Book description
Paris Review contributor Katy Kelleher explores our obsession with gorgeous things, unveiling the fraught histories of makeup, flowers, perfume, silk, and other beautiful objects.
April recommended reading by the New York Times Book Review, Vanity Fair, Goodreads, Jezebel, Christian Science Monitor, All Arts, and the Next Big Idea Club
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Why read it?
1 author picked The Ugly History of Beautiful Things as one of their favorite books. Why do they recommend it?
I have a not-so-secret love for histories that focus on seemingly ahistorical topics: the history of the senses, the history of color, the history of emotions, etc. I love the wonder that washes over you when you realize that you’ve taken critical parts of life for granted, and it’s extra special when a piece of writing fundamentally changes the way you see the world.
Katy Kelleher’s Ugly History of Beautiful Things has that magical power. It weaves history, science, and personal stories into an incredible tapestry of beauty, wonder, and repulsion. Kelleher carries readers through studies of items like makeup,…
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