Until the middle of the 20th century, sexual psychology and physiology were practically not studied, as if sex was a shameful secret and not a common biological phenomenon. The state of this science of sex and the behavior of scientists were determined by fear - they were afraid of public opinion, religious intolerance, political pressure, fanaticism and prejudice. Now that the importance of this area is fully appreciated by society, it is difficult to even imagine what the pioneers of laboratory sex had to face. However, even today few people think about the fact that specialists study sex like any other aspect of human physiology. With a masterful combination of scientific enthusiasm, journalistic emancipation, saving humor and unfailing taste, Mary Roach tells how and why this science developed.