Genuine Authentic : The Real Life of Ralph Lauren
Author: Michael Gross
List Price: $25.95
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ISBN: 0060199040
Publisher: HarperCollins (21 January, 2003)
Sales Rank: 80,186
Average Customer Rating: 3.29 out of 5
Customer Reviews
Rating: 5 out of 5
Shame On Who?
I wonder if "reader" who wrote the first review below works for Ralph Lauren. I bet so. What a personal attack on someone who has obviously worked hard to write a balanced, thorough and honest book. Which this is. Despite Lauren's flip-flopping, first asking for a biography with integrity, then refusing to cooperate when the writer tried to give him what he wanted--a story told in the hysterically funny and revealing author's note at the beginning of the book--Gross not only illuminates Ralph Lauren's business, but also his complex and fascinating character, his tremendous drive and entrepreneurial spirit and the whole world of fashion. He should be proud--not ashamed. And Lauren should count himself lucky that he got a biography of such a high caliber.
Rating: 3 out of 5
Fairly good review of Lauren's work
The book gives a fairly good overview of the major stages of Lauren's life and accomplishments. While the chronology is fairly informative, I feel that it focuses more heavily on the personal relationships in Lauren's life. The book falls short in its description of the creative process that Lauren uses and the source of his inspiration and his ability to reinvent itself. The discussion on the business and financial aspects of Lauren's success is fit more for a magazine article than a serouos biographical study -- don't look for any insights here either.
Rating: 1 out of 5
Very disappointing! Glad I didn't buy it.
How can anyone write a fashion book with so few photographs? When you're talking about a particular RL collection or ad campaign and whether it was successful or not, the reader wants to be reminded of what the "Prairie" look was, or the Annie-Hall inspired collection, or the NY Times advertising spread, or whatever. And there are almost no pictures of any of the many players involved, which contributes to the reader's difficulty in keeping all the names straight. The book is obviously intended as a hatchet job -- there are constant, snippy reminders of how narcissistic and perfectionistic he is, but reading between the lines, you also get the impression that there ARE some people who LIKE to work for him. I am no big fan of Lauren's, but Gross obviously has a vendetta against him. Too bad, because this boring book could have been really interesting.
And, in response to the comment by another reviewer: NO, I do NOT work for Ralph Lauren! I don't even buy his clothes! I am just interested in the fashion industry, and there are many other, better fashion books. (And, BTW, I liked Gross's "Models" book.) Similar Products
The House of Klein : Fashion, Controversy, and a Business Obsession
Model : The Ugly Business of Beautiful Women
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