Do Gentlemen Really Prefer Blondes?

Using her background in biology and delightful sense of humor, author Jena Pincott seeks to answer that eternal question: do men REALLY prefer blondes? This new book (published by Delacorte on October 7, 2008) also tackles such issues as why long hair is considered sexier than short hair and why men prefer well-endowed women. Pincott bases her answers to these mysteries on scientific studies ranging from anthropology to endocrinology.

As a brunette who has occasionally contemplated the pros and cons of hair coloring (I've always wondered what it would be like to become a redhead!), I was not surprised to learn that yes, gentlemen actually do prefer blondes. Pincott cites a recent study that indicates an affirmative, with anthropologists linking this preference back to the days of the Ice Age. Be that as it may, I am planning on shifting my hair transformation dreams from red to blonde.

Another mystery solved by this book: just why uncomfortable, toe-pinching, heel-aching high heels are considered so darned sexy. The author claims it's a blend of your position in high heels (on tiptoe, back arched, derriere stuck out) and that male desire to seek a suitable specimen for mothering healthy children. Translation: heels make your legs look longer (I'll spare you the long biological/anthropological implications!).

If you're a woman attracted to a man, try smiling and gazing directly at the guy. According to Pincott, that's the best method for communicating your interest. "Frequent signals at this stage are the head toss and the hair flip, which are usually executed simultaneously," she tutors those of us who are uneducated in such flirtatious practices. Caution: when I attempted to follow her instructions to tip my head upward and give my hair "a little toss" in under five seconds, I experienced whiplash. Unless you have a crush on your chiropractor, do this maneuver cautiously (my chiropractor happens to be cute...and married).

The book is divided into three sections: Bodies (which covers relationship and sex questions such as just what makes a face attractive), Behavior (in which you'll learn why you like and trust a man more after you've been intimate in some way), and Brains (a must-read for those who marvel at how no one else seems to find your partner as amazing as you).

Will this book change your life? Probably not. Will it entertain you and succeed, at least temporarily, in diverting you from the miserable economy and sometimes-baffling discourse of politicians? Thankfully, yes.