The bestselling classic that has redefined our view of the relationship between beauty and female identity. Every day, women around the world face a dilemma – how to look. In a society entangled in a cult of female beauty and youth, the pressure on women to conform physically is constant and pervasive. In this iconic, gripping, and honest exposé, Naomi Wolf uncovers the tyranny of the beauty myth throughout the centuries and its oppressive function today, at home and in the workplace, in literature and media, in relationships between men and women, as well as among women. With relevant and intelligent examples, she confronts the beauty industry and its advertising, revealing the reasons why women are consumed by this destructive obsession. "Essential reading" – Guardian. "A smart, angry, insightful book and a wake-up call to freedom. Every woman should read it" – Gloria Steinem.