This book is a humorous, semi-scientific guide to understanding the nature of men and women. It is a helpful source for navigating the ins and outs of interactions with the opposite sex. The book starts with the beginning of sex, goes through nature and nurture to a description of men and women, and finally, to marriage and beyond. You will find checklists, quizzes, and a road map through the perils and pleasures of finding a mate. Included are interesting facts, figures, and advice from poets, writers, and romance experts. Whether you are twenty or fifty, you will find this book a wonderful resource for the affairs of the heart. John West has hit a perfect bullseye with this book. It will have you laughing as you discover what makes relationships work or falter in the complicated dance of romance. I wish I had read it before stepping into various relationships. West thoughtfully describes the inner workings of our brains, the hormonal and cultural influences that make us who we are, and how all that plays a major role when we try to engage with others. If you think it isn't possible to find the perfect mate, read this book, it makes you realize the type of person you are best suited for and helps you understand the changes you need to make to be a perfect partner. Cynthia L. Griswold, RN, MSN, FNP This book should be on all book shelves. It is scientific, it is insightful, and it is hilarious. John West captures the essence of being male and female in this modern world. He explains our habits and idiosyncratic behavior in easy to understand chapters but brings you to tears with his insightfulness. I cannot recommend this tome highly enough, an excellent read. Best book on the sexes I have encountered. You are learning as well as being entertained. A must read, helpful for all marriages. Superb understanding of science and human nature. You will never view the opposite sex the same after reading this book. A bloody good read. John Brownsberger Academic Advisor and professor Charles Stuart University New South Wales Australia The Nature of Men and Women, The X and Y Factor, or I Didn't Say it was your Fault, I Said I was Going to Blame You By John West AuthorHouse Copyright © 2016 John West All rights reserved. ISBN: 978-1-5246-4814-5 Contents Preface, vii, Introduction, ix, Chapter 1 The Beginning of Sex, 1, Chapter 2 A Short Lesson on Genetics, 5, Chapter 3 The Gene Pool, 8, Chapter 4 The Delivery System, 12, Chapter 5 Genetic Memory, Part 1, 17, Chapter 6 A Box of Chocolates, 21, Chapter 7 Nature vs. Nurture, 23, Chapter 8 If It Looks Like a Duck, 30, Chapter 9 What is a Man?, 33, Chapter 10 What is a Woman?, 50, Chapter 11 What is Love?, 66, Chapter 12 Finding a Mate, 72, Chapter 13 Marriage in the USA, 101, Chapter 14 The Check list, 122, CHAPTER 1 The Beginning of Sex Life began quite sexless. Early organisms had no sex. There were no males, no females, no differentiation based on genitalia, behavior, or poky things. For billions of years, one celled Protozoans scurried around just trying to stay alive. One day, that changed. One day out of billions of years, one cell adhered to another cell and they swapped genetic material. They went on their way with no hug, no handshake, and no thank you; just swap and go. Protozoans do feel sensations, maybe not happiness, but something made them do it and continue to do it. Though not the beginning of sex, it was "one small step for man, and a giant leap for mankind." The exchange of genetic material proved beneficial, and a trend was born. That swap enabled the growth of diversity, and led from asexual to sexual reproduction. Other organisms, instead of adhering to one another, began to throw out special cells that would connect and form offspring, a toss and go of genetic material. There appeared to be two different groups of the same species throwing out slightly different special cells to make a new individual. This action may have been the precursor of sex, a "pre-sex" if you will. A couple hundred millions of years later and two kinds of special cells were developing. It took about two billion years of trial and error to hit on what today is a successful strategy of egg and sperm. What is Sex? When did it Start? Sex revolves around methods of reproduction. Simply put, if you produce a mature special cell (gamete) to reproduce, you are a sexual organism. If there is no mature special cell, you are asexual, a no-sex organism. There are two kinds of special cells (gametes) called an egg or a sperm. If you produce an egg, you are a female. If you produce a sperm, you are a male. The coded directions for the human female or male are on the X and Y chromosomes, and therefore these chromosomes determine the sex of the individual. Interestingly, the female came first, way first. There was an intermediate form of male, a non-female, but not yet a male along the way. A lot of women think most men are an i