The Psychology of Beauty

HTMLThe Psychology of Beauty consists of a series of eight essays each dealing with a separate aspect of the subject matter. Several of the essays previously appeared in The Atlantic Monthly and The International Monthly and thus each essay can be read independent of the others. Together Puffer's book examines the psychology of beauty in a number of different mediums: fine art music literature nature and dramatic works. The author's goal throughout is to explain how and why we find certain works to be beautiful and to educate the reader in order to better recognize beauty in works of art and the world at large. Ethel Puffer is a skilled writer and is able to build compelling arguments throughout her essays. The Psychology of Beauty is an illuminating work and one that has clearly been well researched.