I have to admit that I didn't expect much from this work, and was even rather dreading it. Why? Simply, I've never had any patience for the idea of cosmetic surgery (accepting reconstructive surgery after trauma, sickness, etc.). The idea of spending thousands of dollars to change the shape of my breasts or nose has just never made sense to me, at least as an option for non-celebrities. And yet. This book was the most surprising work I've read in some time. Davis' approach is both open-minded and clear: her own confusion in the face of the topic is engaging and easy to sympathize with, making for a fascinating introduction that is (I imagine) sure to at least make any reader like myself curious about the full work.

And, once I began the work, I read the full work quickly. Based in her own desire to be both open-minded and reasonable in exploring the topic, Davis' exploration of plastic surgery and the average woman who undergoes surgeries is a fascinating and thought-provoking journey that engages psychology, philosophy, and feminism in an effort to explore and illuminate a practice that has become surprisingly common in our culture. It's also worth emphasizing that Davis focuses on the "average" consumer of plastic surgery--the teacher, the housewife, the saleswoman, the mother, etc.--not the celebrity, politician, or millionaire. As such, there's no doubt that the book has strong relevance for the average reader.

I'd absolutely recommend this book--to anyone considering cosmetic surgery, anyone with friends or loved ones undergoing the process, or anyone like me who, in general, has always considered it something of a joke. I'll be the first to admit that while this book certainly hasn't made me any more likely to ever consider undergoing such a surgery myself, it has absolutely allowed me a smarter and more open-minded view of the women who do engage in the process, and I'm thankful for having read the book. ( )