Jacobson's Organ is an area of the nose, you dirty pervert. According to the author there is a debate over whether or not this organ actually exists, but he makes a pretty good case for it. This book is a great example of non-fiction that is a pleasure to read. ( )

It took me a long time to finish this one. I was interested for two reasons: I had heard of Jacobson's organs but only in snakes, and the author proposes that the same organ is not only present but active and important in mammals including humans, and also that I have lost some degree of my sense of smell (anosmia) and hoped for some illumination of this condition. Well, he did discuss both of these things but so much of the book was speculative or even fanciful extrapolation that I found whole chapters a tedious slog. Still, here and there were interesting bits, so someone interested in topics such as pheromones or perfumery will find things worth reading. ( )

A fascinating and accessible exploration of the much-overlooked senses of the nose: smell, and the more mysterious processes of pheromone-based perception. Watson drifts into improbable speculation towards the end, and admits as much, but if you can take a few outlandish ideas with a suitable pinch of salt, you're likely to derive much enjoyment from this short book of pop physiology. ( )