Red: A History of the Redhead

Good read.

Full disclosure: I originally bought this book because I've recently become friends with the author, and I thought it might be mildly interesting. I was wrong. It's fascinating. Around the central topic of red hair Jacky Colliss Harvey makes connections with genetics, evolutionary theory, history, mythology, art, literature, religion, and popular culture. All these topics are woven together as a narrative; you're reading a scholarly work (with an incredible amount of research) but you read it as a story, so well organized is it. The writing is superb; even complex sentences go smoothly and her descriptions of places and works of art are works of art themselves. Moreover, although a scholarly work, the personality of the author comes through. There is the perfect balance of academic fact with a conversational tone, treating the reader with respect. And you interact with the book (rather than reading it passively); I had fun realizing I knew some of the historical or factual or popular references, but equal fun looking up the ones I didn't know and, thus, learning even more. Finally, although I can't speak for most of the topics in the book, the areas that are my professional specialty (human evolution, genetics, and evolutionary theory) were all accurate and up-to-date. In short, one of the most pleasurable reading experiences of a nonfiction book I've had in a very long time.

No problem

I’m a redhead, and found this an interesting read. I don’t agree with all her conclusions, but it’s a well written book.

Marvelous book for all red heads! It is so well written with touches of humor and stories of fact and fiction backed up with historical and scientific data. Thank you Jackie Harvey -- where were you when I was a little red haired girl being teased about both hair and freckles?! Your book will help my beautiful granddaughter meet the challenges that are sure to come. I have bought several copies as gifts for friends who are red heads and I personally have the hard-back copy and one on my Kindle. All of you who are non-reds who have now changed to "our" color -- enjoy, live like a red head. As for all of you "real" reds, stand tall and walk proudly being who you are -- red to the core!!!

Print is VERY small! Bought it for a Christmas gift.

Interesting book for those who are redheads or are fond of redheads.

Interesting book. Great anthropology but a bit heavy on the world history. It might be a big much if you're not into that. It's not an easy read. I wish there were more on the medical and biological differences that redheads exhibit. It was right on about the pain reliever response and also hit it 100% on my experience with endometriosis and other co-morbid diseases. I was shocked to read about redheads being bullied in Britain. Here is the States it was just the opposite. My husband is a redhead, too and he was embarrassed as a kid about how he was fawned upon by adults. He never had any trouble with his peers. But he was mercilessly teased by everyone but the girls he dated, about losing his hair beginning at 18.