Dabbs provides an interesting, very readable presentation on the hormone Testosterone, but though I found the book informative, I missed the more incisive analysis of what is really cause and what effect. That testosterone levels are high doesn't necessary say that they motivate aggressive behavior, for instance, but an impulse to be aggressive can cause a rise in testosterone to allow the body to follow the mind (born out in published data from neurology/neuroscience). Science needs to have more proof rather than use assumptions for conclusions. The portions on the so-called high-testosterone women (really, they just might be high self-esteem women) were probably the most interesting in the book, although I got to wondering why so much study focuses and fixates on "male" hormones but so little on women's? Are estrogen and progesterone just too "inferior" to consider? I hope the authors or someone else departs from what looks like an obsession with masculinity in the sciences and look into the other half of the population. I for one would be very interested in a book about high-estrogen men!

An entertaining read that provides a scientific context for understanding many different types of behaviors in men, but more interestingly: women. Often neglected in other studies on testosterone, this book explores the many different ways high levels of testosterone manifest in women. Laugh-out-loud funny at times, every reader will see someone they know (or perhaps themselves) in this book! Rather than using high testosterone as an excuse for outrageous or sociopathic behavior, James and Mary Dabbs illustrate how appropriate child-rearing can direct the high testosterone child's energies to positive ends.

I read the book 'Heros, Rogues, and Lovers: Testosterone and Behavior' by James and Mary Dabbs in the midst of the presidential debates between Al Gore and George W. Bush. The book caused me to wonder about the testosterone levels of the two candidates as a possible factor in their demeanor. In the third debate, when Gore strode into Bush's 'personal space' during Bush's speaking turn, I thought "now that's high testosterone and wouldn't it be great to get him to spit to find out!" Perhaps Dr. Dabbs and his students had similar thoughts.

What an interesting ecclectic book. Where to place it on my shelves? Next to the self help books such as 'Men are from Mars, Women are from Venus'? With the biology and ethology books? Or with my old social psychology books from my college days. Or possibly even in the poetry and literature section. People from all walks of life will find this to be a charming intelligent book about the influence of testosterone on animal and human behavior void of snobbery that so often infects academic works. I especially liked the folksy anecdotes about people and animals that add warmth and color to the book.

Now here's an idea for a commercial offshoot to this work: Would it be possible to produce a testosterone self-test kit similar to pregnancy test kits available in the drug store? If testosterone proves to be such a potent factor in how people get along, well think of the possibilities. Parents of dating-age daughters could screen prospective boyfriends and at least raise warning flags about boys with high testosterone. It could be used on a personal basis as a tool to better understand oneself by tracking fluctuations that possibly lead to mood swings. Speaking personally, when I was divorced a few years ago, my body and brain chemistry went bonkers for a few months, affecting my preferences in books, music, TV programs, and on and on. I suddenly lost interest in sports such as football. Gradually, I reverted back to my old obnoxious male sports-oriented self. Was this due to a testosterone swing?

I'm looking forward to further research about testosterone and other chemicals that affect our behavior, especially as it applies to the gender wars. The thriving divorce industry suggests a dire need for research that helps us better understand and overcome gender differences. Can't we all just get along?

Speaking of the divorce industry, the research comparing trial lawyers to non-trial lawyers was very interesting. Could I venture a hypothesis that matrimonial lawyers will register highest of all lawyer groups on the rogue, er, testosterone scale?