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Does She, or . . . ?

Once, only their hairdressers knew for sure.

Dec 8, 2008, Vol. 14, No. 12 • By PIA CATTON
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Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes?

Bodies, Behavior, and Brains--The Science Behind Sex, Love & Attraction

by Jena Pincott

Random House, 351 pp., $20

One of life's great conundrums has been solved. And it has been accomplished in a book that poses this profound mystery in its title: Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes? And the answer, according to its traitorous author, is yes. Men, somewhat like toddlers, are drawn to color: "The human eye is attracted to light, bright colors, so blondes stand out more than brunettes and even redheads," the dark-haired Jena Pincott writes.

But she can be forgiven. In this informative and amusing book, she poses nearly 100 questions about sex, love, and attraction. The short answers are judiciously packed with information culled from hundreds of peer-reviewed studies. All of it is relayed in a light, engaging tone, and even the author advises browsing: "Flip through and let your interests guide you."

Some of the questions-and-answers are guessable, such as, "Why do men have more casual sex?" Men have an incentive to spread their genes, whereas women have an incentive to be selective: possible pregnancy. Likewise, it doesn't take a degree in biology to figure out "Why is long hair sexy?" Because it is a sign of youth, health, and fertility.

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