Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex

William H. Masters (1915-2001) and Virginia E. Johnson (1925-2013) were American researchers whose pioneering studies of sexual physiology in the 1950s-1970s transformed the scientific and cultural understanding of human sexuality. Together, they founded the Reproductive Biology Research Foundation in St. Louis, where they conducted groundbreaking physiological studies on sexual response beginning in the 1950s. Their 1966 publication Human Sexual Response marked a watershed moment in modern sexology, replacing moral speculation and Freudian theory with direct empirical observation. By measuring heart rate, muscle contraction, and genital blood flow during sexual activity, Masters and Johnson brought scientific legitimacy to a subject long dismissed as unseemly.

In Bonk, Masters and Johnson represent both the strengths and the limits of scientific inquiry into sex, emerging as the book’s intellectual anchors and recurring figures. Roach portrays them as methodical, almost ascetic figures who treated sex as a physiological process that could be timed, mapped, and replicated. However, Roach also emphasizes the human curiosity apparent in their charting arousal and orgasm through direct observation while wrestling with the ethical and emotional dimensions of their work. Their insistence on observation “in vivo” (sex acts performed live in the lab) revolutionized the field, establishing a framework for diagnosing and treating sexual dysfunction. However, their later work, including the misguided endorsement of “conversion therapy” for gay clients, reveals the influence of cultural bias even within scientific research. Through Roach’s lens, Masters and Johnson embody both the scientific curiosity and the ethical complexity involved in studying human intimacy in an era of social conservatism. Their contributions form the backbone of modern sexology, while their missteps (such as conversion therapy) exemplify the evolving intersection between science and morality.

Dr. Ahmed Shafik (1933-2007) was an Egyptian surgeon, urologist, and prolific researcher whose eccentric but serious studies on human reflexes and sexual physiology made him a distinctive figure in the history of sex research. Working largely without institutional support, Shafik produced more than 1,000 scientific papers spanning urology, andrology, and sexology. His experiments (such as dressing rats in polyester pants to test the effects of synthetic fabrics on sexual activity) combine careful measurement with strikingly odd setups, making him one of the most memorable figures in Bonk.

In Roach’s depiction, Shafik’s ingenuity and audacity define his scientific legacy. Operating in a conservative Islamic society that restricted open research on sexuality, he circumvented social and legal barriers by conducting experiments in secret “special flats” with volunteer sex workers. His discovery and naming of numerous sexual reflexes, including the “vaginocavernosus reflex,” exemplify his fascination with involuntary muscular responses during arousal. Roach treats Shafik with a mix of admiration and amusement, noting in him the same persistent curiosity that drives much scientific work. However, his story also shows how legal systems, social norms, and religious rules shape the boundaries of research, often forcing scientists to balance intellectual ambition with cultural constraint.

Dr. Kim Wallen, a professor of psychology and behavioral neuroendocrinology at Emory University, appears in Bonk as a calm, methodical counterpoint to the more flamboyant figures in the book. His research at the Yerkes National Primate Research Center focuses on hormonal influences on sexual behavior, particularly among rhesus monkeys. Through controlled observation of primate mating patterns, Wallen studies how estrogen and testosterone regulate libido and attraction. He found that female monkeys initiate most sexual encounters when fertile and that hormonal peaks strongly influence behavior. These findings form part of the empirical basis for Roach’s exploration of how hormones guide human sexuality as well.

Wallen’s demeanor and research style reflect a modern, ethically conscious approach to sex science. Unlike the controversial or clandestine experiments of earlier decades, his work situates sexual behavior within broader biological rhythms and social hierarchies. Roach’s humorous yet respectful portrayal of him underscores a central argument of Bonk: that the science of sex is neither scandalous nor salacious, but a legitimate window into human and animal nature. Wallen’s inclusion reinforces the book’s theme that desire, whether in monkeys or humans, emerges from a complex interplay of biology, context, and cognition.