Instant review: interesting, but ultimately presents no solutions

The first half of this book is fascinating, but I found the second half belaboured the point, without offering any meaningful solutions to unreasonable beauty standards. This book would have been better if the author had paired up with an expert on culture change. As it stands, it’s problems without solutions.

For the TLDR lovers, thin, breakable legs are a beauty ideal, to the point of getting Botox to paralyse calf muscles, job applications require photos and body weights, clothes only come in one size, and cosmetic surgery is a popular graduation gift. Collectivist culture and Confucianism contribute to a massive appearance workload.

For: readers curious about (South) Korean beauty standards, expectations and culture

You might also like: You have the right to remain fat by Virgie Tovar, The Age of Addiction by David T Courtwright, The Way We Eat Now by Bee Wilson, Don’t Tell Mum I Work on the Rigs by Paul Carter.

Not for: readers not interested in Korean beauty culture, readers who find problems without solutions frustrating

385 pages; ISBN 9780593184189; 2023, Dewey 646.72. Keep track of your reading list (and your life) with a perpetual digital organiser from New Shoots Planners. Inspired by bullet journalling, this is an easy-to-use digital organiser on Google Sheets that will help you get a handle on your busy life, track your progress and reach your goals.

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