The Evolution of Beauty: How Darwin’s Forgotten Theory of Mate Choice Shapes the Animal World – And Us

• Science & Health

In the great halls of science, dogma holds that Darwin’s theory of natural selection explains every branch on the tree of life.

However, after 30 years of fieldwork, Professor Richard Prum has seen numerous display traits that seem disconnected from, if not outright contrary to, selection for individual survival. Now, in dusting off Darwin’s long-neglected theory of sexual selection, Prum takes a unique approach to understanding the engines of evolutionary change — ourselves included.