Cover of Sex at Dawn

Book · 2010 · History

Sex at Dawn

The Prehistoric Origins of Modern Sexuality

by Christopher Ryan, Cacilda Jethá · Brought up by 14 people on 6 podcasts

Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá has been mentioned in 31 episodes across 6 podcasts (9 episodes recommend it and 22 episodes discuss it), through . Most frequently brought up by Joe Rogan (14 episodes), Duncan Trussell (2 episodes) and Theo Von (2 episodes) on The Joe Rogan Experience (19 episodes), Modern Wisdom (4 episodes) and Behind the Bastards (3 episodes).

#208 of 17,048 books, ranked by how many different people bring it up on podcasts

episodes
31
podcasts
6
people
14
episodes recommend it
9

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Sex Dawn please buy it go buy it it's a [ __ ] fantastic book.
Joe Rogan · The Joe Rogan Experience · Nov 2013 Listen at 2:47:56

Questions about Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá

Who recommends Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá on podcasts?

Joe Rogan (5 episodes), Duncan Trussell (1 episode), Theo Von (1 episode) and Dan Murray-Serter (1 episode) have recommended Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá on podcasts. In all, 14 people brought it up across 6 podcasts (4 people recommended it).

Which podcasts mention Sex at Dawn the most?

The Joe Rogan Experience (19 episodes), Modern Wisdom (4 episodes), Behind the Bastards (3 episodes), This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von (3 episodes) and The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett (1 episode), among 6 podcasts in all.

Is Sex at Dawn recommended, or only discussed?

Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá was recommended in 9 episodes, discussed without a recommendation in 20 episodes, and critiqued in 2 episodes, as of 2026-09-17.

What do people say about Sex at Dawn?

Joe Rogan on The Joe Rogan Experience (2013-11-27): "Sex Dawn please buy it go buy it it's a [ __ ] fantastic book."

When was Sex at Dawn last mentioned on a podcast?

Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá was last discussed on The Jordan Harbinger Show by Christopher Ryan on 2026-09-17.

What they say about it

Grouped from 31 episodes
  • Shifted perspective on polyamory“shifted their perspective on polyamory”
    2
  • Evolution of human sexuality“evolution of human sexuality”
    2

The best things said about it

6 of 40 · every mention
Recommended
The one book that you can buy that he has is Sex at Dawn, fantastic book, guaranteed to piss off your wife.
Joe Rogan The Joe Rogan Experience · Feb 2015
Discussed
And I just been reading this book by Christopher Ryan called Sex at Dawn and it just opened up so much more, I just like to know your thoughts about monogamy.
James Emmerich This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von · May 2018
Discussed
As fun as reading Sex at Dawn was, I don't think it's accurate.
Chris Williamson Modern Wisdom · Apr 2025
Discussed
Sex at Dawn, that book I haven't read it yet, but that's he he's a big believer in like polyamory and that monogamy is Anyone who's read Who's read Sex at Dawn has completely shifted their perspective on polyamory.
Chris Williamson Modern Wisdom · Dec 2018
Critiqued
Have you ever read sex at dawn mmm-hmm what did you think of that um no offense but I think it's total crap.
William von Hippel The Joe Rogan Experience · Nov 2018
Discussed
There's a book called Sex at Dawn that I read many years ago that's about kind of like the evolution of human sexuality.
Robert Evans Behind the Bastards · Jul 2022

Where and when it comes up

Mentions by year

22017920183201922020020211202212023120241202512026so far

Podcast episodes that discussed Sex at Dawn, by year. One episode counts once, however often the book came up.

How it comes up

Recommended means the speaker tells listeners to read it.

Episodes, each counted once, by the strongest way it came up.

Most episodes, by podcast

6 shows

14 people who brought it up

Most recommendations first

Also: Ty Tashiro · William von Hippel

Why people recommend it

Sex at Dawn by Christopher Ryan and Cacilda Jethá is an exploration of human sexuality that challenges conventional ideas about monogamy by examining evolutionary biology and primate behavior. The book has drawn substantial commentary across multiple podcasts. Dan Murray-Serter recommended it on The Diary Of A CEO with Steven Bartlett while discussing his personal views on monogamy. On Modern Wisdom, the host suggested reading the work to understand the evolutionary basis for relationships. Theo Von mentioned the book on This Past Weekend w/ Theo Von when introducing the author, a psychologist, to help a caller dealing with depression. Similarly, Duncan Trussell brought up the text on The Joe Rogan Experience to examine human sexual behavior and societal conditioning. Joe Rogan repeatedly endorsed the title across several episodes of The Joe Rogan Experience, including appearances with Doug Stanhope and Christopher Ryan himself, consistently telling his audience that it was a fantastic read guaranteed to challenge traditional assumptions about marriage and relationships. Through these discussions, various podcast hosts and guests highlighted the title as a compelling and provocative look into the ancestral origins of human mating habits.

