Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined
From Publishers Weekly
Here is a book whose title says it all. Written by an academic expert on lookism who is also director and founder of the Appearance Phenomenon Institute, this volume is an exhaustive examination of how the handily summarized PA (for personal attractiveness) gets you everywhere, from the better job and the better spouse to the better verdict at your criminal trial. Beginning with early evidence of lookism in history, Patzer analyzes preferential treatment given to pretty people from beautiful babyhood onward. While consumers of women’s magazines might not find as much new information as other readers, Patzer refers to dozens of studies, articles and investigation to prove his thesis. Yet Patzer’s volume…
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I was looking on Amazon for a book that could tell the hard, cold, objective facts about the influence of physical appearance on general success in life. First, I found Dr. Patzer’s earlier book. It seemed chock-full of studies and as much objective material as I could ask for, but the reviews complained it was too textbook-like and scholarly. Dr. Patzer must have taken the criticism to heart, because he published “Looks” in 2008, so the average layman/woman can understand the profound influence that their LOOKS can have on every single aspect of their lives.
I didn’t need to be convinced of this, but I wanted some proof and data. “Looks” provides ample proof and data, along with true stories from the past and present, quotations and even statistics. For instance, did you know that highly attractive people may earn from 7.5 -15% more than their average looking peers? See page 82! “Looks” is loaded with details like this that will make you re-evaluate everything about your social and economic life — your job, your friends, your education, even your relationships with parents and siblings.
And lest you think that this is merely a phenomenon of the modern era, Dr. Patzer has some proof that our bias towards the beautiful is not only ancient, but built into our very genetic code.
If you ever need to be convinced to lose some weight, dress for success, get your hair cut, rethink that total-body tattoo project, “Looks” is the book I would highly recommend.
Dr. Patzer also touches on the subject of “lookism” and identifies the few states that have laws that prohibit it.
About the only criticism I have is the end portion that focuses on what you can do to avoid being personally obsessed with the way you look and how others perceive you. While this subject has its place, it seems self-defeating to me to take chapter after chapter to prove how looks influence virtually everything in your life, and then end by telling people they shouldn’t be worried about that pesky 5 pounds. Seems to me most of the world is right on worrying about the pesky 5 pounds, if 10 or 20 can influence your love life, employment status, economic security, influence over others and social class so profoundly.
In general, however, this is an eye-opening book about the world, the way it REALLY works, and anyone who takes the time to read it is doing themselves a huge favor. I was grateful to get the unvarnished truth from a social scientist committed to studying this aspect of human relations.
As the Dean of Chicago’s Roosevelt University, and the Director and Founder of the Appearance Phenomenon Institute, Dr. Gordon L. Patzer summarized his 30 years of research and investigation of lookism for both women and men in “Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined.”
“Almost from the moment of birth, each of us is judged – silently, unconsciously, and nearly instantly – on the basis of everything that goes into the mix of qualities known as” `physical attractiveness.’ Dr. Patzer wrote, “…Sometimes termed `lookism’ – treating people in ways biased by their perceived individual level of physical attractiveness – the `physical attractiveness (PA)’ phenomenon has been studied in depth for decades by social scientists of many disciplines, including psychologists, sociologists, biologists, and anthropologists.”
Dr. Patzer continued to cover other aspects of his research of looks, he divided this book into 10 chapters: Older Than Civilization; Pass the Genes, Please: How Looks Drive Dating, Courtship, and Marriage; As the Twig Is Bent: How Physical Attractiveness Affects Family Dynamics; Readin’, Ritin’, Rithmetic,’ n `Ridicule; The Job Is Looking Good; Rendering Judgment: How Looks Affect Courtroom Results; Physiognomy and Public Service; Seeing Is Believing; The Dark Side of Physical Attractiveness; What Price for Good Looks? The Big Business of Beauty, and an Epilogue entitled “Rising Above the Effects of Lookism.”
The following are some other interesting facts and statements covered by the book:
PA has a profound influence on how we define role models, who governs us, what products we buy, and what services we consume.
“Personal beauty is a greater recommendation than any letter of reference” – Aristotle
To ancient Hebrews and the Christians, physical beauty was a reward from the Almighty, and its opposite was punishment.
A Woman’s face is most beautiful and alluring once a month – exactly when she is at the peak of her fertility.
America’s last PA-challenged president was elected in 1860.
“Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined” has 288 pages. It is written in simple and plain English. It is an interesting and informative book for people interested in beauty and its effects on our life.
Gang Chen, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Author of “LEED GA Exam Guide,” “Planting Design Illustrated,” and other books on Architecture, LEED and Landscape Architecture