Pieter R. Adriaens, Andreas De Block, 2022. Of Maybugs and Men. A History and Philosophy of the Sciences of Homosexuality, Chicago and London, The University of Chicago Press, 264 pp.

Like many other fields, gay sciences are not immune to the ongoing challenge of defining their objects, methods, and scope. While this may seem obvious, as Pieter R. Adriaens and Andreas De Block, the authors of Of Maybugs and Men, persuasively contend, this struggle is all the more arduous when the subject of study is entangled in a complex and often ideologically charged history. Reaching a common consensus on what defines homosexuality and how it should be addressed is difficult. Is homosexuality natural or acquired? Is it a normal or a pathological condition? Is there a single form of homosexuality or many? Has homosexuality, as we conceive of it today, always existed? These and similar issues continue to shape contemporary discussions, both among scientists and the general public, as they have for a long time. This book serves as a fascinating compilation of the complex and diverse world of gay sciences, boldly confronting – with scientific rigor and intellectual finesse – simplistic descriptions of homosexuality, widespread or dogmatic views, and hidden prejudices and ideological assumptions. Throughout its pages, the notion of ‘homosexuality’ itself acquires an ampler range of meanings, inviting readers to reassess their own preconceptions or consolidated ideas about the topic.