Synopses & Reviews
A thought-provoking examination of how we think and talk about beauty today—and the unexpected and often positive ways that beauty shapes our lives.
For decades, we’ve discussed our insecurities in the face of idealized, retouched, impossibly perfect images. We’ve worried primping and preening are a distraction and a trap. But have we focused too much on beauty’s negative influence?
In Face Value, journalist Autumn Whitefield-Madrano thoughtfully examines the relationship between appearance and science, social media, sex, friendship, language, and advertising to show how beauty actually affects us day to day. Through meticulous research and interviews with dozens of women across all walks of life, she reveals surprising findings, like that wearing makeup can actually relax you, that you can convince people you’re better looking just by tweaking your personality, and the ways beauty can be a powerful tool of connection among women.
Equal parts social commentary, cultural analysis, careful investigation, and powerful personal anecdotes, Face Value is provocative and empowering—and a great conversation starter for women everywhere.
Review
"Autumn Whitefield-Madrano explores how our looks affect our lives, including in light of today’s technology. Her work weaves together real-life anecdotes and in-depth research, creating an interesting cultural analysis." Bustle
Review
"Nuances [are] skillfully navigated as the book outlines the history, theory, and expert feminist voices who have been shaping the female view of self for generations. This is a valuable addition to contemporary feminist writing, providing much-needed perspective to a pervasive issue that young women and staunch feminists will glean much from.... Ideal for readers new to the subject but also great for anyone interested in social science and history." Library Journal
Review
"To anyone who has ever fallen down the intellectual rabbit hole of contemporary beauty culture, let Autumn Whitefield-Madrano be your tour-guide through its existential wonderland. With meticulous research, witty prose, and compelling personal narrative, Face Value offers readers the trifecta of superb nonfiction. A must read!" Kjerstin Gruys, author of Mirror, Mirror Off the Wall
Review
"In Face Value, Autumn Whitefield-Madrano gets beyond clichés and polemics to explore the complex ways in which the desire for beauty actually plays out in women’s lives. She gracefully weaves together scholarly research, the experiences of a diverse array of women, and insights from her own life to reveal new and surprising patterns. Engaging, thought-provoking, bold, and true, Face Value deserves to become an instant classic." Virginia Postrel, author of The Power of Glamour
About the Author
Autumn Whitefield-Madrano is the creator of the popular website The Beheld, which examines questions behind personal appearance and is syndicated at The New Inquiry. She writes for Marie Claire, Ms., and Salon, and previously worked at Glamour and CosmoGirl. She is the author of Face Value: The Hidden Ways Beauty Shapes Women’s Lives.