Constance White at Essence

Time Inc. named Constance White as the new editor-in-chief of Essence.  White succeeds Angela Burt-Murray who left last year.  White was born in Jamaica and attended Meadowbook.  She is a veteran fashionista having worked as the style director of eBay and worked at Talk, The New York Times and Elle.  She is also the author of Style Noir.

--CA

Usain Bolt: My Story

Cover Photograph by Mark Guthrie

  

Two  years after Usain Bolt redefined the concept of human speed, he published his first book;  Usain Bolt: My Story 9:58 -- Being the World's Fastest Man, last fall.  After setting three sprinting world records at the Beijing Olympics and breaking two of those at the track and field world championships in Berlin in 2009, Bolt is a constant source of fascination.  How can he run so fast? Is he a clean runner?  What kind of a person is he?

In this tabletop book Bolt answers these questions and more.  Written with Shaun Custis, he tells of the magnitude of being called the Fastest Man.  Explaining that of all the people to have ever lived "it doesn't get any cooler than knowing you are the fastest of them all."

Bolt, 24, writes for an audience outside of Jamaica.  Explaining parts of the culture such as its use of patio and rivalry between dancehall gangs. But he brings the reader into his thoughts at significant moments of his track development and failure.  He tells of hamstring injuries he continually suffered before he was diagnosed with scoliosis. He reveals his feeling towards his main rivals, Asafa Powell, Wallace Spearmon and especially Tyson Gay.  Admitting that he had to analyze what he was doing wrong in his races against Gay in order to finally beat him.

This book takes the reader on a visual tour of Bolt's Jamaica.  There are over 170 colorful photos of him in many situations surrounded by fans, friends and family.  There are photos of him on the track, hugged by school children, dancing and playing dominos.  The narrative is casual as though he is answering every question he has every been asked at a press conference.  Scattered throughout, are colorful page length reflections of those who have helped shape his success -- from his primary school principal to his coach and parents.

He acknowledges that he embraces his rise to fame, as he is constantly giving autographs and taking photographs with fans, and doesn't view it as a burden.  In addition to his world record, his rise to fame was further heighten in 2009 when he was given a national medal of honor by the Jamaican government, making him an official ambassador of the country with full diplomatic privileges.

He also doesn't worry about any steroid scandal.  He knows how significant a potential positive drug test from him would be to track and field. "My performances since 2007 in Osaka, Japan, have sparked a lot of interest across the globe.  It has been said that I am the saviour of athletics, and that, having proved to be a clean athlete and smashed the world record in the flagship 100 metres I've given the sport its credibility back.  Equally I'm well aware that if there was ever any hint of a drug scandal against me it could finish athletics.  I can assure you that won't happen."

Usain Bolt: My Story 9:58 -- Being the World's Fastest Man offers an intimate look into the life of Bolt.  Showing pictures and telling stories that explain Bolt's love of running and the support of friends and family he had to become the world's fastest man.

-- Connie Aitcheson