This is a great book on a disturbing but important topic. The author focuses on rapists more so than the victims. She discusses all different forms of rape such as prison rape (both male on male and female on female), marital rape, female-on-male rape, and so on. She also even mentions voyeurs and exhibitionists.

The author recites previous research done on the topic from the 1700s to the present and what other historians and psychiatrists think about why rapists do what they do. She does come to her own conclusions on what can be done to end or minimize rape, if anything. Ms. Bourke also focuses on the various treatments rapists can receive from just prison sentences to castration to even lobotomies.

This is a long book, a little over 500 pages, but it is an important read for both males and females. Again, this focuses mainly on the various rapists instead of the victim which is an interesting and important viewpoint. The author has done a great deal of research which can be seen in the 100+ pages of notes at the end of the book (which provides the reader a good base on other books to read on the subject).

I think this is an important topic to discuss and therefore an important book to read. Definitely pick it up. ( )