Sex at Dawn

The 10th-anniversary edition of Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jetha offers a profound re-evaluation of the origins and nature of human sexuality. This thought-provoking and revolutionary book challenges conventional beliefs that sexual monogamy is inherent in human beings. Mainstream science, along with religious and cultural institutions, has long upheld the idea that men and women evolved within monogamous family units, where a man's resources and protection were exchanged for a woman's fertility and fidelity.

In contrast, Ryan and Jetha present an alternative view, arguing that prehistoric humans lived in egalitarian groups that shared resources, child care, and often, sexual partners. By intertwining evidence from diverse fields such as anthropology, archaeology, primatology, anatomy, and psychosexuality, the authors illustrate how monogamy is far from being a natural human condition.

Written with intelligence and a touch of humour, Sex at Dawn delves into how our promiscuous past continues to influence our modern-day struggles with sexuality. The authors examine why long-term fidelity is challenging for many, why sexual passion tends to wane even as emotional intimacy deepens, and why homosexuality persists despite traditional evolutionary logic. They also explore what the human body reveals about the primal origins of our sexual behaviours.

Shocking, enlightening, and ultimately inspiring, Sex at Dawn offers readers a revolutionary perspective on why we live and love the way we do. This comprehensive and meticulously researched work is bound to change the way we perceive human sexuality and our intimate relationships.

Sex at Dawn has garnered significant acclaim and sparked widespread discussion:

“Controversial and fascinating.” – Vogue Australia

“Sex at Dawn is the single most important book about human sexuality since Alfred Kinsey unleashed Sexual Behaviour in the Human Male on the American public in 1948.” – Dan Savage, author of the internationally syndicated sex-advice column ‘Savage Love’ and The Commitment: Love, Sex, Marriage, and My Family

“Sex at Dawn has helped me understand myself and the world so much more clearly.” – Ilana Glazer, co-creator of Broad City

This 10th-anniversary edition renews and amplifies the crucial discussions initiated by the original publication, making it an essential addition to the libraries of those interested in understanding the complexities of human sexuality.