The Evolution of Beauty

How Darwin's Forgotten Theory of Mate Choice Shapes the Animal World - and Us

Richard O. Prum

Recommended By

Book Reviews

Book Synopsis

"The Evolution of Beauty" by Richard O. Prum is a captivating exploration of the role of beauty in the natural world. Prum challenges traditional views by suggesting that beauty plays a vital role in evolution and has shaped life on Earth in ways that go beyond mere survival.

Through the author's rich storytelling, readers are taken on a journey spanning diverse species and environments. Prum highlights the intricacies of ornamentation and displays in animals, showcasing how they have evolved to attract mates and enhance reproductive success.

Drawing on extensive research, Prum presents compelling arguments for the idea that aesthetics in nature are not driven solely by adaptation, but instead arise through individual preferences and desires. He delves into the controversial topic of sexual selection, shedding light on the intricate connections between beauty, desire, and evolutionary processes.

Prum's thought-provoking exploration extends far beyond the natural world, linking the evolution of beauty to key aspects of human society. He challenges societal norms and questions the prevailing ideals of beauty, urging readers to reconsider their conceptions and embrace diversity.

"The Evolution of Beauty" offers an accessible and illuminating perspective on the importance of beauty in the natural world and the profound impact it has on our understanding of evolution. Prum's engaging storytelling and well-supported arguments make this book a captivating read for both scientific enthusiasts and those curious about the wonders of nature.

Explore More Books

See All
Behave
Body by Science
The Fatal Conceit
More Than Enough
The Woman I Wanted to Be
This Is Your Brain on Music
What Technology Wants
Tao of Philosophy
Probability Theory
Deep Learning
Birth of a Theorem
An Unquiet Mind
Product Design for the Web
Brave New Medicine
The Silk Roads
Consciousness Medicine
In Patagonia
Play Bigger
The Upright Thinkers
Filters Against Folly
No Future Without Forgiveness
The New One Minute Manager
Learned Optimism
Painting and Experience in Fifteenth-Century Italy
Radical Uncertainty
Seven Brief Lessons on Physics
State of the Art
Portraits of Interiors
The Constitutional Convention
American Lion
The Politics Industry
SuperFreakonomics
Born Standing Up
Frames of Mind
The Sleep Revolution
The Healing Journey
The Great Convergence
Too Soon Old, Too Late Smart
The Second Mountain
The Watchman's Rattle
One Billion Hungry
The Eden Project
The Book of Awakening
High Fidelity
My Brother Ron
Reality Is Not What It Seems
Into Thin Air
Calculus Made Easy
Tree Crops
René Girard's Mimetic Theory
She Has Her Mother's Laugh
The Status Syndrome
On the Genealogy of Morals
Shortcut
Why Information Grows
How to Stop Worrying and Start Living
Jack
Economics in One Lesson
Way of the Warrior Kid 3
Breath
Everything Happens For a Reason
The Soul of the World
Water in Plain Sight
Anna Karenina
Call of the Reed Warbler
Metaphors We Live By
The Copernican Revolution
Blankie
Getting Past No
The Undercover Economist
Rick and Morty Book Three
Fooled By Randomness
Build The Life You Want
DMT: The Spirit Molecule
The Jungle Book
The Great Crash of 1929
Data-Driven Marketing
Matter
Sapiens
The Jordan Rules
Black Flags
Modern Man in Search of a Soul
We Wish To Inform You
The Reasonableness of Christianity
Beyond The Blue
Feeding the Dragon
Posterity: Letters of Great Americans to Their Children
Jonathan Livingston Seagull
A Woman Makes a Plan
Trauma
Essentialism
Humans Need Not Apply
On Grief and Grieving
The Graveyard Book
Down to Earth
Food and Nutrition
Mindware
Amusing Ourselves to Death
Rick and Morty Book One
Unravelling the Double Helix