Do Genetics Really Tell The Tale?

This is an interesting but odd book, with an awkward title that reflects its inner dissonance. It has two main themes that are little related except for their presumed genetic basis. Actually, it documents a number of paradoxes: That female brains have a more balanced structure leading to stability than do male brains, yet males rule the earth. That nowadays girls and women are more highly educated in the West than men, yet earn on average much less money. That on average boys are more fragile and more given to genetic disorders than girls, yet will grow up to have more power. That many females have extreme love for their infants, yet still opt for top jobs. that allow them to spend little time together. That some bright women train for positions in science, engineering and math, yet later drop out from the lucrative jobs they have been successfully holding down. It is this last paradox that is the major theme of this book, that the careers of high-flyer women in these...