Vanity, Vitality, and Virility by John Emsley, Oxford University Press, £18.99/$28, ISBN 0192805096 Reviewed by Peter Budd
“THERE was great chemistry between them,” you might say metaphorically. But literal chemistry underlies the products people use to make themselves more attractive, keep themselves healthy, and boost their sexual performance.
In Vanity, Vitality, and Virility, writer John Emsley explores the science that goes into meeting our needs and satisfying our desires. From lipstick to love potions, vitamins to Viagra, he explains facts and explodes myths.
Clever chemistry is everywhere: fighting germs in kitchens and bathrooms, sucking up what babies deposit in their…
