Profiles of Female Genius: Thirteen Creative Women Who Changed the World [Hardcover]

Gene N. Landrum (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: July 1994

Following the pattern of his acclaimed "Profiles of Genius", Gene N. Landrum discusses the elements that give these extraordinary women the edge over their competition. Among the factors Landrum addresses are psychosexual desire, the tendency to take abnormal risks, a visionary perspective, a dream-like but unshakable belief system, an intuitive operating style, and boundless energy.To define what genetic, imprinted, and conditioned elements contribute to this creative process, Landrum writes about the significance of birth order, personality, risk-taking propensity, educational background, inner drives, mentors, and need to achieve, the willingness to sacrifice, cultural influences, and life crises, in an effort to show what makes these women tick. Among the success stories profiled are cosmetic executives Mary Kay Ash, Liz Claiborne, Estee Lauder, and Warnaco CEO Linda Wachner; opera singer Maria Callas; actress Jane Fonda; entertainer Madonna; gift catalog founder Lillian Vernon; politicians Golda Meir and Margaret Thatcher; activists Ayn Rand and Gloria Steinem; and talk show host Oprah Winfrey.

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Landrum, a marketing specialist who wrote a study of male entrepreneurs, Profiles of Genius , here turns his attention to 13 successful women he views as geniuses. Limited to those who developed original and influential concepts during the past 40 years and did not inherit or marry into their profession, Landrum's choices are drawn from diverse fields, including fashion (Liz Claiborne and Lillian Vernon), politics (Golda Meir and Margaret Thatcher), entertainment (Madonna and Oprah Winfrey) and philosophy (Ayn Rand). The author's analysis of the factors that supposedly account for his subjects' abilities are presented in a frequently oversimplified pop psychology format. Landrum argues that these women generally are born first among their siblings, had self-employed fathers, and attended all-girls schools. Common character traits include perfectionism, high self-esteem, independence and charisma. It is unclear whether the women were chosen to fit Landrum's model or vise versa.
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

From School Library Journal

YA-Madonna and Margaret Thatcher are among the featured women who "started with nothing and reached the very top of their field and stayed there for a minimum of ten years." Also included in this baker's dozen are five business revolutionaries: Mary Kay Ash, Liz Claiborne, Estee Lauder, Lillian Vernon, and Linda Wachner. Golda Meir is the second political visionary; Maria Callas, Jane Fonda, and Oprah Winfrey represent the entertainment industry; and the two humanitarians are Ayn Rand and Gloria Steinem. Personal information, accomplishments, mentors, temperament, etc., are addressed in narrative and chart format. In addition to the 18 pages allotted to each figure, there are 150 pages of analyses of creative female genius. A valuable source for assignments.
Barbara Hawkins, Oakton High School, Fairfax, VA
Copyright 1994 Reed Business Information, Inc.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Hardcover: 437 pages
• Publisher: Prometheus Books; 1St Edition edition (July 1994)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0879758929
• ISBN-13: 978-0879758929
• Product Dimensions: 8.4 x 5.8 x 1.2 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1.9 pounds
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,404,484 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Discover books, learn about writers, read author blogs, and more.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

4 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An Anthology of Pros, March 18, 2000

By 

Robert Morris (Dallas, Texas) - See all my reviews
(TOP 50 REVIEWER)    (HALL OF FAME REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)    (REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Profiles of Female Genius: Thirteen Creative Women Who Changed the World (Hardcover)

Who are they? Lillian Vernon, Oprah Winfrey, Golda Meir, Jane Fonda, Estee Lauder, Madonna, Ayn Rand, Gloria Steinem, Margaret Thatcher, Mary Kay Ash, Liz Claiborne, Maria Callas, and Linda Wachner. Landrum devotes a separate chapter to each but first, in Chapters 1-7, he discusses the following:

Self-Esteem, Self-Image, and Self-Confidence

Birth Order, Childhood Transience, Role Models, and Mentors

Education, Intelligence, and Knowledge

Creative Renegades Go Where Others Fear to Tread!

Professional versus Personal Dichotomy

Crisis, Mania, and Creativity

Personality Traits and Temperament

As he did in another book (Profiles of Genius), Landrum's strategy is to create a cohesive and comprehensive frame-of-reference within which to discuss his selections. (These first seven chapters, all by themselves, are well worth the cost of the book.) He assigns to each a dominant characteristic. For example, Mary Kay Ash is "A Confident Charismatic"), Madonna is "Psychosexually Driven", and Linda Wachner is a "Type A Workaholic." All 13 are peak performers within their respective careers. All have exceptional intelligence, talent, energy, determination, and (perhaps most important of all) clearly defined goals and objectives. All had to overcome all manner of obstacles, many of them gender-specific. Also, as Landrum explains very well, each has a unique, indeed compelling personality. As each overcomes obstacles, her unique personality is most evident.

Some readers may disagree with the selections and/or with Landrum's definition of "genius" as applied to each of his selections. I rate this book so highly because it is well written, because it provides so much information of which I was not previously aware, and because (with great skill) Landrum allows each of these remarkable women to reveal herself through what she has said and done. After you read the 13 "profiles", I suggest that you re-read Chapters 1-7 to gain even more value from what those introductory chapters offer.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Inspiring, worth it and educational..., August 19, 2003

By A Customer

This review is from: Profiles of Female Genius: Thirteen Creative Women Who Changed the World (Hardcover)

Ever since I read this book, I've become a Landrum fan in the highest order. This book is well researched and followed a criteria that made the stories more fascinating and mentally satisfying. He chose these women based on their merit as oppose to their inheritance of any kind...in other words the quintessential Rags to Riches story. I live for those stories.

If you are looking for books that commend heroes such as Horatio Alger in a modern form, Female Genius is the book for you. Not only does it provide a comprehensive overview of what makes a Genius tick, it also illustrates individual strengths these women possess. If you are a parent and have daughters..this book is a MUST READ especially for fathers.

2 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Intriguing!!, May 4, 1998

By A Customer

This review is from: Profiles of Female Genius: Thirteen Creative Women Who Changed the World (Hardcover)

I thought the book was very intriguing in the way it portrayed these women as visionaries and fearless. When I read the book I was very fascinated by each of the women's background and how they started from nothing to going all the way to the top. I have recommended the book to many of my friends that carry the same spririt as these women in the book. I was impressed with the author's presentation of their background which made me respect these women more for doing what is usually not encouraged among women.