I noticed this book showing up in the Science News book list on Aug, 28th. Given my perspective that a huge amount of what currently goes on with humans is unconscious genetically motivated behaviors, and perspectives that others may have that ultimately the human mind has "control" over things, I thought it would be useful to draw attention to this book.
However, the Science News review says -- Etcoff formulates a thesis that binds physical attractiveness to our evolutionary roots and the survival of our genes.
As such, whether it is true or not, it is probably worth reading
for people who envision "self-selection" of their own attributes
(physical, mental, emotional, etc.). The self-selection of
attributes presumably depends to some degree on how one perceives
those attributes will be received by those around you. From
my perspective, a more significant question is, what attributes
will individuals select, when anyone can select them? Will
they select the putative biological "norms" that have been most
successful, or will individuals attempt to distinguish themselves
from the "norm" in creative, unusual or even freaky ways?
Robert