Plucked

December 1, 2014

Well researched, well written, and knowledgeable, this work covers not only the history of hair removal in America but the social issues and movements associated with body hair, from cleanliness and race to free will. Herzig (interdisciplinary studies, Bates Coll., ME; Suffering for Science) speeds through a host of ideas devoting to each no more than a couple of pages of text. The book is so brief that it functions more as an introduction to this wealth of ideas than a comprehensive overview. However, the author excels at drawing out the larger implications of each dubious procedure and the pseudo-scientific theory associated with hair removal, from the turn of the 19th century to the present. Herzig carefully considers both sex and gender and never makes the assumption that white is the default. The book asks us to question what role advertising, science, and prejudice play in what we "know" to be true. VERDICT This would be a solid read for popular history buffs and fans of Lori Tharp and Ayana Byrd's Hair Story or Bee Wilson's Swindled.--Jessica Spears, Monroe Coll. Lib., Bronx, NY

Copyright 2014 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.