What does it take to be one of history's "greats"? Dean Simonton, a UC Davis psychology professor, asks that question in his forthcoming book, "Greatness: Who Makes History and Why." Does it help to be left-handed? Einstein, Aristotle and Mozart were. Or maybe greatness arises from attitude. President Kennedy took the blame for the 1961 Bay of Pigs fiasco and his popularity shot up. Simonton examines the effect of personal, intellectual, generational and psychobiological attributes in influencing the course of history. He examines such greatness-related phenomena as genetic inheritance, intuition, birth order, education, aging, physical disabilities, motivation and the creative quest. Simonton recently was awarded the $25,000 1994 UC Davis Prize for Teaching and Scholarly Achievement, considered to be the largest annual award of its kind in the country. For an interview, media should contact Simonton at (916) 752-1880. For a copy of the book or other information, contact Lisa Crumrine Klionsky, at 752-9841, lrklionsky@ucdavis.edu.