In recent years scientific research and popular opinion have favored the idea that sexual orientations are determined at birth. In this book, philosopher and legal theorist Edward Stein investigates scientific research on sexual orientation and shows that it is deeply flawed. He argues that this research assumes a picture of sexual desire that reflects unquestioned cultural stereotypes rather than cross-cultural scientific facts, and that it suffers from serious methodological problems. He then asks whether sexual orientation is amenable to empirical study and if it is useful for our understanding of human nature to categorize people based on their sexual desires. Perhaps most importantly, Stein examines some of the ethical issues surrounding such research, including gay and lesbian civil rights and the implications of parents trying to select or change the sexual orientation of their children.

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This book is one of the most challenging I have ever read ... not only was it slow going at times while I struggled to grasp new ideas and concepts, but challenging in terms of getting me to look at my preconceived notions about sexual orientation in completely new ways.

I admit there were times when I almost gave up on The Mismeasure of Desire. First because of the dry, academic style in which it is written. Later I grew frustrated with Mr. Stein taking up pages to explain a concept only to watch him "tear down" that concept in the next chapter. Now that I've finished The Mismeasure of Desire, I'm happy I stuck with the task of reading it. I find myself initiating conversations with friends about the ideas that are presented in the book and I find that I'm thinking about being gay in much different ways than when I first started this book.

On the whole, this is a fascinating overview of the issue of sexual orientation and the research to study and define our "desires." My only major complaint with the book is the final section on the ethics of sexual orientation research. The issues raised in the chapters in this section could easily be expanded into an entire book. As it is, it feels like Mr. Stein breezes through some of these issues that could stand more in-depth study.

8 of 10 found the following review helpful:

A serious look at issues in sexual orientationNov 04, 1999
By E. Buckley
This book is a serious look at the issues involved in thinking about sexual orientation. For example, while we all have a basic understanding of ideas like "gay" and "straight", coming up with an adequate definition that works for all the different kinds of people in the world is not as easy as it might seem at first glance. The point of this book is to take it beyond first glances to a clearer understanding. Such fundamental definitional questions have implications for any discussions of related issues, such as gay rights legislation (who is actually covered by these protections?) and scientific research on sexual orientation (just what are we trying to measure?). How can we claim to know what causes a person to be "gay" unless we first know which people that term is supposed to describe?

There is also a less philosophical discussion of research methodologies and problems that arise specifically in doing research on an aspect of human nature that many people try to keep secret. For example, it's not clear that all the subjects in various experiments were "gay" at all, even by a simple definition. Obviously, if this is true, the results of such research are close to worthless, and yet the popular press generally ignores these crucial problems.

Because it is a serious book, it is not light reading; you have to stop and think about what Stein is saying. But he explains the ideas clearly and uses effective examples to guide even the novice through all the hidden assumptions in discussions of sexual orientation. I recommend it to anyone interested in thinking critically about these issues.

4 of 5 found the following review helpful:

The most groundbreaking work on the subject yetMar 17, 2002
By Allegro100 "allegro100"
I recommend this book to everyone I talk to. It's simply outstanding.
Scientists will always seek to order the chaos, and philosophers will always seek to say that chaos can never be fully ordered. One may trim a hedge and box it into a container, but it is always alive, ever changing and growing. The best scientists can hope for is to catalog the waypoints.

I wrote an essay on this subject for a lesbian and gay studies class back in 1997, knowing nothing of postmodernism, and knowing only that I was bi, and didn't seem to fit gender categories either, and was continually frustrated by people's attempts to label me. At the time, I was considered a radical, and my professor sought to discredit all of my anecdotal evidence by saying I was too young to know what I "really" was yet.

That this book exists vindicates me on both a personal and professional level, and I hope will help all the rest of us "freaks" who exist outside the boxes come to terms with the idea that our chaos is the way things are meant to be, and that we should always refuse attempts at being ordered.

8 of 12 found the following review helpful:

excellent, thought-provoking, lucidNov 05, 1999

Edward Stein is a brilliant philosopher and writer in the best traditions of philosophy: he tries to help us make sense of our most deeply held values and interests. On every page of this book I found something to challenge and provoke my thinking. I predict that it will take some time for the controversial hypotheses and arguments about sexual orientation to become fully assimilated in our collective thinking about these topics, but once they do, they will forever change the terms of our conversations about innateness, choice, identity, sexuality, and value. The world needs more books like this.

3 of 5 found the following review helpful:

confusion discoveredNov 02, 1999
By annie (annie.sharp@yale.edu)
Stein's book is an extremely well-written piece of literature. He manages to discuss issues that are normally excruciatingly difficult to put together logically and does so in layman's terms. Beyond just his ability to speak about the topics of coming out and questioning why we as a society question homosexuality, he really forces the reader to question personal beliefs. Do I understand what it means to come out? Do I believe that homosexuality is essential or constructed? Why? Can I fight the counter arguments? The whole time you don't really no where he stands either. It is a very good overview for the person who is trying to discover what it all means. It will drive you to question yourself and teach you how to argue for what you believe. Anyone who has any questions about homosexuality or what it means to society should read this book. Even if you don't agree with everything he says at least you will think about it first. Also, I really loved the chapter about Zomnia. How silly are own constructions are!

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