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.

--Emily Willingham, PhD, author of Phallacy: Life Lessons From the Animal Penis This is something about our own bodies that are so often treated as mysterious and unknown when they're not unknown. We actually know quite a bit. The topic of this book is relevant to everybody.--Riley Black, Science Friday Vagina Obscura should cause a revolution in how we think about the vagina.--Rosamund Urwin, Sunday Times In Vagina Obscura , Gross looks.at misguided ideas about the clitoris, at the incredible regenerative power of the uterus, at the function of the human body itself. Full of historical accounts and deep reporting, Gross' book gives stories about vulvas the care and attention they deserve.--Angela Watercutter, Wired A lively debut with a fresh, informative examination of women's entire reproductive system, melding medical history--beginning in Hippocrates' Greece--with a wide range of interviews and biological sleuthing in research laboratories all over the world.

An eye-opening biological journey.--Kirkus This book is what we've been waiting for.--Francesca Brown, Stylist [An] engaging and endlessly fascinating debut. Vagina Obscura is impressive in its scope and thrilling in the hope it offers to those whose bodies have previously been overlooked.--Bookpage (starred review).