influences-on-sex-sex-differences-and-preferences/ 

The Science of How to Optimize Testosterone & Estrogen

https://hubermanlab.com/the-science-of-how-to-optimize-testosterone-and-estrogen/ 

Dr. David Buss: How Humans Select & Keep Romantic Partners in Short & Long Term

https://hubermanlab.com/dr-david-buss-how-humans-select-and-keep-romantic-partners-in-short-and-long-term/

The Science of Love, Desire and Attachment

https://hubermanlab.com/the-science-of-love-desire-and-attachment/

Dr. David Anderson: The Biology of Aggression, Mating & Arousal

https://hubermanlab.com/dr-david-anderson-the-biology-of-aggression-mating-and-arousal/ 

Michael Shermer Show podcasts

Lucy Cooke interview on Michael Shermer Show:  Bitch  (1 hr)

https://www.skeptic.com/michael-shermer-show/lucy-cooke-on-female-of-species/ 

Frans De Waal interview on Michael Shermer Show:  Sex and gender across the primate spectrum (1.5 hr)

https://www.skeptic.com/michael-shermer-show/frans-de-waal-on-sex-gender-across-primate-spectrum/ 

Louise Perry interview on Michael Shermer Show:  The Case Against the Sexual Revolution (1.5 hr)

https://www.skeptic.com/michael-shermer-show/louise-perry-case-against-sexual-revolution/ 

Video sites:

      Curiosity Stream:   https://curiositystream.com/           Amazing topic diversity in science, history, philosophy,

  and more ($20/year)