Giorgio Vasari's Lives From the Artists (1550) was the landmark biography focusing on secular life. Vasari created stars of his topics, since the Lives grew to become an early "bestseller". Massie follows the journey of this obscure German princess from the small noble family position to empress of Russia. 5 http://advertisesmart.com/p/10-Ways-to-Identify-a-Lifelong-Learner/191