Cordelia Fine wins Royal Society science book prize

A book debunking the idea that testosterone is responsible for fundamental differences between men and women has been chosen as the Royal Society’s science book of the year.

In Testosterone Rex, psychologist Cordelia Fine demonstrates “with wit and panache that sex doesn’t create male and female natures”, the Royal Society said in its announcement on 19 September. The book draws on evolutionary science, psychology, neuroscience and social history to argue that sex, hormones, culture and evolution have an impact on, but do not determine, gender dynamics.

It is the third consecutive year in which a woman has won the £25,000 prize, which celebrates science writing for a non-specialist readership.