[.ca] Survival of the Prettiest: The Science of Beauty (ISBN 0385479425)

From Amazon.com:
In the latter part of the 20th century, the adage "Beauty is in the eye of the beholder" has evolved far beyond its original intent as an admonition against false vanity to become a cultural manifesto used to explain phenomena as diverse as the art of Andy Warhol and the rise of a multi-billion-dollar cosmetics industry. But is there something more to human reaction to beauty than a conditioned response to social cues? Yes, says Harvard Medical School psychologist Nancy Etcoff. Survival of the Prettiest argues persuasively that looking good has survival value, and that sensitivity to beauty is a biological adaptation governed by brain circuits shaped by natural selection. Etcoff synthesizes a fascinating array of scientific research and cultural analysis in support of her thesis. Psychologists find that babies stare significantly longer at the faces adults find appealing, while the mothers of "attractive" babies display more intense bonding behaviors. The symmetrical face of average proportions may have become the optimal design because of evolutionary pressures operating against population extremes. Gentlemen may prefer blondes not so much for their hair color as for the fairness of their skin--which makes it easier to detect the flush of sexual excitement. And high heels accentuate a woman's breasts and buttocks, signaling fertility. Is beauty programmed into our brain circuits as a proxy for health and youth? In marked contrast to other writers like Naomi Wolf (The Beauty Myth), Etcoff argues that it is, noting, "Rather than denigrate one source of women's power, it would seem far more useful for feminists to attempt to elevate all sources of women's power." --Patrizia DiLucchio

Interesting collection of studies.:
Coming from a background in psychology, I found the results of many of the studies Ms. Etcoff references to be very interesting and for the most part, ringing true with my own personal experiences. Yes, it is sad...beauty DOES matter and we are all swayed by it in some form or another. That being said, two things about this book really annoyed me. First, Ms. Etcoff really needs to double check some of her facts. Especially near the last few chapters where she begins to talk about the body measurements of supermodels and actresses! Performing a quick search on the internet does not yield the measurements she often cites for this elite cadre of women. In fact, many of the *famous* supermodels and actresses had (or have) hip measurements falling between the 34 and 36 (heck, Marilyn Monroe alone varied within and above these measurements during her time) inch mark. Sorry, but depending on her bone structure and muscular tone, a 5'7" woman with measurements in this range is hardly what I would consider as food deprived. It is not as rare and unachievable as Ms. Etcoff would have us believe - provided you can remember a time without *supersizing* any food group, double cheese pizza, and all those chocolates... And, please...the measurements for Audrey Hepburn ....I have several books on this woman's life...never have I seen measurements so tiny attributed to Ms. Hepburn (excepting her infamous 19 inch waist). My point is that this really lends doubt to how Ms. Etcoff has *interpreted* the other studies she cites in this book. Secondly, Ms. Etcoff points out all these interesting studies in her book and attempts to explain the reasons for these results as being a remnant trait built into the fabric of our existence - for breeding purposes, survival of the fittest, etc...but offers no enlightenment on how to really alter our perspectives since sex is now more for recreational purposes than procreative ones. I felt more like this book ratified men's continual desires for skiny yet large breasted lingerie models and women's desires for older, more well-off men as "genetic." Her only counter to this "spreading your seed" mentality is basically telling us to remember that we have a brain and are capable of higher intellect so we must try not to be dissuaded by beautiful people. Hardly what I call advice. Summing the book up... men (and women) are pigs--albeit pigs looking for two different acorns. My Dad gave me that advice a long time ago - and for free.

more intriguing evolutionary psychology fare:
"Survival of the Prettiest", to me was yet more fascinating evolutionary psychology fare. I just love this stuff. Don't be turned off by the introduction. It reads like an editorial and is actually more like a conclusion. It contains few of those juicy research tidbits that makes evolutionary psychology so interesting. The juicy bits of information start in the second chapter and keep going right on into the last. This book read like a page turning murder mystery. If you liked "Survival of the Prettiest" you might also like the following books: Robert Wright, The Moral Animal: Why we are the way we are, the new scinece of evolutionary psychology; David Barash, The Whisperings Within; Matt Ridley, The Red Queen; Matt Ridley, Nature via Nuture; David Barash, The myth of Monogamy; and David Barash, Making Sense of Sex. Other books on my reading list are: Barash & Lipton, The Gender Gap, David Buss, The Evolution of Desire, and Geoffrey Miller, The Mating Mind.

Pretty Good (pun intended):
A readable book on one of those things that is constant in our lives. I can testify to the "attractive people are given more personal space" phenomenon Etcoff points out. I was staying in New York for a couple weeks. For the first week I was enjoying seeing all the beautiful women in the city, of which New York has plenty since it's both a fashion and entertainment capitol. And then I was taking the elevator down from my room in the Waldorf Towers, a middle floor of which holds an exercise room guests can use, as well as local residents who pay a monthly fee. The elevator was fairly crowded, and then stopped at the exercise-room floor. On to the elevator stepped an absolutely stunningly beautiful girl. One of those so beautiful you forget how beautiful a beautiful girl can be. She had a gym bag and her hair was loose. She set her gym bag on the floor and bent over to bind her hair. The thing is everyone OVERTLY moved back to give her room, struck by her beauty, and she didn't have to signal "please give me space while I bend over" as most other people would require. Everyone just automatically stepped back, deferring to her beauty, and she automatically EXPECTED everyone to move back. She didn't even think about it, nor was haughty at all. She was just so used to being given instant "status" in any situation, she wasn't even conscious of it. In that small moment, I realized how powerful beauty can be.

Nothing really new and exciting.:
Not very cutting-edge, as the author likes to claim. Try Mean Genes instead; it's a lot more readable and less full of air.

BUY IT!:
I checked it out from the library, read it, and decided it belonged on my bookshelf. *If this topic interests you, this book is a must-have.* Dr. Etcoff has produced an exceedingly well-researched book that is written in a straightforward voice. Her qualifications are impressive and thoroughly relevant to the topic. When comparing this book to others that Amazon recommends in related subjects, its brilliance becomes even more apparent; concepts are expressed clearly and it is difficult to refrain from talking to one's cohorts about them as a result! Dr. Etcoff covers MANY trends and patterns so that the reader (this one, at least!) has a number of wonderful "Ah-HA!" experiences!