Abstract
M. Michael Cohen's Perspectives on the Face is a remarkable work spanning molecular developmental biology, genetics, and reconstructive surgery, as well as the cultural importance of the face. Who but Dr Cohen would have the courage to interpret the face from such diverse perspectives? From the very first chapter, “What is a face?,” through descriptions of craniofacial development, self adornment, human malformation, and surgical manipulations, the reader will explore many perspectives. Perhaps one statement in the book captures the heart of the discussion. While describing the importance of the face to us as individuals, as physicians, and as artists, Dr Cohen states simply “No one discipline can lay claim to the face as its exclusive domain, yet the lack of communication between the various disciplines is striking.” This book represents a unique catalyst for these communications to begin. Throughout the text, Dr Cohen weaves a wonderful blend of science, art, and culture, pointing out that the scientist, envisioned as researcher and experimentalist, and the artist work through similar approaches.
Perspectives on the Face is at home both on the coffee table and in the research office. Did the smile evolve as an expression of happiness because it is the easiest of facial expressions? Is it a derivative of the bared teeth expression of primates? These and other interesting questions are raised and interpreted from the perspective of published works. This text has current data on the genetics of craniofacial development and malformation while providing wonderful descriptions of the history of craniofacial surgery. Dr Cohen reviews the classic experiments of René LeFort that advanced our knowledge of craniofacial trauma and the subsequent contributions of Kazanjian and Tessier in the development of modern craniofacial surgery. In addition, the reader will be asked to consider the “choanae” of the lungfish, the importance of reduced peripheral vision in the emergence of Mona Lisa's smile, and the foundation of criminal anthropology, Lombrosso's “criminal man”.
Whether we are cognizant of it or not, our face is the part of our body that we use to represent our self. This fact alone will attract a wide variety of readers to this book. Although its 288 pages cannot compile and interpret all of the relevant data on the subject, Dr Cohen's text is an informative and entertaining piece of work that will appeal to pediatric pathologists, anthropologists, plastic surgeons, pediatricians, dentists, and of course you—after all, you too have a face and a perspective.