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Vagina Obscura: An Anatomical Voyage
Shortlisted for the 2023 Andrew Carnegie Medal for Excellence in Nonfiction and the PEN/E.O. Wilson Literary Science Writing Award
A New York Times Editors' Choice
A Science Friday Best Science Book to Read This Summer
A myth-busting voyage into the female body.
A camera obscura reflects the world back but dimmer and inverted. Similarly, science has long viewed woman through a warped lens, one focused narrowly on her capacity for reproduction. As a result, there exists a vast knowledge gap when it comes to what we know about half of the bodies on the planet.
That is finally changing. Today, a new generation of researchers is turning its gaze to the organs traditionally bound up in baby-making―the uterus, ovaries, and vagina―and illuminating them as part of a dynamic, resilient, and ever-changing whole. Welcome to Vagina Obscura, an odyssey into a woman's body from a fresh perspective, ushering in a whole new cast of characters.
In Boston, a pair of biologists are growing artificial ovaries to counter the cascading health effects of menopause. In Melbourne, a urologist remaps the clitoris to fill in crucial gaps in female sexual anatomy. Given unparalleled access to labs and the latest research, journalist Rachel E. Gross takes readers on a scientific journey to the center of a wonderous world where the uterus regrows itself, ovaries pump out fresh eggs, and the clitoris pulses beneath the surface like a shimmering pyramid of nerves.
This paradigm shift is made possible by the growing understanding that sex and gender are not binary; we all share the same universal body plan and origin in the womb. That's why insights into the vaginal microbiome, ovarian stem cells, and the biology of menstruation don't mean only a better understanding of female bodies, but a better understanding of male, non-binary, transgender, and intersex bodies―in other words, all bodies.
By turns funny, lyrical, incisive, and shocking, Vagina Obscura is a powerful testament to how the landscape of human knowledge can be rewritten to better serve everyone.
9 illustrations
A New York Times Editors' Choice
A Science Friday Best Science Book to Read This Summer
A myth-busting voyage into the female body.
A camera obscura reflects the world back but dimmer and inverted. Similarly, science has long viewed woman through a warped lens, one focused narrowly on her capacity for reproduction. As a result, there exists a vast knowledge gap when it comes to what we know about half of the bodies on the planet.
That is finally changing. Today, a new generation of researchers is turning its gaze to the organs traditionally bound up in baby-making―the uterus, ovaries, and vagina―and illuminating them as part of a dynamic, resilient, and ever-changing whole. Welcome to Vagina Obscura, an odyssey into a woman's body from a fresh perspective, ushering in a whole new cast of characters.
In Boston, a pair of biologists are growing artificial ovaries to counter the cascading health effects of menopause. In Melbourne, a urologist remaps the clitoris to fill in crucial gaps in female sexual anatomy. Given unparalleled access to labs and the latest research, journalist Rachel E. Gross takes readers on a scientific journey to the center of a wonderous world where the uterus regrows itself, ovaries pump out fresh eggs, and the clitoris pulses beneath the surface like a shimmering pyramid of nerves.
This paradigm shift is made possible by the growing understanding that sex and gender are not binary; we all share the same universal body plan and origin in the womb. That's why insights into the vaginal microbiome, ovarian stem cells, and the biology of menstruation don't mean only a better understanding of female bodies, but a better understanding of male, non-binary, transgender, and intersex bodies―in other words, all bodies.
By turns funny, lyrical, incisive, and shocking, Vagina Obscura is a powerful testament to how the landscape of human knowledge can be rewritten to better serve everyone.
9 illustrations
Editorial Reviews
"Through her seamless storytelling and meticulous research, Rachel Gross shows how long we have misunderstood the bodies of half the people who have ever lived, how much we still have to learn, and how wondrous and rewarding that quest can be. Vagina Obscura is science writing at its finest―revelatory, wry, consequential, necessary, and incredibly hard to put down."
― Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of I Contain Multitudes
"Vagina Obscura is a marvel of a book―lyrical, compassionate, infuriating, insightful, and wise. Rachel E. Gross's exploration of the history, science, and politics of female anatomy should be read by women, men, and everybody seeking to be smarter about who we really are."
― Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Poison Squad
"Rachel E. Gross's mesmerizing and often humorous Vagina Obscura vividly uncovers the scientific and popular biases that have colluded to stem our knowledge about 'down there.' Gross brilliantly investigates questions regarding sex, sexuality, and reproduction that have been hidden, made shameful, or just never asked."
― Elizabeth Reis, author of Bodies in Doubt: An American History of Intersex
"With the perfect mix of verve and nerve, clarity and composure, Rachel Gross finally gives this organ system its due. I loved every fold and crevice of this book."
