| From Publishers Weekly Despite diverse ideologies and the different directions of their careers， it is the shared qualities of these four peopleambition， aggression and political activismthat are explored by Carroll (It Seemed Like Nothing Happened， etc.). Recounted in four chronological stages， each story serves to illustrate aspects of our society and the transformation of values that occurred in the subject's lifetime. The author recalls the prestige of the technological triumphs demonstrated by space exploration which led astronaut Glenn to enter politics; the civil rights struggle as it impinged on Wallace's career and was affected by him; the fervid anti-communist， ultra-conservative trends represented by Schlafly; and the combination of Hollywood glamour and social militancyas feminist， sex symbol and physical fitness advocateepitomized by Fonda， whose activism， contends the author， presaged the election of an actor to the presidency. Of the four accounts， that of Wallace's personal and political life is most forcefully rendered. Photos not seen by PW. January 15Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information， Inc. From Library Journal Jane Fonda， George Wallace， Phyllis Schlafly， and John Glenn are the unlikely foursome represented in this collective biography. The author examines these four lives with an eye to the internal and external forces that propelled each toward success. Carroll never explains why he chose such seemingly disparate personalities. Yet somehow the book works， rendering a composite picture of America from 1958 to 1983. The important events and issues of those years (e.g.， civil rights， the Vietnam War， abortion) are seen from four distinct vantage points. The book is arranged in chronological sections that treat the events in each person's life during each time period. Most of the information can be found elsewhere. Carroll's idea of reflecting the times in these brief biographies is interesting and so is the book， but only marginally. Terrill Brooks， Baker Jr. Coll. Lib.， Flint， Mich.Copyright 1985 Reed Business Information， Inc. |
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