1001 People Who Made America || No contribution too small...
Written: Jul 30 '07 (Updated Jul 30 '07)
Product Rating:
Pros: Many, many individuals, active in every imaginable field.
Cons: Many, many individuals, active in every imaginable field.
The Bottom Line: As you read 1001 People Who Made America you will find yourself supporting or objecting to each entry's inclusion among those who wove the fabric of America tightly together.
sleeper54's Full Review: Alan Axelrod - 1001 People Who Made America
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If asked to, most of us could scribble a list of names of those who helped shape and form the person we are today.
A coach that taught more than the game. A parent who gave unflagging love and support. A teacher that recognized unique promise. A friend that held us up when we wanted to just give up.
If, however, we were asked to expand that list to a hundred names things might get a little dicey. Should we really include our school bus driver from fourth grade..?? That college roommate who did all those stupid things when he was drinking, does he really belong on the list..??
1001 People Who Made America suffers a bit from that 'over-reaching' syndrome. Author and historian Alan Axelrod sought to include those who by ". . .what they did, what they made, what they thought—and what they caused others to do, make, think—shaped our nation and who we are today."
A lofty goal indeed. His broad definition of 'who made America' leaves ample room for every imaginable type: "...some were great, some were good, others just lucky, and some downright bad, mistaken, unfortunate, and even evil."
All the usual suspects are here: every President, save one (care to guess who is missing..??), generals, politicians, miserly businessmen and generous benefactors, doctors, lawyers, and yes ...even Indian chiefs.
In the Preface to the book, Axelrod notes that he looked beyond the 'status quo' consensus on who might be important to shaping America. Indeed, noting consensus alone might be ". . .pretty dull", he also ". . .looked beyond (consensus) to include some people who speak directly to me..."
Arranged alphabetically, each entry is brief. Year of birth and death are noted, when known and applicable. A brief paragraph follows, telling the reader about the individual and how s/he contributed to shaping America. Each entry really is a concise 'express review' of each person's contributions. Some are exceedingly brief and others comparatively much longer. Yet each is complete enough to get a good feel for their accomplishments and notoriety, good or bad, all in one hundred words or so.
It is interesting to flip through the book at random, stopping here and there to read. I started to note the names I did not immediately recognize ...but stopped when the list of the 'As' and 'Bs' alone grew embarrassingly long. Then I began to read just for enjoyment.
Those 'Indian chiefs' that I mentioned earlier..?? Axelrod must have a strong interest in the history of native-Americans; more than twenty are found in this book. Too many, just right, not enough..? Deciding that is part of the fun of the book.
Gangsters, mobsters, criminals, and simply disgusting people are numerous: Richard Speck, David Koresh, and Timothy McVeigh to name a few. Most of these I find not worthy of inclusion.
It is also interesting to note 'couples' found here: Bork - Hill, Sacco - Vanzetti, Jolliet - Marquette, Oswald - Ruby, Rickey - Robinson, Rogers - Hammerstein, Clinton - Clinton, Lewinsky - Clinton, and many more.
It is equally fun to note 'couples' left out: Ann Landers is in - Dear Abby not, Sears is in - Roebuck not, Oprah is in - Carson not. Interesting.
Through it all, Axelrod shares his or others' opinions on many of the individuals. Fiorello LaGuardia's entry says: "Many consider him the greatest mayor of any major American city—ever." Elsewhere he notes: "Many historians consider (Warren Harding) the least competent president in U.S. history." About Dan Quayle he offers: "...(he) was seen as an intellectual lightweight, a reputation that he was never able to live down."
The Bottom Line
You will discover individuals you did not know and learn new facts about many others while reading 1001 People Who Made America. As you read each entry you will find yourself supporting or objecting to their inclusion in this listing of those who wove the fabric of America tightly together.
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