If we were strolling through the science section of a bookstore and you suggested I read a book about the female reproductive system, I would likely respond with an inarticulate “uh, no.” Even though I teach introductory anatomy and physiology, and enjoy doing so, a whole book on this topic seemed an unlikely candidate for engaging reading. However, a trusted friend recommended Vagina Obscura. She happens to be a bioengineer who works on problems of pregnancy, so I picked up a copy. Then, I couldn’t put it down.

I thought I knew reproduction basics, but this book took me on a fascinating journey where I learned much more. Rachel Gross is a journalist, and it shows in this tight, punchy piece of literary nonfiction. The biological descriptions and metaphors are excellent. For example, the egg in a Fallopian tube is a “crowd surfer” (p. 131). And, although sperm “appeared...

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