Reviewed by Patricia Selinger, Head, Preservation
This book profiles the lives of seven people and how they used their time in the spotlight of fame. It's ironic how so many people struggle to become famous yet it's often the case that fame finds the person, not the other way around. The story of Melvin Dummar is especially poignant as he struggled to find fame as an entertainer but instead, fame found him when he received a will allegedly written by Howard Hughes leaving him millions. Dummar's story is interwoven among those of Maury Wills, Irene Cara, Jim Wright, Mick Foley, Susan McDougal, and Gerry Cooney. All had compelling ambitions, became famous, and reinvented themselves trading on their famous names. Their choices to be true to themselves—or not—are the stories behind the stories highlighted in this book. This is a good book to reflect on and learn something about yourself.
