By the author of KING OF THE WORLDDavid Remnick is an unparalleled observer of the human beings who become agents of history. In this brilliant collection of profiles Remnick trains his gaze on figures from Gerry Adams to Dennis Rodman and from Ralph Ellison to Ben Bradlee. Gerry Adams charms American TV audiences - and tries to charm Remnick - while justifying IRA atrocities. In his portrait of the distinguished religious historian Elaine Pagels, Remnick shows us how a scholar's personal tragedies led her to seek out the origins of the devil.This is a brilliant collection of pieces which represents the journalistic profile elevated to high art. 'Remnick is remarkably skilled at conveying the distinctive textures of individual personalities' New York Times Book Review'Brilliant . . . .reads like a voice crying out in the wilderness of American culture' New York Post