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The Better Half
The Better Half
Apr 20, 2025 11:11 AM

Author:Sharon Moalem

The Better Half

An award-winning physician and scientist makes the game-changing case that genetic females are stronger than males at every stage of life

'A powerful antidote to the myth of a "weaker sex"' Gina Rippon, author of The Gendered Brain

From birth, genetic females are better at fighting viruses, infections and cancer. They do better at surviving epidemics and famines. They live longer, and even see the world in a wider variety of colours. These are the facts; they are simply stronger than men at every stage of life. Why? And why are we taught the opposite?

Drawing on his wide-ranging experience and cutting-edge research as a medic, geneticist and specialist in rare diseases, Dr Sharon Moalem reveals how the answer lies in our genetics: the female's double XX chromosomes offer a powerful survival advantage. And he calls for a long-overdue reconsideration of our one-size-fits-all view of the body and medicine - a view that still frames women through the lens of men. Revolutionary, captivating and utterly persuasive, The Better Half will make you see women, men and the survival of our species anew.

'Brilliant, original and groundbreaking, highly readable and genuinely useful' Daily Mail

Reviews

Let's hear it for the X-chromosome! After decades, if not centuries, of bad press for women and their vulnerable biology, The Better Half gives chapter and verse to show that 'almost everything that is biologically difficult to do in life is done better by females'. An eye- and mind-opening celebration of the reserve genetic horsepower that having two X-chromosomes can bestow, The Better Half is a powerful antidote to the myth of a 'weaker sex'.

—— Gina Rippon, author of The Gendered Brain and Professor Emeritus of Cognitive Neuroimaging at Aston University, Birmingham

Moalem's essential thesis is valid and important, and deserves attention both within the scientific community and beyond. This is a readable and lively book, making an argument long overdue

—— The Irish Independent

Although Dr. Moalem had me at the subtitle, I tore through this fascinating, eye-opening book in one sitting. Provocative, crackling with wit and insight, THE BETTER HALF argues that science has shortchanged women in all levels of research and convincingly reveals that the true differences between men and women come down to longevity, intellect, resilience, and immunity to disease. Now it all makes sense why 95 percent of people who have reached the age of 110 are women.

—— Jancee Dunn , New York Times bestselling author of 'How Not to Hate Your Husband After Kids'

A mind-opening celebration of women

—— Kate Garraway, broadcaster and journalist

This book provides the crucial scientific reasoning behind why it is essential to include males and females, both in people and animals, in order to get accurate results in medical research.

—— Temple Grandin, New York Times bestselling author of 'The Autistic Brain' and 'Thinking in Pictures'

A compelling argument for the resilience seen in women. But the real genius is the poetic justice he metes out by highlighting the brilliant women who remain unsung heroes in these discoveries.

—— William J. Sullivan , Showalter Professor at Indiana University School of Medicine and author of 'Pleased to Meet Me'

The Better Half explores the genetic differences between males and females in a way that is both original and scientifically compelling. This book provides a great read, and lots to think about, for specialists and the public alike.

—— Han G. Brunner, MD, PhD, Professor of Human Genetics at Radboud University Nijmegen Medical Center, and Maastricht University Medical Center, the Netherlands.

Moalem brings deep, yet highly-readable, scientific analysis to the perennial question of what makes men and women different. Ideally, this book will re-set that conversation in research labs, doctors' offices, classrooms, and dinner tables around the world."

—— E. Kinney Zalesne, New York Times bestselling collaborator on 'Microtrends: The Small Forces Behind Tomorrow's Big Changes'

A soaring love story

—— Financial Times

Fascinating and extremely moving

—— Sun

Breathtaking . . . We were mesmerised by the boundless creative intelligence, positivity and love that pours from these pages. Profoundly inspiring

—— Attitude

The astonishing true story behind the primetime Channel 4 documentary about Peter Scott-Morgan, the first person to combine his very humanity with artificial intelligence and robotics to become a full cyborg. His discovery means that his terminal diagnosis is negotiable, something that will rewrite the future - and change the world

—— GQ

This is an epic tale of hangovers, violence and obsessive ornithology. It is a superb depiction of a far-flung corner of the world where bears, tigers and men battle with relentless environment and each other. It is a powerful antidote to saccharine nature writing; Slaght encounters such a host of pickled gritty characters that you could imagine the Coen brothers adapting it for the screen.

—— The Times Nature Book of the Year

Wonderful... If [COP26 organisers] picked it up in the jet-lagged early hours they might find their dreams haunted, as mine have been, by huge, endangered owls swooping low through their subconscious, reminding them what survival might mean

—— Tim Adams , Guardian

Jason Hickel argues shrinking economies is the way to avert climate catastrophe ... it's certainly persuasive.

—— Miranda Moore , The Herald

A thoroughly researched piece of long-form journalism… An interesting read.

—— Natalie Bowen , UK Press Syndication

Murphy offers a timely reminder of how we could enrich out lives and relationships if we redouble our efforts to listen to opposing views.

—— Lucy Popescu , Tablet

In an age when technology has made it easier than ever before to talk with each other, we've paradoxically become worse at listening. Fortunately, we have Kate Murphy to teach us how to reclaim this crucial skill. This book changed the way I think about communicating with the people who matter to me.

—— Cal Newport , New York Times bestselling author of Deep Work and Digital Minimalism

A timely intervention

—— Niki Seth-Smith , New Humanist

Warn, earnest, gently beseeching... Carefully read, Murphy's book might help us all pay more great compliments to the ones we love

—— M. M. Owen , Times Literary Supplement
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