Model

Rating:
Summary: Excellent book for anybody interested in the subject
Review: Heard and enjoyed the taped version of MODEL by Michael
Gross . . . its subtitle says it all: The ugly business of beautiful
women . . . methinks that this is an excellent book for anybody
thinking of entering the profession--or if you know somebody who
is . . . although the field may seem glamorous, in reality, it is
anything but that.

Though the book was non-fiction, it sounded like I was listening
to a novel . . . also, I liked hearing about the backgrounds of such
famous models as Twiggy and Cindy Crawford.

The edition I heard was from the mid-1990s . . . I understand
that a paperback edition in 2002 has since updated MODEL
and might be worth getting if you find the subject of interest.

Rating:
Summary: Informative historic review of modeling
Review: The strong points of this book become easily evident if even one only looks at the several-page-long bibliography. Mr. Gross has done a commendable job of research and has presented a voluminous material, including multiple interviews, pictures, etc. From a historical standpoint, there is probably no better book written on the modeling business (particularly in the US).( There is actually and afterward to the paperback edition, which brins some current news as of 2002.)

The weak points of the book are rooted in its failure to discuss what its title promises -- "business". Yes, there are salary numbers, but that is about where Mr. Gross stops. In describing the business he talks at length about modelling agencies, magazines and the like, only it happens in a somewhat gossipy style (describing personalities, political battles, etc.), while failing to provide any financial (or any other business) information so as to give the reader an idea of, for example, of how big this business is. As a result, after reading the book, one is short of truly understanding how the business really works, including the interaction of its multiple participants, such as publihhers, designers, etc.

Rating:
Summary: Interesting read
Review: This book does exactly what the title says, it reveals the ugly side of the modeling business. However, it is an older book so you won't hear any recent names. There is another book out there, "Shut up and Smile" that covers more recent models. But the writing from that book is no comparison to this one. This book is by someone that knows how to write and the stories are very in-depth which can only make the book better. The pictures are also better in this book.