The Philosophy of Beards

The Philosophy of...

by Thomas S. Gowing

Sure to be popular in the hipper precincts of Brooklyn (to say nothing of the Pacific Northwest), this eccentric Victorian volume makes a strong case for the universal wearing of beards.
 
Reminding us that since ancient times the beard has been an essential symbol of manly distinction, Thomas S. Gowing (whom we trust had a spectacular beard) presents a moral case for eschewing the bitter bite of the razor. He contrasts the vigor and daring of the bearded—say, lumberjacks and Lincoln—with the undeniable effeminacy of the shaven. Manliness is found in the follicles, and the modern man should not forget that “ladies, by their very nature, like everything manly,” and cannot fail to be charmed by a fine “flow of curling comeliness.” Even old men can hold on to their vitality via their beards: “The Beard keeps gradually covering, varying and beautifying, and imparts new graces even to decay, by highlighting all that is still pleasing, veiling all that is repulsive.”
 
A truly strange polemic, The Philosophy of Beards is as charming as it is bizarre, the perfect gift for the manly man in your life.

Genres: Nonfiction, History, Philosophy

80 pages, Hardcover

First published January 1, 1850

Reviews

[Kirsty · Rating 4 out of 5]

I was given a copy of The Philosophy of Beards for Christmas by one of my very best friends, who clearly knows me too well! Everything about it - the Victorian era, the tongue-in-cheek style, and the very existence of the beard - appeals to me greatly. The book is eccentric and humorous, as all of the best Victorian tomes are, and I am fully behind its message of 'the universal wearing of a beard'. It is essentially a love letter to bearded men, as well as presenting a relatively thorough worldwide history of beard wearing practices. Just splendid. Beard fans such as myself will love it.

[Sleepydrummer · Rating 3 out of 5]

A bearded Santa Claus gifted me this delightful little (80 pages many of which are illustrated) book. It's a masculine toned lecture (albeit good-humored) on the philosophy of beards. I personally like the appearance of men with well groomed beards or stubble. According to Mr. Gowing, I'm not the only one, "All Homer's heroes are bearded". Poor Cæsar, the real founder of the empire, before appearing in the Senate shaved. Alas, we all know his fate.

[Wissam Mattar · Rating 4 out of 5]

Short and sweet, this book explores the beards across international cultures, as a classic symbol of manhood. It's a good book to clear the mind no need to concentrate a lot while reading it.

[David Wineberg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Thomas Gowing gave a lecture one evening in the early 1850s, which so amused and fascinated his audience that a publisher agreed to put it into print. Not for the first time, then, we have a new edition of The Philosophy of Beards.

Gowing put together everything he could find on beards throughout history. There are chapters on various societies around the world, describing how beards were appreciated. In some, men trimmed their hairs into varying numbers of points. Others decorated their beards with gold and jewels. Some grew their beards down to their feet. Various religions have at various times condemned beards and forbade men from shaving them off. Men forced to shave have saved every hair in order to be buried with them so they could get into heaven. Beards do not provide insulation, warmth or cooling. By the time he reaches 80, “27 feet will have fallen under the edge of the razor”, Gowing says.

Beards had all kinds of significance. Kings wore styles exclusive to them, and so on down through the ranks. You could tell a man’s status by his beard. In Turkey, going without was the sign of a slave (or a woman), and upon being given their freedom, slaves immediately let their beards grow. It is not for nothing that in Islam “By the beard of the prophet…” is about as serious as you can get about some claim. In Saudi Arabia, cutting off a beard was the most severe of punishments. Today’s Taliban make it a central requirement – men must have beards.

The ultimate in beard stories has to be Louis VII of France. His priests convinced him to shave, and it so disgusted his wife Eleanor that the church granted her a divorce on that basis. She went on to marry Henry II of England. Her dowry contained a couple of entire regions of France, which caused endless wars over the next 300 years. Three million French were killed in them – all over the lack of a beard.

The Philosophy of Beards is a fun little book, peppered with drawings of various styles. It reads and works just like TED Talks do today, with accompanying print versions available later. Even 175 years later.

David Wineberg

[Amit Verma · Rating 3 out of 5]

W
This book is a satirical essay about absolute necessity of keeping a beard for every respected male and was first published in 1854.

This fresh imprint by #thebritushlibrarypublishing relives that philosophical argument which throws light on this aspect of male existance.
Its langusge is tough as expected from old english writers and sometimes little repetitive.
.

Author explains history of beards and how kings, Monarchs, soldiers and priests valued their beards in gold. History of beards and present status is discussed.

He also explains benefits of a long sturdy beard including its charmfullness for all ladies.

At one point you could find lines like, " we have lost our beards, so we have lost our souls."

Different sort of small writing, which has nice portraits depicting various fashionable beards.

Any man who agrees that keeping beard is organic and natural should read it to strengthen their resolve of growing a gracefull beard.
.
May be you could hear it, it says, Boy, grow that beard for your own sake.

Thanks edelweiss plus and publisher for review copy.

