Publisher's Synopsis
The book is result of an in-depth study of the expression 'smile'. A casual remark by the author's dentist that his teeth did not show when he smiled; kindled authors interest in Smile. He was dismayed to learn that a Smile was impossible to be found in any art from distant past. The Author then takes up the roles of an Anthropologist, an Evolution Expert, a Visual Artists, a Physiologist, a linguist and a Historian to check out this surprising realization. The data that emerged collaborated with the authors hypothesis that a smile requires reason, suitable muscles, flexible cheeks, multi-tasking ability etc. and all this was possible only well after High-renaissance. This and other studies confirmed the fact that the smile did not exist prior to 16th century. A few experts in various fields may reject this book, but they will not stop wondering, "Why did I not think of this before?"The story begins with connecting smile with ability to reason, desire to express the reason, the awakening and the enlightenment. The next finding of importance was, 'Smile is what smile does.' Having digested this fact; the story dwells on the personality of 'smile', types of smiles, good and bad smiles, uses of smiles, how smiles differ from person to person, fake smiles, villains smile, how not to confuse smile from laughter, teeth showing smile verses no teeth smile, smiles of cartoons, smile as a marketing tool and super smile of some great personalities.Finding the influence of 'cleverness & cunning' on smile was worrisome; still smile has established as one of the important assets of man, and making him free from being grumpy.Here the book takes the more potent, the visual track. Pages full of boys and beauties smile back at you with diverse communication and remove the lingering irritation from seeing the grumpy faces and sculls. The variety of types of smiles portrayed is comprehensive considering that smile can be put to almost infinite uses and can change message with context.Although exposing the hoax of 'the smile of Mona Lisa' was not part of the initial purpose of this book; it was unavoidable. Why? The famous painting was completed about 1506, and smile did not exist then.This is where the author unleashes his authority on the understanding of art, work of Leonardo, history and Smile. In the true spirit of high renaissance, he enlightens us that the real genius of the painting of Mona Lisa lies somewhere else than the controversial smile. He ridicules the stories of smiling Mona and puts to rest the mystery once and for all. This is followed by an apt comparison between the works of the three giants of the high renaissance - Leonardo Da Vinci, Michael Angelo and Raphael. A very interesting study of lips and the works of the great Leonardo show how his famous portraits, in time, gradually change the grumpy unattractive faces to highly attractive, by upturning of lips like those when one is smiling is extremely fascinating; confirming that Leonardo was well ahead of his time. Unlike most expressions, the meaning or the communication of smile is intensely dependent on the time, the acceleration, stable status and deceleration. The book, full of visuals, makes even this seemingly 'an abstract topic', quite friendly. With a background as an architect and student of the birth of modern movements in art like 'Cubism' author links smile to the discovery of 4th dimension. The youngest of expressions, Smile is credited as being the springboard of the understanding of 4th dimension.Last but not the least, we learn that Yogic meditation use the smile as an ambassador of peace; indicating universal acceptance of the strength of the smile. Hundreds of pictures and illustrations, all worth a thousand words each, have made it possible to keep this profound work, easy to read, pleasant, and to a handy size. Title ID: 7792638 ISBN-13: 978-9352792986 Member ID 1381227
