Carole Hooven

A good overview of the role that this hormone plays in the life of, mainly, men around the world. Many commentators have promoted the views recently that 'toxic masculinity' is purely the result of socialization but the evidence that is reviewed in this book suggests that elevated testosterone levels in dominant and impulsive men do have a consistent link with hostile behaviour. The book made me reflect on the way in which experiences of 'winning' result in sustained high levels of testosterone, whereas losing results in a sustained drop in the hormone, both in humans and many other animals. This made me think of Trump's obsession with being a 'winner', and his obsession with praising what he calls 'big men'. Testosterone is involved in many dark aspects of male behaviour, and yet the book demonstrates its morally neutral roles in building muscles mass, heightening sexual drive and ambition. As Hooven finishes the book, T is best consumed responsibly. At the Basilica of San Lorenzo, Florence, Italy, dating from the 16th and 17th centuries, you will find the Tomb of Lorenzo di Piero de' Medici with a sculpture of Lorenzo carved by Michael Angelo. The figure is the warrior intellectual, a muscular man in a contemplative posture. This is perhaps the kind of testosterone influenced vision of man we should look favourably on, rather than the unreflectively violent status guarding man involved in a road rage incident (yes there is an irony in me saying this considering the Medici this sculpture celebrates was clearly wanting to elevate his social status through art).… (altro)