Looks: Why They Matter More Than You Ever Imagined

We all know one hard and undeniable truth: Physical beauty comes with tremendous power, and tremendous benefits. Those who possess it are generally luckier in love, more likely to be popular, and more apt to get better grades in school. But very few of us realize just how much looks affect every aspect of our lives. Recent studies document that people blessed with good looks earn about 10% more than their average-looking colleagues. They are also more likely to get hired and promoted at work. What exactly is this “physical attractiveness” phenomenon and how does it affect each and every one of us? Dr. Gordon L. Patzer has devoted the last 30 years to investigating this unsettling phenomenon for both women and men, and how it touches every part of our lives. In Looks, he reveals not only its impact on romance, but also on family dynamics, performance in school, career, courtroom proceedings, politics and government. Looks is the first book to explore how the power of beauty affects both sexes and how the rise of reality TV shows, cosmetic surgery, and celebrity culture have contributed to our culture’s overall obsession with being beautiful. Unflinching and topical, Looks uncovers the sometimes ugly truth about beauty and its profound effects on all of our lives.

Gordon L. Patzer, Ph.D. (Chicago, IL) has held various executive positions in and out of the academic world. He is currently Dean of Chicago’s Roosevelt University, and serves as the Director and Founder of the Appearance Phenomenon Institute. Dr. Patzer has investigated “lookism” and the physical attractiveness phenomenon for more than 30 years and has been featured in such publications as The Los Angeles Times, Harper’s Bazaar, Mademoiselle, Elle , and Self Magazine. He has also been featured on Dateline NBC , The Today Show, and The O’Reilly Factor.