The Evolution of Beauty

Discover how mating preferences shape the animal kingdom in this groundbreaking book named a best book of the year by the New York Times book review, Smithsonian, and Wall Street Journal. Yale University ornithologist Richard Prum reimagines Darwin's theory of natural selection to explore the evolutionary origins of the beauty and ornamentation seen in birds. With examples ranging from club-winged manakins to red-capped manakins who moonwalk, Prum shows how mate choice can drive ornamental traits and even set the stakes for sexual conflict. This revolutionary theory provides important insights into human sexuality and our understanding of evolution.