Icons: intimate portraits.

Originally written as background material for Time magazine, this is a collection of personality profiles of Madonna, Steven Spielberg, Steve Martin, Paul Newman, Nastassia Kinski, Bob Dylan, Oliver Stone, and Michael Jackson. Each piece starts with a short introduction; then varying amounts of information are proffered by the star and/or the author and other sources, from Spielberg who does all the talking to Jackson who never speaks at all. The concept that these stars are icons, turns out to be a separate a posteriori issue that the celebrities themselves never address. However the superb introduction by Otto Friedrich does put that conceit into perspective. Although uneven, the book works due to the in-depth nature and length of the interviews. Worrell uses her reportorial skills to get real feelings, good and bad, to come through, making this insightful, entertaining reading.
- Arthur Bargar, Milford P.L., Ct.
Copyright 1989 Reed Business Information, Inc.