A review by sujuv
The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin's Forgotten Theory of Mate Choice Shapes the Animal World - And Us by Richard O. Prum

4.0

I had to leave this book and come back to it a few times because of scheduling issues, but that didn't lessen my enjoyment of it. I rarely read such "science-y" books, but this one both doesn't talk down to the reader and is still understandable and entertaining. Essentially it posits that Darwin's theory of natural selection has erased one of his other theories about the evolution of beauty and the aesthetic (and sexual) choices birds, animals, and humans have made that contribute to who we - and other animals - are today. It's also a very feminist book, putting female sexual choices at the center of aesthetic evolution. A true pleasure to read.