[Adam Mills · Rating 5 out of 5]

A rather eccentric book written by a Victorian author, Thomas Gowing singing the praises and benefits of beards. The health giving properties of beards and the way they make men considerably more attractive to women are well known but are restated and examined in detail in this book. This book is republished for the first time since 1854 and should be required reading in all schools and colleges.

[Kelsey Kramer · Rating 5 out of 5]

I thought this book was hilarious.

[Eric · Rating 2 out of 5]

It's really my fault for having unfair expectations and judging a book by it's cover. I thought this book would be fun and witty, and, well.... it was ok.

[Alexandra · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un tratado brevísimo sobre la importancia que ha revestido la barba en la vida de los hombres a través de las distintas culturas, y que va mucho más allá del mero sentido estético.

En este ensayo, Gowing (de quien poco o nada se sabe) habla incluso de cómo la barba protege al hombre de enfermedades y cómo las distintas civilizaciones, de acuerdo a quiénes los gobernaron y su "fuerza" para gobernar, usaron o no barbas.

Incluso menciona que alguna vez la extensión de la barba de un hombre daba cuentas de su honestidad al momento de ser testigo de alguien acusado.

Es una lectura distinta... que resultará interesantísimo y casi bíblico para un hombre que mantenga su barba como insignia distitiva de su género. Para mí, como mujer, fue divertida, sin dejar de parecerme todo un poco exagerado 😅

[J Porter · Rating 5 out of 5]

Hilarious

[Valorie Clark · Rating 5 out of 5]

This booklet was originally delivered as a lecture in the mid-19th century, expanded and published as a book that same year, and finally republished by the British Library in 2016. It is a fascinating and detailed look at the mid-late Victorian "beard boom" in which the wearing of beards was, across every stratum of society, associated with manliness, morality, and solid upright Englishness. The beard and everything about it--how well it was kept, length, fullness--game under scrutiny as an outward extension of interior perfectibility. Gowing heavily associates the shaved man with a certain level of questionable morality, which gave voice to a Victorian fear of the effeminized man who associated with foreigners and had sex with other men.

In this vein, Gowing analyzes the beard across time, it's association with societal success and downfall, and compares the beards of the "effeminate" Chinese with other industrious cultures. He draws a parallel between what he considers the morally upright times in Rome with the hedonistic downfall of Rome and who was wearing beards in each period--the citizens or the slaves. Naturally during the hedonistic downfall of Rome only the slaves were manly enough to wear beards, but in Romes respectable past the citizens wore beards and the slaves shaved.

This is only a glimpse into the growing Victorian division of masculinity from femininity, which we inherit many of modern our gender norms from. Anyone who has any interest in the birth of the gendered treatment of hair must read this book.

[Luciana Nery · Rating 4 out of 5]

You have to love the Victorian prose and humor; if you don't, then this book is not for you.

"With the increasing growth of vice and effeminacy among this once hardy race, the decreasing of Beard kept pace".

And that's one of the many arguments the author makes to keep the Beard, a "natural feature of the male face, and that the Creator intended it for distinction, protection and ornament".

Gowing even sets out to redeem the most despised of all Beards, the red ones, by claiming their poor fame is nothing but a calumny, probably traced to the belief that Judas Eucariotes wore one.

His words on a guy who recently shaved: "Deprived of this fringe, the colour of his cheeks looked spotty, his nose forlorn and wretched, and his whole face like a house on a hill-top exposed to the north east, from which the sheltering plantations had been ruthlessly removed".

The book can be read in less than an hour, and I highly recommend it if you liked the citations above... and I'll file this book in my "philosophy" shelf - because as Gowing would say, the truly wise always wear Beard.

[Zayan · Rating 3 out of 5]

I mean, it's a book that's for sure. Just a short more informative piece that's written beautifully - a little too beautiful if I might add. I think the language used definitely alienated me, and this is my fault, maybe my English is really just not that good. I should read more. But hey, for someone who (other than the ones stated on this page) hasn't read a book in maybe 4 or 5 years, my English is pretty good I'd say.

Anyway, this book was fine, no arguments here. A short but satisfying read. To be completely honest, I think I was trying to rush through this book just so that I could start this next one that I've just started today - 'The Course of Love'.

This book was given to me by a good friend of mine back when I was trying to grow a beard myself. It is only right that I give this book and my friend the respect they deserve.

For those who want a short read and challenging language (bear in mind this is my level of English we're talking about), then try this out, it couldn't hurt. And neither would keeping a beard.

[Abdullah Aziz · Rating 4 out of 5]

“The sooner we cease to shave, the sooner we wipe out the remembrance of a disgraceful period of our history!”

I stumbled -by chance- on this book, and I have to admit that it caught me with its unique subject matter. The book was delicate and well put. It started with a lovely Shakespearean quotation as an entry to the research. The author then goes on mentioning the scientific and health benefits of the beard and how its natural growth is a must to stay as healthy as a horse. The author goes on mentioning the artistic beauty of the beard then dives into the ancient and historical significance of beard and the greatness of bearded men against the inferiority of shaved men. The author continues to move closer to the present time of beards up until the time of Henry II, Francis I and Charles II in a beautiful sequence that keeps you focused. All in all, the book was a pleasure to read, and the uniqueness of the subject matter and the style of the book is more than worthwhile.

