Vaught's Practical Character Reader

by L.A. Vaught (Creator)

This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you will see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work. This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work. As a reproduction of a historical artifact, this work may contain missing or blurred pages, poor pictures, errant marks, etc. Scholars believe, and we concur, that this work is important enough to be preserved, reproduced, and made generally available to the public. We appreciate your support of the preservation process, and thank you for being an important part of keeping this knowledge alive and relevant.

Genres: Phrenology

264 pages, Paperback

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. :)))