Naked Man, The

A refreshing celebration of the wonder that is the human male' New Scientist

No life form has had a greater impact upon this planet than the human male. What is it that has made his legacy so utterly distinct from that of all other life forms, including even the human female? Following on from the international success of The Naked Woman, Desmond Morris investigates this intriguing evolutionary success story. The Naked Man is a study of the masculine body from head to toe, examining biological features of the male anatomy in illuminating detail and describing the many ways in which these features have been modified, suppressed, or exaggerated by local customs and changes in social fashions. This is a natural history of man, viewing him as a fascinating specimen of a far from rare, but nevertheless endangered species. As with its companion title, The Naked Man is written from a zoologist’s perspective and packed full of scientific fact, engaging anecdote and thought-provoking conclusions, including a controversial chapter examining male sexuality.

Author Profile

Desmond Morris was born in 1928. Educated at Birmingham and Oxford universities, he became the curator of mammals at London Zoo in 1959, a post he held for eight years. In 1967 he published The Naked Ape which was to sell over 10 million copies worldwide. An accomplished artist, television presenter and film maker, Desmond Morris’s works have been published in over thirty-six countries.

Reviews

This is a book that every man should read. Morris, with a breathtaking sweep across millennia, first pains an arching overview of civilised society’s development. Then, in a style both easy to read and free of pomposity, he examines the male body from hair to feet… But the thrilling thrust of the book is in the compelling conviction with which he orchestrates the human response to the mysterious thud of the rhythm of life,Morris's irresistible blend of hard science and populism,A treasure trove of such humorous anecdotes, but it has a scholarly tone and a serious purpose,Persuasive, and often fascinating