[Pepe.Pangloss · Rating 2 out of 5]

Un libro decepcionante.
Es un manifiesto por las barbas, no encuentro una filosofía profunda, una argumentación compleja, solo hay amor por las barbas y palos a los que no la usan.
Está muy británico el don Gowing, se pasa los últimos dos tercios del libro hablando de reyes y nobles, como el reino andaba mejor con los barbados que con los afeitados.
Fue escrito a mediados del S. XIX entonces siento que se pierden todas las barbas qué me pueden interesar, porque el señor no habla de contemporáneos. Falta Marx, Whitman, Lincoln y de ahí para adelante.
El libro arranca bien, se apoya en la historia medio por arriba, esgrime alguna razón religiosa pero de fondo es solo un señor conservador que está harto de la moda esa de afeitarse y andar de cara desnuda.

[Daniel Clemence · Rating 2 out of 5]

There isn't much philosophy in it really. It should be defined "The history of beards" because it doesn't look at the theories behind the metaphysics or morals of having a beard. There is a bit of pseudoscience around shaving a beard that causes men to cough, which I have never heard of but it is a 19th century book. There is a bit about how different cultures wore beards but nothing that excites the reader. It is the sort of book you will read once and forget you even read.

[Mati · Rating 5 out of 5]

As someone who has only shaved twice in the last 20 odd years (and regretted it both times), I'm not sure I could recommend this more. It's earnest, funny, and in some places pushes credulity, I'm fairly certain Margherita of Parma did not have a beard. So, if you're thinking of shaving, don't! Read this book first.

[Stephanie Lee · Rating 2 out of 5]

This lecture can be summarized into “what can be more natural than beard on man?!”
The idea about deep diving into beards were interesting but the paragraphs in the book were boring and super archaic for me to enjoy.

[Tom B · Rating 2 out of 5]

A 19th century lecture on beards. The second part about the history of who was wearing beards was sort of interesting, but I don't really see a reason why this was republished in 2014 other than for the purpose of gifting it to a bearded history professor.

[Rain · Rating 3 out of 5]

It's mildly interesting to see how people thought and argued their point in the Victorian era, but the content of the book itself is unremarkable.

[Victor Ritonga]

I want to read this book

[Abdulaziz Al-Majyul · Rating 3 out of 5]

I took the book with higher hopes

[Isa · Rating 3 out of 5]

Doesn’t seem to be a perfect translation into English & is quite an eccentric piece of work. Makes some fun points but probably isn’t fun enough or informational enough to warrant 4-5 stars.

[Herald · Rating 5 out of 5]

Glorious style

[Curt Bobbitt · Rating 1 out of 5]

This reprinted lecture from 1854 exaggerates the benefits of beards in humorous but silly ways, including 16 simple drawings. Sections of chapters divide the diatribe into labeled parts: physiology, artistic division, historical survey, ecclesiastical history, and modern history. The humor rests primarily in the insults Gowing offers about and to men who do not wear beards, e.g., "Though there are individual exceptions, the absence of Beard is usually a sign of physical and moral weakness; and in degenerate tribes wholly without, or very deficient, there is a conscious want of manly dignity, and contentedness with a low physical, moral, and intellectual condition" (14).

The lecturer also uses the theme of political and social meanings of beards and their absence. "Regarding shaving as a mark of slavish servitude, they [ancient Greeks] compelled chief magistrates to shave their upper lips during their term of office, to remind them that though administrators of the laws, they were still subject to them" (42).

[Colm · Rating 1 out of 5]

An amusing novelty present, this book initially hooked me in with how articulate its author was but it quickly became a dry, list-oriented recitation of respected or admirable individuals who had been possessed of beards of different shapes and sizes. While the book was initially good for a chuckle at how seriously it's author took beards, the joke wore thin rather quickly to the point that beyond the first twenty pages the book dragged interminably. Had the book been any longer, quite honestly, I'd have quit before the end.

[James Kinsley · Rating 3 out of 5]

Slight, somewhat dry - perhaps of more interest as an artefact than an argument. Nevertheless, rather fascinating to see a nineteenth century gentleman SO obsessed with beards that he believed it worth writing a treatise on the subject. His main argument appears to be "Ewww, don't men look horrid and awful without them", but it's an interesting volume, as much that it even exists as for what it says.

[Dennis · Rating 4 out of 5]

There's a lot to disagree with in this book, but I found a certain tolerance for the wrongheadedness due to the peculiarity of the ideas and the distinctly Victorian timbre of the prose. The illustrations were interesting and the volume is slight enough to allow reading it cover to cover in well under a fortnight.

[Karen · Rating 2 out of 5]

An okay dip-into read.

[Hugh · Rating 3 out of 5]

An intriguing Victorian curiosity, this is a lecture justifying and surveying of the history and cultural significance of beards, accompanied by pictures of various impressive specimens.