People are fascinated by other people's lives: what they do, how they live, who they love, their successes and their blind spots. Biography has long been a popular literary genre profiles are minibiographies, and not a weekend goes by without several profiles appearing in the nation's newspapers and magazines. Matthew Ricketson has collected the best profiles written about Australians - past and present. Some are politicians, some are sportspeople, while others are celebrities and others still have shaped the way we see ourselves. From Bob Hawke to Don Bradman, Kylie Minogue to Germaine Greer, all these profiles are compelling reading, whether celebrating mighty achievements, criticising failures, or laying bare the subject's soul. Here, also, is a celebration of Australia's very best journalism.