Every mention

40 quotes from 31 episodes · 13 passing or ad reads below
Joe Rogan and what's the other walking about it forever the first book sex at dawn 14
Recommended
“and what's the other walking about it forever the first book sex at dawn”
Discussed
“if you read sex at dawn he's got a really interesting series of thoughts on the origins of sexual behavior”
Recommended
“I told you in an email that I felt bad when your book came up on the show and I didn't know how to defend it I didn't know what to do because I didn't I was in that weird moment where I was recommending it because I liked it because I think it's a great book and he was”
Discussed
“well I mean you mentioned sex at dawn yourself and so the idea is yeah but Chris is my friend and he's crazy there you go but what I would say believes it he might be right he does believe it and I you know I'm it is right I have been convinced by a friend you know who I”
Discussed
“Christopher Ryan had this whole uh take on it in sex at dawn you know and and McKenna had a take on it as well”
Discussed
“I mean it's not that I don't think your book is great I I thought sex of Dawn was amazing”
Discussed
“like when you're young like like when you're developing apparently they say Chris Ryan has described this to me um that there's a state Dr Chris Ryan who wrote that book um sex at dawn”
Discussed
“Dr Chris Ryan who who wrote this book sex at dawn and he's like an expert on sex”
Recommended
“the one book that you can buy that he has is sex at dawn fantastic book guaranteed to piss off your wife leave that [ __ ] around what are you reading getting these [ __ ] ideas out of your head”
Discussed
“the guy who wrote um um sex at dawn brilliant guy who I do a podcast with once a month him and Duncan Trussell and I do a podcast”
Discussed
“one of the things that I found really fascinating about your book was uh sex at dawn was the way you describe the interconnectedness of these small societies”
Recommended
“sex Dawn please buy it go buy it it's a [ __ ] fantastic book”
Discussed
“It was really fascinating having that guy, Christopher Ryan, on the podcast, the guy wrote Sex at Dawn.”
The Joe Rogan Experience #322 - Ari Shaffir 2013-02-05
Discussed
“I've been um reading this book called sex at dawn and uh it's uh Duncan Trestle uh turned me on to it this guy Dr Christopher Ryan”
Recommended
“It's a it's an excellent company and you got some great books. The one I'm uh I'm listening slash reading to, I'm doing both, is uh Christopher Ryan's Sex at Dawn. We're working on getting him here. He's going to be in here in January. Fascinating dude who wrote a book about primates and sex and very, very uh interesting,”
Discussed
“and the the book I'm uh reading from it right now is called sex at dawn by Christopher Ryan who will be on the podcast soon”
Duncan Trussell Um uh this is why I love this book, Sex at Dawn. Who Who are we just saying would have uh 20 girls? I belie… 2
Discussed
“Christopher Ryan, the author of Sex at Dawn, talks about this. He was telling me about this how how gorillas have uh have a hair.”
Recommended
“Um uh this is why I love this book, Sex at Dawn. Who Who are we just saying would have uh 20 girls? I believe it was MC Jagger, right?”
Discussed
“I'm reading that sex at dawn book I'm reading the sex at dawn yeah it's fascinating and one of the things that I find fascinating is all the the different theories about why people uh act and behave certain ways when it comes to uh like sexual”
Theo Von is we have a guy named christopher ryan coming in who wrote a book called sex at dawn 2
Recommended
“is we have a guy named christopher ryan coming in who wrote a book called sex at dawn”
Discussed
“you know I'm reading this listening to this book still called sex at dawn and when I first heard it man they were talking like a lot of anti-christian stuff and things like this”
Discussed
“i'm reading this listening to this book still called sex at dawn and when i first heard it man they were talking like a lot of anti-christian stuff and things like this”
Dan Murray-Serter i don't really believe in monogamy and like those are my beliefs i told you about this book sex at dawn i h… 1
Recommended
“i don't really believe in monogamy and like those are my beliefs i told you about this book sex at dawn i highly recommend you read it”
Chris Williamson Sex at Dawn, that book I haven't read it yet, but that's he he's a big believer in like polyamory and that… 3
Discussed
“As fun as reading Sex at Dawn was, I don't think it's accurate.”
Discussed
“I don't think that Christopher Ryan and sex at dawn is is perfectly accurate serial monogamy seems to what makes sense”
Discussed
“Sex at Dawn, that book I haven't read it yet, but that's he he's a big believer in like polyamory and that monogamy is Anyone who's read Who's read Sex at Dawn has completely shifted their perspective on polyamory.”
Robert Evans I think I read this in the book sex at dawn was this like in indigenous group in I believe somewhere in Sou… 3
Discussed
“I think I read this in the book sex at dawn was this like in indigenous group in I believe somewhere in South America”
Discussed
