A sparky scrutiny of doing ‘it’ by the numbers

Non-fiction: Sex by Numbers: What Statistics can tell us about Sexual Behaviour

Bill Clinton’s presidency was marred by his infamous relationship with Monica Lewinsky, although he claimed it was never sexual Getty Images

By David Spiegelhalter

Profile Books, €17.50

For Franklin D Roosevelt, it was: “The only thing we have to fear is fear itself.” John F Kennedy had: “Ask not what your country can do for you, ask what you can do for your country.” Bill Clinton’s best remembered quotation, however, will always be the rather less inspiring: “I did not have sexual relations with that woman – Miss Lewinsky.”

Fortunately for Clinton, there was ...