Official Review: Crowning Glory: An Experiment in Self-Di...
Posted: 03 Jun 2016, 15:39
[Following is the official OnlineBookClub.org review of "Crowning Glory: An Experiment in Self-Discovery Through Disguise" by Stacy Harshman.]
3 out of 4 stars
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Crowning Glory: An Experiment in Self-Discovery Through Disguise chronicles author Stacy Harshman's adventurous social experiment on the streets of New York City. The book opens with Stacy ordering a high quality red wig on a whim. One week later, she dons the wig and is blown away by the overwhelmingly positive response she receives from strangers. Bolstered by the newfound attention, Stacy wonders how these same people would respond if she had blond, brown, or black hair, and sets out for answers. Armed with a collection of wigs, Stacy hits the streets with her assistant, Bonnie (nicknamed "Agent Thorn"), to find out how hair style and color effect social interactions, especially those concerning the opposite sex.
To begin, I want to applaud Stacy for the open and honest manner in which she has written her book. From the start, Stacy informs the reader that she has bipolar disorder, and admits that she was pulling herself out of a depressive episode when she came up with the concept for her experiment. Throughout the book, Stacy pulls no punches and portrays the good, the bad, and the ugly of her mental illness. As the author of this book, she certainly had the option of editing or omitting certain details, but instead chose to lay everything out for readers to interpret as they might, which takes an enormous amount of courage. Stacy's honesty also helped me as a reader sympathize with her and understand the deeper meaning of her social experiment.
I also want to commend Stacy for the quality of her writing. It was apparent from the first chapter that Crowning Glory underwent a careful editing process. The book was free of major errors, and Stacy's straightforward storytelling made for an easy and entertaining read.
Reading the details of Stacy's experiment was fascinating. I can't say too much about it without including spoilers, but it was interesting to read about the varying responses that Stacy received while wearing the differently colored wigs. Like Stacy, I have wondered if people would treat me better if I looked different, and I know that many women have had similar thoughts.
The only think that I disliked about the book was the eighth chapter, which detailed Stacy's dating life. It was repetitive and, in my opinion, not relevant to the rest of the book. I found my interest waning throughout this chapter, and I think it would be better if it was condensed.
But overall, Crowning Glory is an interesting and well-written story, and I give it 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the study of human behavior, particularly those with a curiosity for how fashion and beauty impact social interactions.
******
Crowning Glory: An Experiment in Self-Discovery Through Disguise
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3 out of 4 stars
Share This Review
Crowning Glory: An Experiment in Self-Discovery Through Disguise chronicles author Stacy Harshman's adventurous social experiment on the streets of New York City. The book opens with Stacy ordering a high quality red wig on a whim. One week later, she dons the wig and is blown away by the overwhelmingly positive response she receives from strangers. Bolstered by the newfound attention, Stacy wonders how these same people would respond if she had blond, brown, or black hair, and sets out for answers. Armed with a collection of wigs, Stacy hits the streets with her assistant, Bonnie (nicknamed "Agent Thorn"), to find out how hair style and color effect social interactions, especially those concerning the opposite sex.
To begin, I want to applaud Stacy for the open and honest manner in which she has written her book. From the start, Stacy informs the reader that she has bipolar disorder, and admits that she was pulling herself out of a depressive episode when she came up with the concept for her experiment. Throughout the book, Stacy pulls no punches and portrays the good, the bad, and the ugly of her mental illness. As the author of this book, she certainly had the option of editing or omitting certain details, but instead chose to lay everything out for readers to interpret as they might, which takes an enormous amount of courage. Stacy's honesty also helped me as a reader sympathize with her and understand the deeper meaning of her social experiment.
I also want to commend Stacy for the quality of her writing. It was apparent from the first chapter that Crowning Glory underwent a careful editing process. The book was free of major errors, and Stacy's straightforward storytelling made for an easy and entertaining read.
Reading the details of Stacy's experiment was fascinating. I can't say too much about it without including spoilers, but it was interesting to read about the varying responses that Stacy received while wearing the differently colored wigs. Like Stacy, I have wondered if people would treat me better if I looked different, and I know that many women have had similar thoughts.
The only think that I disliked about the book was the eighth chapter, which detailed Stacy's dating life. It was repetitive and, in my opinion, not relevant to the rest of the book. I found my interest waning throughout this chapter, and I think it would be better if it was condensed.
But overall, Crowning Glory is an interesting and well-written story, and I give it 3 out of 4 stars. I would recommend this book to anyone who has an interest in the study of human behavior, particularly those with a curiosity for how fashion and beauty impact social interactions.
******
Crowning Glory: An Experiment in Self-Discovery Through Disguise
View: on Bookshelves
Like LivreAmour217's review? Post a comment saying so!
