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Telling a Book by Its Cover and a Person by Their Clothes
If clothes make the man or the woman, do covers tell us anything about a book’s content?
The old saying, “You can’t tell a book by its cover,” has many meanings that are not limited to books, but you knew that, didn’t you?
We’ve all been mildly or greatly deceived by “covers” on books, clothing on people, or appearances by “experts” on TV, and it’s a well-known fact that looks can be deceiving, and many count on it. Why else would there be a profession where clothing consultants are engaged to provide the “appropriate” outfits for TV anchors?
Appearance is everything, and even people sent to Congress dress the part that is required, with one exception, Senator Fetterman of Pennsylvania. He sticks to what he wants to wear—a sweatshirt hoodie.
Subterfuge has become part of our DNA as we squeeze into what is the acceptable norm or create a new persona that will increase our acceptance, upward mobility, or ersatz self-esteem through other people’s eyes. It is how we sell ourselves in a world where selling seems to be the end game. No one admits they might be wrapped in the reverse of the imposter syndrome.
They are confident they can deceive, just as the book covers promise incredible adventures with extraordinary characters. Is Fabio going bald? If…
