T, Carole Hooven

Harvard biological anthropologist Carole Hooven traces the evolutionary history of testosterone up to the most cutting edge research to illuminate the real biology of masculinity and why understanding the science can lead us toward progress Testosterone may be the most famous player in the world of human biology. We tote it out as an explanation for toxic masculinity and sexual assault, a reason to keep some women from competing in professional sports, a mystical source of vitality and sexual attraction, and even a determining factor in what kinds of toys children choose to play with. But can one hormone—an unexceptional molecule made up of hydrogen, oxygen, and carbon—really explain such a range of behavioral traits?

In T, Hooven draws on her two decades studying testosterone in humans and other mammals to show that T is much more influential than most people realize, and why it’s vital that we understand the science of how it functions in our bodies. T—and the way we talk about it—affects our relationships, social groups, professional goals, identities, parenting roles, physical safety, justice system, and so much more. Yet much of the current discussion attempts to minimize the reality of T''s biological function—because if T has such influence, then doesn’t that put women’s progress toward equality at risk?

What does that mean for our society that’s consciously moving away from gendered thinking? Hooven argues that social progress is actually aided by a deep understanding of the science of T, and that we can all be stronger agents of change for knowing our own brains and bodies better.