Why Smile?: The Science Behind Facial Expressions

Excellent. Required reading if you are interested in interpersonal communication, and who isn't? This is not, however, a how-to book. Rather, it is an informative and clearly written discussion of the many ways that smiles are used, not only in our own culture, but around the world as well. Some of the conclusions are surprising. For example, the way smiles are used is not necessarily universal at all. One would do well to keep that in mind when traveling abroad, particularly in Japan.Though she's an academic, Ms. LaFrance never makes one strain to follow, say, overly formal language. I also appreciated her occasional touches of humor. The book cites many, many studies, but always stays lively and never drags on that account. All in all, a most enjoyable read and one I'm sure I'll be returning to again. The title on the paperback edition has been changed to Why Smile: The Science Behind Facial Expressions.

This splendid study of our smile and what it means on scores of levels draws on psychology, as expected, but also on literature, from Lemony Snicket to Jane Austen, the Scarlet Letter, and The Great Gatsby. Professor LaFrance supplies the ample endnotes and bibliography that one expects in a work of researched scholarship but they never weigh down the sprightly, illuminating narrative that tells us so much that we might begin to intuit but never manage to articulate. The book supplies the "aha moments" that surprise us into realizing we can sense a great deal about our fellows.Particular highlights include a chapter "Real Men Don't Smile" which examines women who went to war as men, transgendered persons, and the different musculatures that may account for women's tendency to smile more than men. Throughout the book, the fake, the false, the "snake in thy smile, my dear," the con artists' smiles offer a course useful to anyone trying to learn the ropes of human social interaction.In all, this book makes compelling reading. Smile for the camera. "Cheese."

Can you write a whole book about smiling? Not judging by this book. Ms LaFrance writes well, but there just isn't enough to say about smiling. Eventually, she runs out of things to say about smiling and writes about tangential topics. I think there is enough material in this book for a great magazine article, but not for a book.Update: I recently skimmed the book again, and it makes some really valuable points, so I raised my rating a notch. But I still think the same could have been said with fewer words.

Thorough book that covers many angles around smiling - from cultural differences to fascinating experiments that will open up your mind to new ideas about smiling. This book was so much more than what I expected. You will not be disappointed as it is a fascinating read.

Perfect for my research! Thanks!

As described

Good book. Book came bent though.

Good

How much did you know about a smile? Well, read this and you will know it all! Comprehensive and interesting. Lafrance drenches every possible ounce out of the topic and it proved an enjoyable read.

well written, interesting and reasonably priced.