Always controversial, Tom Wolfe's writings inarguably have had enduring cultural impact through the decades, starting with his short stories in the 1960s and the publication of his first nonfiction novel, "The Electric Kool-Aid Acid Test"(1968). This book offers the fullest treatment of Wolfe's life and literary output available to date, with full analysis of his major works including "The Right Stuff" (1979), "The Bonfire of the Vanities" (1987), and his most recent novel "A Man in Full"(1999). With insightful historical perspectives to Wolfe's literary and cultural contributions, this...