Book Update

Two of my yearly goals (1 and 2) are about reading.  I've decided I had better post monthly about my progress to keep myself turning the pages!

So far I've made progress into 3 of the 7 books I hope to read this year.

1) Survival of the Prettiest :  I've made it to page 91 (of 245).  So I'm a little more than a fourth of the way done.

The nature of the writing makes this book a little bit of a easier read that some of the others, so I'm expecting to finish it first.  Although I'm definitely coming across some interesting ideas and new information, I'm becoming a little disappointed in the book.  I did pick it up in order to learn a more scientific view on the issue of beauty, but I am finding a little bit of the discussion of beauty--- especially when the author is being more 'scientific'--- a little superficial.  The first two chapters were pretty solid, but the third chapter--- being more about the sexual side of beauty and gender difference is definitions of physical beauty in the opposite sex--- is the one that felt the most disappointing.  Although I appreciate she is trying to provide the evolutionary context for human sexual behavior and physical attractiveness, I find that she really isn't telling me anything I didn't already know and she is not offering much analysis or comment on what the scientific research and evolutionary theory has concluded.  It seems that men value physical beauty slightly more than women (and more now than they used to); the average man finds the physical characteristics of a never-pregnant teenage girl the most attractive; women factor relational and economic (provider) elements into their mate-choosing more than men.  None of this is really surprising, so I wish she would delve into the ways this impacts our modern lives (which have changed somewhat faster than our genetics and evolutionary development).  She also talks a lot about the 'average' man and woman, but I am really more interested in the range of human preferences and behavior, and how both biology and society interact around this range.

She will also say things like: "A man's talent and star power can override concerns about his age, a woman's does not."  but she won't offer any comment.  It doesn't seem like something like this could be explained by pure biology or evolution---- so what does she think could be happening here?


I was particularly displeased with a section she wrote on female envy--- when women are critical of each others' physical bodies in their competition for male attention.  While this does happen, I'm not sure that it happens any more or less than any other type of envy or in any other competitive environment.  One's beauty as a women is a relevant factor in one's success in many (all) arenas, so I think it is a bit amateur to highlight "beauty envy" in such a dramatic and emphatic manner.  The way she writes about it, it makes it sound like an overpowering and constant past time that all women participate in.  I don't really think that is true.

She does quote Camille Paglia:

"Camille Paglia ridiculed this attitude.  'I don't feel less because I'm in the presence of a beautiful person.  I don't go, Oh I'll never be that beautiful!  What a ridiculous attitude to take! . . . When men look at sports, when they look at football, they don't go, Oh, I'll never be that fast, I'll never be that strong!  When people look at Michaelangelo's David, do they commit suicide? No."  (67)

But all Etcoff offers in response to this contrasting view on female behavior is literally: "It's an interesting point."

Perhaps she doesn't feel this is her project with the book, but I was hoping to find that sort of analysis alongside the information and scientific studies.  Although, perhaps she will get to it later in the book and I just need to keep reading!

2)  The Beauty Myth : The Beauty Myth is a little harder to read in that it is more theoretical and requires a sort of concentrated thinking on my part to make sure I'm following the progression of ideas.  Given that, I haven't been moving through this book as fast (only on page 20).  I am reading a sort of fascination as she lays out ideas that I was trying to articulate through most of my college career!  I keep thinking: I basically tried to write this book the entire time I was in college.  Too bad no one told me to just read this book, because it had already been written!

In just the first chapter, she makes some great statements about the clashing issues of female liberation and female beauty--- and the shame women feel about "how we feel about ourselves physically" (10)--- and her statement " 'Beauty' is a currency system like the gold standard." is so bold and is such a fundamental part of my views on modern, physical, female beauty, it is super refreshing to see it hammered out so succinctly and unapologetically.

She just has so many powerful things to say about beauty, power/control of women, and economics.

I might just take a moment and read Chapter One again right now . . .

3) Howards End : I was at the Princeton Public Library and this book was on sale for a dollar!  So to keep myself on track I bought it, so it would always be available for me to read.  I started last night at bed time and got a couple pages in before needing to nod off.  It is actually a really nice way to relax and finish the day, although I fear I will be getting through it very slowly if that is the only time I ever read it!