# Is "Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex" by Mary Roach a First Edition?

> **Quick answer.** A first edition of Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex by Mary Roach (W. W. Norton, 2008) is identified by: Norton first printing (2008, ISBN 9780393064643) is identified by a complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page; per Norton's convention there is no separately printed 'First Edition' statement, so the intact number line ending in 1 is the point. US true first (W.

**Checklist — a true first has these:**
- W. W. Norton first printing (2008, ISBN 9780393064643) is identified by a complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page; per Norton's convention there is no separately printed 'First Edition' statement, so the intact number line ending in 1 is the point
- The volume runs 319 pages and includes black-and-white photographs in the text
- First-state boards are white and grey with the title stamped in bright scarlet (gilt) on the spine
- The illustrated first-issue dust jacket should carry its printed price on the front flap (unclipped); the price being present is the flap point collectors check, though clipping alone does not demote a first printing
- Publisher imprint reads W. W. Norton
- Not a book-club edition (see below)

| | |
|---|---|
| Author | Mary Roach |
| Publisher | W. W. Norton |
| Year | 2008 |
| True first | US edition |
| Format | Hardcover (trade) |
| Key point | W. W. Norton first printing (2008, ISBN 9780393064643) is identified by a complete number… |
| Book-club edition exists? | Yes |

## Points of issue
W. W. Norton first printing (2008, ISBN 9780393064643) is identified by a complete number line descending to 1 on the copyright page; per Norton's convention there is no separately printed 'First Edition' statement, so the intact number line ending in 1 is the point. The volume runs 319 pages and includes black-and-white photographs in the text. First-state boards are white and grey with the title stamped in bright scarlet (gilt) on the spine. The illustrated first-issue dust jacket should carry its printed price on the front flap (unclipped); the price being present is the flap point collectors check, though clipping alone does not demote a first printing.

## Is this the true first?
US true first (W. W. Norton, 2008).

## Telling it from reprints & book-club editions
No prominent book-club edition; the trade Norton hardcover is the collected first.

## Source
New Mexico Literacy Project — Is *Bonk: The Curious Coupling of Science and Sex* by Mary Roach a first edition? https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/first-edition/bonk-the-curious-coupling-of-science-and-sex
CC BY 4.0. Part of the Canonical First-Edition Points of Issue dataset (https://newmexicoliteracyproject.org/api/first-edition-titles.json). Last reviewed 2026-07-03.