“Yeah, there's a couple I mean there's there's a book called Sex at Dawn that I read many many years ago that's about kind of like the evolution of human sexuality and how some of it's been like how different cultures have looked at things like like what makes someone a parent.”
Critiqued
“And the other thing that is important here is that if we're talking about like this book, Sex at Dawn, which is a really interesting book, focuses a lot on one of like the polyandress species of monkeys, bonobos, but ignores that there are a lot of monogamous species as well.”
Christopher Ryan I talked about this in my previous book, Sex at Dawn, as well. One that I think I talked about in Civilized… 2
Discussed
“I talked about this in my previous book, Sex at Dawn, as well. One that I think I talked about in Civilized to Death was he mentions the Kung San people of Botswana, of the Kalahari.”
Discussed
“See, the sort of central lie underlying my first book, Sex at Dawn, is that we are not primates. We're not animals. We're special. We're something else. Humans.”
Discussed
“I think people react to sex at dawn very emotionally right”
Bill Maher It's basically about that. So, my friend Dr. Chris Ryan wrote it. Interesting uh That's it's basically abou… 1
Discussed
“It's basically about that. So, my friend Dr. Chris Ryan wrote it. Interesting uh That's it's basically about that.”
Bret Weinstein I've heard that argued as well about women with very loud moaning of pleasure that they're really trying to… 1
Critiqued
“I've heard that argued as well about women with very loud moaning of pleasure that they're really trying to attract other males I think that that was in sex at dawn well I was ruined I would be super cautious about sex at dawn as a book that particular finding I think is probably right why would you be cautious”
Geoffrey Miller well if you read sex at dawn 1
Discussed
“well if you read sex at dawn”
James Emmerich and i just been reading this book by christopher ryan called sex at dawn and it just opened up so much more… 1
Discussed
“and i just been reading this book by christopher ryan called sex at dawn and it just opened up so much more i just like to know your thoughts about monogamy”
Joe Jitsukawa this might have been sex at dawn that Chris Ryan book it sounds like it's part of that 1
Discussed
“this might have been sex at dawn that Chris Ryan book it sounds like it's part of that”
Ty Tashiro Now, I think the value of something like sex at dawn is to say, "Hey, maybe I have some of these base urges… 1
Discussed
“Now, I think the value of something like sex at dawn is to say, "Hey, maybe I have some of these base urges and when I feel those pop up, I know what those are, but now let's develop a plan to deal with that so I don't burn down the rest of my life."”
William von Hippel have you ever read sex at dawn mmm-hmm what did you think of that um no offense but I think it's total crap 1
Critiqued
“have you ever read sex at dawn mmm-hmm what did you think of that um no offense but I think it's total crap”
Mentioned on the show without a named speaker1
Recommended
“Watch that or read his book sex at dawn”
Other mentions (13: passing, ad reads, own books)
Passing
“So you might know him as the co-author of the best-selling book, Sex at Dawn. In Civilized to Death, Chris explores the ways in which progress has perverted the way that we live”
Passing
“Chris Ryan is the author of Civilized to Death and Sex at Dawn, and if civilization does collapse, apparently he's got a garden, a sprinter van, friends with livestock, and a yak ranch nearby, so be nice to the guy.”
Plugged
“And then we were gonna do a movie together and whatever and then his wife like took the book away from him do you remember oh yeah yeah yeah yeah”
Plugged
“I actually told this book the story at the beginning of sex at dawn I was with my girlfriend at the time”
Plugged
“Christopher Ryan, Ph.D. is a psychologist, speaker, and author of New York Times best seller Sex At Dawn”
Passing
“Dr Chris Ryan from sex at dawn and tangentially speaking he uh that's what he's got he got it that way”
Plugged
“that's the theme song to sex done yeah it should like you should get a CD with the book or something”
Plugged
“but I mean as far as the public publishing thing I'm because of the success of sex at dawn I think I'm in a position to sort of you know I've got leverage and and the guy the editor who um who acquired the book is the guy who edited sex at dawn”
Passing
“my friend Chris Ryan Dr Chris Ryan who wrote sex at dawn he made a conscious decision”
Plugged
“so what we argue in sex at dawn is that human sexuality was actually a way to bond the group together”
Ad read
“if you will uh some of the best books uh that that you could get including um our friend Christopher Ryan's book sex at dawn”

Portraits from Wikimedia Commons: Joe Rogan, The White House / Wikimedia Commons (Public domain); Chris Williamson, CiaPeterson / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 4.0); Duncan Trussell, Gage Skidmore / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 3.0); Theo Von, Lisa Gansky from New York, NY, USA / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA 2.0); Bret Weinstein, TEDx Talks / Wikimedia Commons (CC BY 3.0).