What lessons are there to be learned from the book?

One major lesson in the novel can be seen in the pressure to conform, which plays a major role in Uglies. The dystopic world in which the novel is set values conformity to such a high degree that it has instituted a compulsory cosmetic operation to ensure that all people look the same and are therefore equal in the eyes of others. Tally's pull toward conformity exists in opposition to her personal ethics, prompting the inner strife that provides much of the thematic tension in the novel. Her horror at the thought of staying ugly and becoming a social pariah is what drives Tally to work for Special Circumstances in the first place. However, when Tally learns of the brain lesions that result from the operation, her feelings change. While she wants desperately to fit in, Tally is not willing to sacrifice her individuality and her critical thinking skills.