Eyeliner is an interesting book about how eye makeup has been used and viewed throughout history. I thought the book was interesting overall, but some parts dragged on longer than they needed to and felt repetitive. I would recommend this book, but I not likely read it again.

I love it when a talented author can make me see the fascination of a topic I hadn't ever considered in depth, and now Eyeliner is an excellent example of just such a book. Surprising and riveting.

In this extremely detailed historical account of the origins of eyeliner, Hankir manages to provide more context to makeup, fashion, and popular culture through a historical lens. Though at times, passages could be a bit dry, this truly is a must-read for anyone who could benefit from a re-contextualization of the beauty industry. I particularly enjoyed the chapter focused on Amy Winehouse and her adoption of a signature eyeliner.

This was excellent. I loved the historical and personal anectdote approach to this subject and learned a lot about my own knowledge and history and other regional approaches

We love a cultural/micro history! There's so much interesting research and interviewing in this book, but I can't help but think it would be better served by being a bit shorter. Some of the repetition here feels. like too much protesting that YES! Eyeliner does matter! (Folks reading the book will agree here--we think so too!)

Very informative and definitive collection of essays discussing eyeliner both as a concept and as a symbol. Eyeliner has extensive history beyond what most people realize. It's an integral piece of society like any other beauty standard of today.

A fascinating non-Western history of kohl/eyeliner. I can't say I was missing a book about the history of eyeliner in my life, but this was a genuinely interesting, well-researched book that examines the use of this cosmetic over centuries and across several continents. The only faults I found were that the information was occasionally repetitive and that the author didn't offer much of a nuanced look at eyeliner as it relates to beauty standards, gender norms, etc. The book is a celebration of the cosmetic, which she makes that clear from the start. I especially liked the first portion of the book, where she writes about her personal history (and family history) with eyeliner. Recommended if you're interested in the history of makeup or like deep dives into random topics (I'm in the latter camp).

I absolutely loved reading this book. I was completely drawn into the topic and could not stop reading it.