Absolutely Now!
A Futurist's Journey to Her Inner Truth
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- $5.99
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- $5.99
Publisher Description
Lynne Franks is a legendary figure in international fashion and public relations and the inspiration for the outrageous and driven character of Edina on the cult television series, 'Absolutely Fabulous.' Yet at the pinnacle of her success, after building a world class public relations firm by working 20-hour days, spinning off new ideas and tracking trends for her clients at the expense of her personal life, she abruptly sold her company and reclaimed her life, embarking on a quest for meaning that took her around the globe.
Lynne Franks' journey took her to the United Nations Women's Conference in Beijing; a holy mountain in India; the sacred Celtic sites of Ireland, Scotland, and Wales; the Californian Redwoods; and trance dancing to African drums. She addressed conferences on ethical business and spent time with many of the world's spiritual leaders, leading environmentalists and visionaries. This book recounts that journey. For entrepreneurs; for women and men doing far too much; for those interested in socially responsible business practices; and for anyone interested in simplifying life; Franks points the way to achieving a balanced, happy life with the same dead-on intuition that has made her one of the top trend-spotters of our time.
This 2014 Bloomsbury Reader edition includes a new introduction by Lynne Franks.
PUBLISHERS WEEKLY
The London-based author was managing her own PR firm--clients included Swatch, Tommy Hilfiger, Spice Girls--when the death of two friends inspired her to sell her business in 1991 and pursue a life of spiritual discovery. Her dynamism and irreverence made her the model for Edina Monsoon on the British TV series Absolutely Fabulous! Similarities between the two are easy to spot. Franks travels the globe, becoming a gadfly to the socially conscientious set, compiling a laundry list of New Age nostrums as she experiments with Buddhism, feng shui, acupuncture, crystal healing, meditation, aromatherapy, macrobiotics, lymph drainage, reflexology, tantric sex, celibacy, Celtic mysticism, Native American sweat lodges and whatever else might get her closer to her "inner self." The result is a narrative peppered with platitudes: sexual attitudes need "freeing up"; our "sense of community" needs to be rediscovered. Seemingly unfazed by contradiction, Franks deflects blame for problems with London's women's VIVA! radio station, saying she had "no real influence," then claiming credit for "launching VIVA!" in 1995. Most outrageous may be her environmentally motivated call to "redesign the American dream"--this from a well-to-do Briton squeamish about sharing a bathroom on a retreat in Napa Valley and so beyond the mainstream that she proposes "a big education program" to teach people how to work AM radios. Readers will find Franks's ruminations either fabulous or ridiculous.
