Vaught's Practical Character Reader

by L.A. Vaught, Emily H. Vaught (Revised)

The purpose of this book is to acquaint its readers with the elements of human nature and allow them to read these elements in all men, women and children of any country. It is a practical guide based on at least 50,000 careful examinations regarding the truthfulness of the nature and location of these elements, and more than 1 million observations. Illustrations throughout the text assist in learning.

Genres: Phrenology

257 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1902

Reviews

[IIIIIIKKKKKEEEEE · Rating 3 out of 5]

If Vaught was better at organizing information then this would be the end all be all of Physiognomy. If you are okay with sifting through his work then use it.

[Richard · Rating 3 out of 5]

Jeff Vorzimmer rescues a bizarre gem from publishing’s forgotten past. His introduction explains the oddity of phrenology, “the science of discerning personality traits from the shape of a person’s head and its bumps.” One of its leading proponents helped bring phrenology into its heyday, roughly around the jazz era. In fact, he wrote the book on it—and this is it.

Character Reader is packed with illustrations depicting Vaught’s looney ideas. It’s kind of like judging everyone’s character by their appearance. The more “handsome and normal,” the more good and true; and of course, the opposite too.

This is a book that’s more fun to browse than study or read front-to-back. The ideas are outrageous and the attributed traits can be somewhat repetitive. It’s a great novelty piece and could also serve as a sort of catalog of character traits, perhaps of use to creatives in character development. Collectors of the Staccato Crime line will also want a copy.

The book also as a lesson in time. What was once considered an emerging science was later proved to be ridiculous speculation with no basis in fact. A conman’s handbook for the ages. What’s next, a nineteenth century recipe book for snake oil? Who knew the lessons of the phrenology con would remain so prescient 100 years later?

[Elis Niyazieva · Rating 2 out of 5]

crazy illustrations, too focused on the scalp and hairline, which is weird...

[Nicole · Rating 1 out of 5]

why is this focusing only on white features

[Yayati Ashvapati · Rating 2 out of 5]

The elements of human nature are concise, so is the character-build. But the physiognomy is plain non-sense

[Nissa Rachmidwiati · Rating 3 out of 5]

KONYOL DAN ABSURD BANGET HAHAHHA NON-SENSE DAN GAK JELAS. Bintangnya 3 cuma karena bisa bikin ketawa. :)))