The Sexual Paradox

“A fascinating and complex book, highly controversial.”

“An eye-opening read.”

“To my come-hither bedside stack, I added The Sexual Paradox: Men, Women, and the Real Gender Gap, by the Canadian psychologist Susan Pinker. Using the latest neurological and biological findings of brain-imaging and sex-hormone assays, Pinker adds scientific ballast to the anecdotal truisms that women are more consensus-minded and team-oriented, and are better at reading human visual cues, interpreting feelings, and maintaining relationships and relationship networks than men.” —Sandra Tsing Loh, The Atlantic

“All these many years of running a business, I thought I was an anomaly. Susan Pinker’s work has grounded my intuitions in reality: a woman’s success is going to knock the spiritual stuffing right out of her if she tries to come at it from traditional angles. Instead she must invent a workplace that not only provides food for the table but gives social and emotional meaning to her life. Susan Pinker helps you understand that it’s not you that’s crazy, it’s the system.” ,

"The Sexual Paradox is a page turner  a fascinating account of sex differences exemplified by real life stories of fragile boys who later succeed and gifted, early-performing girls who eventually opt out of the career track, with interpretations based on current neuroscience research."

"The Sexual Paradox highlights some central puzzles about exceptional men and women. Why did Einstein never complete his PhD? Or Cavendish, Faraday, Darwin, and Bill Gates never complete their degrees or even drop out of university? And why do high-flying business women not behave like their male counterparts? Susan Pinker's wide-ranging look at the nature of the sexes is a highly readable and welcome contribution to this perennial debate."

“In this marvelous book, Susan Pinker presents a fascinating analysis of the ‘gender gap,’ introducing a continuous flow of exciting ideas and new insights into old problems and controversies.” —Ronald Melzack, E.P. Taylor Professor Emeritus in Psychology, McGill University

“The Sexual Paradox is a page turner—a fascinating account of sex differences.”

“Susan Pinker’s The Sexual Paradox is meticulously researched, brilliantly argued and thoroughly persuasive. It moves the debate over sex differences to a new level of sophistication.”

A valuable demonstration of how discounting biology during the last 40 years has done a disservice, especially to men.

“Defying taboos, Pinker, a psychologist and columnist for the Globe and Mail, presents a compelling case for a biological explanation of why men and women make different career choices.”

“Pinker’s meticulous and exhaustive statistical and academic research is enlivened by personal case histories and pop culture references that travel from the boardroom to the bedroom. Presented with flair, sensitivity, and determination, Pinker’s penetrating conclusions shed important new light on how gender differences affect every strata of contemporary existence.”

As a psychologist and journalist she has mastered both disciplines, presenting a beautiful combination of interesting stories and the current state of affairs in scientific research.

‘The Sexual Paradox simply is a very good read. Written in an easy, conversational style, it offers a scientifically well-founded panorama that alternates between case-studies and evidence, and the facts can be shocking.

"The freedom of women is still worth discussing, as too many outsiders still think they know what is best for them. Susan Pinker’s 'The Sexual Paradox' is a plea to allow women to make their own choices."

"Pinker’s book is interesting, cleverly structured, and enriched with catchy examples. It dominates the debate about gender differences and is the most rewarding reading there is about this subject at present. "

"The Sexual Paradox shakes the feminist movement to the core."

"It’s brilliant. Taking a deep, calm breath Pinker moves the gender debate to a completely new level.”

“The book sparkles when Pinker uses personal interviews to explore how her former patients have fared as adults and how their lives illustrate gender differences.”

“Illuminating…an amusing mix of anecdotes and science.”

"At last common sense… This highly readable book on a familiar theme succeeds where other do not, with its potent combination of scientific research, interviews and astute observation. It is a large contribution to an important debate."

“This is a fascinating and complex book.”

“Intelligent, thoughtful and profoundly important. Pinker’s book should mark a watershed.”

“Susan Pinker is at the forefront of the attempt to establish what women really want and how they can achieve the right balance.”

“This isn’t a touchy-feely, ‘women are more emotional in the workplace’ kind of argument.”

“This book contains some uncomfortable home truths, but it is also full of optimism.”

“To me, this book comes as a relief… The book is a powerful portrayal of men, too.”

“The meat of the book is original…Pinker is surely right that understanding the causes of workplace gender gaps, rather than mulishly insisting sex differences do not exist, will ultimately be better for both women and men.”

“Fascinating, insightful and deeply captivating. Every thinking man and woman should read this book.”

“Lively and well-written. . . . The main conclusion of The Sexual Paradox is important and timely: Our society must adapt to the different needs, talents and life cycles of women.”

“A ringing salvo in the sex difference wars…She has a good prescription for helping more of us be our best selves.”