Profiles of Female Genius: Thirteen Visionary Women Who Changed the World

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. (July)