Cara Frost-Sharratt

William Shakespeare. Abraham Lincoln. Santa Claus. Behind (well, slightly in front of) every great man, lies a great beard. And now you too can join the ranks of the most illustrious beard-sporting gentlemen of history.

Find out what each beard says about its wearer, which one will makes women fall at your feet (and not run for the hills) and most importantly, which ones will get crumbs stuck in it. With marks on each one’s ease of grooming, growing and its potential to grate, whether you want to sport a French Fork or a Fu Manchu, a Soul Patch or a Chin Puff, we have the lowdown on the right set of whiskers for every occasion.

What’s more, our custom-designed beard artworks mean you don’t have to commit yourself to months of gruelling growth to find out how you’ll look with the finished article – just hold the book up to your face to amaze and astound your friends and family with your new found veneer of virility and intellectual prowess.

Gone are the days when facial hair was maligned as untrustworthy and unsanitary. With this book, you can give your face a new lease of life and command the respect and admiration you've always deserved.