― Florence Williams, author of Breasts: An Unnatural History
"Well-researched and beautifully told, this story of the vagina exposes an alarming lack of scientific curiosity about female genitals across species and centuries. But its brilliance lies in the revolution it heralds. A gripping read that should inspire significant change in science and society."
― Gabrielle Jackson, author of Pain and Prejudice
"The vagina is having a much-belated moment, and thanks to Rachel E. Gross, now so are the ovaries, clitoris, and uterus. In Vagina Obscura, Gross clears away the linguistic and scientific shroud from the least investigated and most misunderstood structures in the human body and tells their story deftly and beautifully."
―
― Ed Yong, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of I Contain Multitudes
"Vagina Obscura is a marvel of a book―lyrical, compassionate, infuriating, insightful, and wise. Rachel E. Gross's exploration of the history, science, and politics of female anatomy should be read by women, men, and everybody seeking to be smarter about who we really are."
― Deborah Blum, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and author of The Poison Squad
"Rachel E. Gross's mesmerizing and often humorous Vagina Obscura vividly uncovers the scientific and popular biases that have colluded to stem our knowledge about 'down there.' Gross brilliantly investigates questions regarding sex, sexuality, and reproduction that have been hidden, made shameful, or just never asked."
― Elizabeth Reis, author of Bodies in Doubt: An American History of Intersex
"With the perfect mix of verve and nerve, clarity and composure, Rachel Gross finally gives this organ system its due. I loved every fold and crevice of this book."
― Florence Williams, author of Breasts: An Unnatural History
"Well-researched and beautifully told, this story of the vagina exposes an alarming lack of scientific curiosity about female genitals across species and centuries. But its brilliance lies in the revolution it heralds. A gripping read that should inspire significant change in science and society."
― Gabrielle Jackson, author of Pain and Prejudice
"The vagina is having a much-belated moment, and thanks to Rachel E. Gross, now so are the ovaries, clitoris, and uterus. In Vagina Obscura, Gross clears away the linguistic and scientific shroud from the least investigated and most misunderstood structures in the human body and tells their story deftly and beautifully."
―
Readers Top Reviews
Sue BFifth Generatio
Although I am a medical practitioner in my 6th decade who has been through many "female issues" in life, I learned so much from this well researched and well interviewed book. It also gave me fresh insights that never occurred to me about so much of the female "organs" experience. Recommended th I s book to many friends already. Thank you to all of these trail blazers who have advanced research and medicine in so many ways.
I have just finished this fascinating anatomical voyage into my own female anatomy. While I thought I was well educated on my own "bits and pieces", Rachel Gross has opened my eyes to how much I don't know about our female organs, how similar they are to the male anatomy, how we have been led to believe so many harmful untruths regards ourselves, compromising our self esteem and stimulating guilt complexes galore. I really wish this information had been available 50 years ago when I started exploring what my body was really about. I have already recommended this book to all my friends, clients, professional colleagues and especially those who work with adolescents and young women. It's never to soon to learn about this wonderful vehicle that is our body, how to take care of it so it can take care of you... until death do us part. Needless to say, I loved this book and will read it again many times. Thank you Rachel Gross.
Pakinam Amer
It's 2022 and yet female anatomy and the complex history of how our perception of it has been shaped and warped are still understudied and considered uncharted territory for many. This book is one giant leap toward changing that, as well as shifting perceptions and opening our eyes to how society and the medical community have shaped women's bodies over the years, for better or worse. I was immediately engrossed in the narrative and couldn't put the book down, and even though I considered myself somewhat savvy about how science views (and deals with) women's bodies (and how political this can get), I quickly realized how much context I missed and I ended up learning a ton from this fantastic voyage. If this is an area that interests or intrigues you in any way, I would start here. Because Vagina Obscura is easily one of the most insightful and better-researched books on the subject. Gross is a masterful and powerful storyteller, she doesn't gloss over the difficult questions (or bits of history), and she certainly doesn't shy away from anything (I mean the book is about vaginas, and she puts that front and center. Kudos to her). Most importantly, Gross writes with authority, compassion, and humor -- a very rare combination that makes this book one of a kind. A must-read!
David Parker
Very enjoyable read, written from personal perspectives. Sexuality is such a roll of the dices. There are still so more unknowns that control it.
Big Guy
After hearing a review and interview on NPR I was motivated to purchase two of these books for my children. One child is a beautiful healthy 20 year old woman the other is her sibling also 20 something who is now my son DJ. The fact that the author addressed the Trans community really impressed me. I look forward to discussing the reads with my mature kids. Felt a bit reserved as a Dad that I was buying this for my kids however because I care about them and their well being it was easy.
