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"Shoes possess magical properties," writes Italian journalist and shoe fanatic Paola Jacobbi. The allure of shoes is so powerful that they have become her fashion obsession, one she shares with millions of women, from Imelda Marcos to Sarah Jessica Parker to Joan Crawford.

Here Jacobbi indulges that obsession by embarking on a witty and highly opinionated journey through the styles and cultural significance of women's footwear and our attachment to it. Jacobbi pontificates (sandals are the bikini of footwear); psychoanalyzes (the relationship between shoes and sex); has fiery beliefs (ankle boots are quite simply a no-no); and speculates (there's a little Imelda in all of us). She also offers plenty of sage advice: how to choose the right heel for your physique, how to keep shoes lasting long, why to avoid mules at all costs, and how to judge a man by his footwear.

Charming, sassy, and irresistible, I Want Those Shoes! will be a perfect fit for every woman who has ever coveted, rearranged her closet to accommodate, or maxed out her credit card for one more absolutely-gotta-have-it pair of shoes. [via]