DIANA ROSS: Going Back

Ross invites fans to tag along on her non-chronological photo journey through four decades of self-love. This 8"×11.5" coffee-table book (edited by Roseanne Shelnutt) offers more than 200 photographs of the diva, who supplies almost as many words. The main lure here is page after page of stunning photos from such master craftsmen as Herb Ritts, Harry Langdon, Richard Avedon, George Hurrell, Greg Gorman, Francesco Scavullo, Douglas Kirkland and Marc Baptiste. Ross's periodic comments alternately strive for introspection ("I am a very private person living a very public life"), display false-modesty ("My kids say, 'Mom... you were hot!' That really tickles me"), offer philosophies ("I don't borrow trouble. I have fun!") and faux self-revelations ("I must say, I LOVE BIG HAIR—always have"). Her blather seldom distracts from the glorious still photographs of the seemingly ageless former Supreme. The occasional "narrative" by Tonya Bolden starts off by summing up Ross's first 20 years in one paragraph; her three other appearances do little but fan the flame of devotion to La Ross. The book ends with a very selective chronology of her career and a more complete discography. Longtime fans will find the photos Diana-mite. (Jan.)