Obsession: The Lives and Times of Calvin Klein

by Steven Gaines, Sharon Churcher

A biography of controversial designer Calvin Klein draws on interviews with friends, business associates, and lovers to trace his dramatic rise to fame in the fashion world and his self-indulgent personal life

Genres: Nonfiction, Biography, Fashion

451 pages, Paperback

First published April 1, 1994

Reviews

[K.D. Absolutely · Rating 2 out of 5]

I got this book from Booksale when I was still in Rohm and Haas. I think I was then fascinated about his life because of the infamous Fil-Am guy who killed a fashion scion in the 90s. I now forgot who those people were. Anyways, this book was about drugs, fashion, casual sex, homos, Club 51 parties, etc. Easy read but no takeaway lesson for me.

[Beth A · Rating 3 out of 5]

Having met Steven Gaines I've read all of his books.

[Marios Alexandrou · Rating 5 out of 5]

What a great record of such a provocative and hot brand and personality!

Loved the pace and dancing of information.

I wish the story was revisited to include the era after 1994, to date.

Hopefully one day

[Jackie · Rating 4 out of 5]

I thought it carried a profound message about how there is no guarantee of a good life no matter how much money or recognition you have.

[Judy Mann · Rating 1 out of 5]

Books like this are a royal pain in the ass.You either brown nose the guy or you don't.The only thing vaguely tantalizing about this ridiculous book was the intro where they both describe at great length the outrage Calvin Klein and co felt upon reading this book.So ? I thought to myself it might be good..
what a bunch of crap. If you want to brown nose Calvin Klein why not just send him a dozen roses and a pretty little Hallmark Card telling him how swell you think he is. Why waste my time? why waste all the paper and trees that went into this book and all the time and work of the editors. This book described a ridiculously innocuous designer and his ridiculously innocuous wife -both dull as dish water and the book -and the book itself -innocuous would make it sound exciting compared to how dull and irriating it really was. I am so out of here.Big fat waste of time.JM

[Greg Lewis]

Interesting, very straight forward and fact based. Can't say it was very "intimate" as his current friends and relatives would not speak to the author. But insightful as to what may have created Calvin's need for beauty and an idealized aesthetic in fashion and image.

[Charles Baudelaire · Rating 5 out of 5]

BETTER THEN FLAUBERT

[Sue Kozlowski · Rating 5 out of 5]

Non-fiction. Very interesting look at the man behind the name. Unbelievable how he "lived" on drugs for a while - took uppers and downers to get thru each day.

[Colin · Rating 3 out of 5]

Very comprehensive and well researched, but too focused on the business side of things. People want to read the biography of an artist to learn more about the artistic process; This book missed that.