Missing Arms of Venus de Milo
Reflections on the Science of Attractiveness
By Viren Swami
December 2007
Book Guild Publishing
Distributed By Trans-Atlantic Publications
ISBN: 9781846240751 
160 pages, 5 3/4" x 8 3/4"
$38.95 Hardcover
OUT OF PRINT
We are constantly told that beauty is in the eye of the beholder. But what
if, just as our lives are governed by universal physical laws, the notion
of beauty could be reduced to a system of immutable facts? Could there be
one universal concept of beauty by which we are all measured? In this intriguing
investigation into the science of attractiveness, the author sets out to
deconstruct the myths and uncover some of the truths about beauty.
Taking
the Venus de Milo as his constant companion, the author embarks on a fascinating
journey through the historical, cultural, economic and social contexts of
this age old debate. On his way he encounters an impressive gallery of advocates
and adversaries: from Plato to Michelangelo, from Rubens to Manet, from Darwin
to Stephen Jay Gould; Shakespear to Naomi Wolf. The definitive guide for
psychologists, art historians and philosophers of science, this highly accessible
and wide ranging exploration is also an indispensable introduction for any
of us who has ever wondered what constitutes the body beautiful.
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