This book is simply brilliant. Lucy hilarious and joyous criticism of how a patriarchal society has shaped our ideas about the sexes in nature is incredible to read. Each page is brimming with scientific discoveries and theories that have moulded evolutionary and animal biology. I would recommend this book again and again.

Thoroughly enjoyed this book and was sad to finish it! It is filled with amazing examples from the animal kingdom - interwoven with the equally brilliant scientists who study them - that I feel I wouldn't have come across anywhere else. It avoids excessively anthropomorphising its subjects, but reading it, you can find kinship with everything from a praying mantis to a killer whale, as nature's cruelty and compassion are revealed across a range of species. Being female does not mean being one thing, and no book better articulates the diversity of 'female' than this book. Anyone who feels gender roles are grounded in biology ought to give this a read. The author decisively confronts historic and existing biases about the nature of being female, but is careful to avoid making the same mistake by imposing her personal views on the natural world. Rather, she unpicks misconceptions, explains how these came to be, and allows newly-recognised results to speak for themselves. Grounded in biology, this book avoids the trappings of biological essentialism; the author writes as sensitively on cultural and social matters as she does on science. I am so glad I came across this book and met the characters within it; it was incredibly interesting, a pleasure to read, and healing, and I know I will revisit it again.

This book is absolutely phenomenal, and grabbed my attention in a way no other non-fiction book has ever managed to. Whilst I love learning, I've always found non-fiction just doesn't hold my attention. I had no such issue with this book - I didn't want to put it down! I procrastinated reading the last chapter because I was so disappointed it was ending! Of course it depends on your interests, but a combination of fun animal facts and an exploration of gender and what being a woman really means was perfect for me! If you're like me, and struggle with non-fiction but want to learn lots of fascinating facts - read this book! You won't be disappointed!

I am male, in my sixties and this book filled in an essential gap in my knowledge. It will be shocking to most males but truth is often uncomfortable. I watched a nature program a couple of years ago where a a female cheetah had to hunt food for her three cubs. She tried to join four males who were sceptical, didn't really want her around and only kinda let her into the club. (bit like human males and their golf courses)They were pretty rubbish males and caught nothing and so she took it upon herself to hunt down some meat. She was allowed into the club. Lucy Cooke highlights something that has always been obvious to me but couldn't find the words or evidence. Females are every bit equal and equivalent to males. Sexism is cultura and damaging to a healthy societyl. I've just bought a copy for a male friend. Looking forward to hearing about his revelation.