Phrenology Book From the 1900s, ‘Vaught’s Practical Character Reader,’ Is Unintentionally Hilarious

Vaught’s Practical Character Reader (Library of Congress)

Need a chuckle? The 1902 book on phrenology, Vaught’s Practical Character Reader, may be just the ticket.

Published by Chicagoan L.A. Vaught, the book concerns phrenology, the (totally bogus) field of medicine that theorizes that a person’s character, intellect, and personality can be determined by the shape of their skull.

For example, a man with an attractively cone-shaped back of the head is positively honest, whereas a man with a more blockish back of the head is selfish, tricky, and deceitful.

Of course, all of these assertions are b.s., we know now. Which means when it comes to unintentional comedy, this book is a classic.

Take a look at some of the ridiculous illustrations below and read the book in its entirety here.

(Library of Congress)

(Library of Congress)

(Library of Congress)

(Library of Congress)

(Library of Congress)

(Library of Congress)