Jonathan H. Turner, Distiguished Professor of sociology at the University of California, Riverside, is the author of Face to Face: Toward a Sociological Theory of Interpersonal Behavior (Stanford University Press, 2002). Alexandra Maryanski, Associate Professor of sociology at the University of California, Riverside, is coauthor with Jonathan H. Turner of The Social Cage: Human Nature and the Evolution of Society (Stanford University Press, 1992).

• Foreword, Acknowledgments, 1. The Golden Age of Promiscuity, 2. Avoiding Incest, 3. Forbidden Acts, 4. A Distant Mirror, 5. The Horde, 6. Family and Taboo, 7. Unraveling the Mystery of the Incest Taboo, Bibliography, Index, About the Authors

"A stimulating and provocative reexamination of one of the social sciences' classic issues. By drawing attention to the differing forms of incest, Turner and Maryanski develop important new insights into the origins and subsequent evolution of the taboo from prehistoric times to the present." Gerhard Lenski, author of Power and Privilege and The Religious Factor "This is the most comprehensive, best, and most important work on incest avoidance and the incest taboo ever undertaken by a sociologist (or team of sociologists).The book should stand as an exemplar of sociology and sociological theorizing - or, more accurately, interdisciplinary social science - at its very best." Stephen K. Sanderson, author of The Evolution of Human Sociality

Jonathan H. Turner, Distiguished Professor of sociology at the University of California, Riverside, is the author of Face to Face: Toward a Sociological Theory of Interpersonal Behavior (Stanford University Press, 2002). Alexandra Maryanski, Associate Professor of sociology at the University of California, Riverside, is coauthor with Jonathan H. Turner of The Social Cage: Human Nature and the Evolution of Society (Stanford University Press, 1992).

• Foreword, Acknowledgments, 1. The Golden Age of Promiscuity, 2. Avoiding Incest, 3. Forbidden Acts, 4. A Distant Mirror, 5. The Horde, 6. Family and Taboo, 7. Unraveling the Mystery of the Incest Taboo, Bibliography, Index, About the Authors

"A stimulating and provocative reexamination of one of the social sciences' classic issues. By drawing attention to the differing forms of incest, Turner and Maryanski develop important new insights into the origins and subsequent evolution of the taboo from prehistoric times to the present." Gerhard Lenski, author of Power and Privilege and The Religious Factor "This is the most comprehensive, best, and most important work on incest avoidance and the incest taboo ever undertaken by a sociologist (or team of sociologists).The book should stand as an exemplar of sociology and sociological theorizing - or, more accurately, interdisciplinary social science - at its very best." Stephen K. Sanderson, author of The Evolution of Human Sociality

Jonathan H. Turner, Distiguished Professor of sociology at the University of California, Riverside, is the author of Face to Face: Toward a Sociological Theory of Interpersonal Behavior (Stanford University Press, 2002). Alexandra Maryanski, Associate Professor of sociology at the University of California, Riverside, is coauthor with Jonathan H. Turner of The Social Cage: Human Nature and the Evolution of Society (Stanford University Press, 1992).

• Foreword, Acknowledgments, 1. The Golden Age of Promiscuity, 2. Avoiding Incest, 3. Forbidden Acts, 4. A Distant Mirror, 5. The Horde, 6. Family and Taboo, 7. Unraveling the Mystery of the Incest Taboo, Bibliography, Index, About the Authors

"A stimulating and provocative reexamination of one of the social sciences' classic issues. By drawing attention to the differing forms of incest, Turner and Maryanski develop important new insights into the origins and subsequent evolution of the taboo from prehistoric times to the present." Gerhard Lenski, author of Power and Privilege and The Religious Factor "This is the most comprehensive, best, and most important work on incest avoidance and the incest taboo ever undertaken by a sociologist (or team of sociologists).The book should stand as an exemplar of sociology and sociological theorizing - or, more accurately, interdisciplinary social science - at its very best." Stephen K. Sanderson, author of The Evolution of Human Sociality