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 became more than just products.
100 Great Icons
Found this book very entertaining. The index and pictures helped me decide which icons I was most interested in, and read about first. Nice handy-sized, and since there are only 2 pages written about each icon, it was informative without feeling like a school book.
cindy, 17/12/2008
100 Great Icons
This is a very interesting little paperback book. Compact size makes it handy to keep in your bag to read on the bus or train! Lots of info about the origin of Aussie icons and others. I bought this as a gift for family, but also got a copy for myself as we were so impressed.
Gail, 12/12/2008
