The Erotics of Intelligence - Helen Higgins

Attraction is mostly physical. We’re told by scientific studies, and an impressive amount of research, that body shapes signalling fertility, symmetrical faces, and clear skin are all signs of human attractiveness. We tell women to wear red lipstick. We tell men to grow their facial hair. We might like the way that someone smiles, the way their eyes contain flecks of different colours, or their height. You might prefer a blonde whilst I prefer a brunette. Personally, I’ve found that beauty isn’t skin-deep, though. It’s synaptic. There’s a specific hunger that isn’t sated by bodies. It lives in the space between shared sentences, in the glint of recognition across an office desk or conference table, in the gasp of, “Oh, wow - I didn’t know that!” For those of us who find desire not just in touch but in talk, knowledge consumption is its own erotic act. A mind that surprises you or that seduces you with insight or quiet confidence can be more devastating than a slow undress. Charlotte Br

saved by

• Ali Ahmad