100 Great Icons

Description

Fascinating histories of the products that have surpassed popularity, transcended cool, and forever imprinted themselves on our cultural identity. Who can say they have no emotional reaction when they think of a frisbee, or a teddy-bear, or a Harley-Davidson, or a Rubik's Cube? These are just a few of the stylish and cool products and brands that have captured the imagination and adoration of the general public and in doing so have risen to the realm of the icon. Behind most icons are fascinating histories of struggle, ingenuity and often single-minded stubborness. The Vespa was designed to save Italy's economy by mobilising the country's population when World War II left her roads and cities cratered. The inspiration for Post-It Notes came to their inventor as he sat through a dull sermon, annoyed at the bookmark which constantly slipped from his hymn book. The velcro idea struck after a keen bushwalker returned from the mountains with cockleburrs stuck obstinately to his dog's coat. 100 Great Icons is full of fascinating dinner-party facts, emotive memories, historically accurate detail and enthralling, believe-it-or-not stories of exactly how these amazing icons bec

Chris Sheedy and Jenny Bond are based in Sydney and run a successful freelance journalism company, The Hard Word. Prior to her reinvention as a journalist, Bond held the position of Head of English at private boys' school Eaton House The Manor in London's Clapham Common, and also taught English and drama at a selective Sydney High School. Chris Sheedy has been regularly published in many of Australia's top magazines and newspapers. As the Australian representative of Guinness World Records he has been a regular on the top-rating Guinness World Records TV series and is regularly called on to adjudicate record attempts.