I was really intrigued by this title, especially as someone who was obsessed with genetics and biology and Darwin. At the beginning of the book, the author makes of note of how they are experimenting with a blend of narrative and research to progress through Darwin's theories of sexual selection. Unfortunately, I think that set-up was much to the detriment of the book and made for a much slower pace (even for a nonfiction book). I also felt like the actual research and science being discussed was overly bogged down by mentions of who Darwin talked, wrote, and squabbled with. I ended up not being able to finish the book because I just felt so bogged down in the name-dropping and unnecessary observations about what bird calls sound like and was unable to really get to the scientific meat of the title.

This book explores the extravagant mating rituals of the Black Grouse and other birds, examining the evolutionary forces—particularly mate choice—behind their elaborate displays and questioning why these displays appeal to humans. It revisits Darwin’s theory of sexual selection, highlighting its significance and ongoing relevance.

I loved this book. The theory of sexual selection has always fascinated me, and this book explores how sexual selection has led to the evolution of beauty. The book sifts through several different hypotheses about how beauty and fitness intersect, weighing their strengths and weaknesses.

(One idea the book doesn’t discuss—that I noticed—is that mothers might pass on their mate preferences to their daughters, and the daughters with more fit fathers are more likely to survive and repeat their mothers’ preferences in the mates they choose. In that way, the mate preferences survive and increase over time, so the males with the same preferred traits are more and more likely to be chosen in succeeding generations. Female choice plus male fitness would drive evolution, even if the females had no concept that the male was more fit—only that he was more beautiful.)

The book also traces the author’s observations of the black grouse (the bird on the cover) and their mating behaviors. The birds are gorgeous and fascinating and I’m a little bit obsessed with them now.

Thanks, NetGalley, for the ARC I received. This is my honest and voluntary review.

In 'Birds, Sex and Beauty', Matt Ridley takes readers on a vivid and thought-provoking journey into the world of avian courtship rituals, using birds as a lens to examine Charles Darwin's theory of sexual selection. Rather than focusing purely on survival traits, this book explores how beauty, display, and mate choice have shaped evolution in often overlooked but profound ways.

Ridley brings scientific ideas to life with clarity and enthusiasm, combining sharp analysis with playful storytelling. He paints striking portraits of species whose elaborate dances, vibrant feathers, and vocal performances exist not for camouflage or defense, but for attraction. It's a book that invites readers to think differently about what evolution rewards - and why.

The book also gently nudges the reader to consider the implications for human evolution. What role might aesthetics and attraction have played in shaping who we are? Ridley never overreaches but offers just enough to spark curiosity.