I feel like we voracious readers just scored a major victory!

Tonight, they revealed the A&E Biography's Top 10 "Most Influential People of the Millennium."

I was fully ready to argue with whoever they chose as #1 - I mean, how in the world can you choose just ONE person who had a profound effect on the last 1000 years?

However, I must say that I'm pleased to announce that #1 was none other than J. Gutenberg.

I'm not necessarily disappointed in this.

In developing the printing press, he was responsible for allowing people (who had never had the chance to before) to actually read the Bible. I feel that this was his greatest gift to his fellow man.

I also agree with Biography that all of the other 99 owe a huge debt to him. Had it not been for his influence, Jefferson's Declaration of Independence would not have been possible. Freud's "id" and "ego" would not be known. We would not have Newton's laws of physics. Man would not have had the background to have gone to the moon. Even Gates would not be able to have made the difference that he has.

And, even more personal to me, I would not be able to escape into a good novel for an hour or two!

They said that he was actually a quiet man who would have been shocked to know that he would, 500 years after his death, be voted as the one person who had the most profound effect on the world.

I totally agree that if it wasn't for Gutenberg, our lives would be nothing like it is today. It probably solved a great deal of arthritis too!! And the Bible is the single most life changing book in my life.

I wonder how they figured it out. It's hard to imagine the kind of criticism a company could recieve for declaring who the most influencial human being in the past 1000 years. But I think that they must have spent countless hours debating and researching their decisions.

Who was #2???

Aquiace, I can't remember off the top of my head who number 2 was. I'm thinking it was Newton (who was definitely in the top 10, I remember that much). I posted a list of all 100 (in order of when they lived) in one of the other forums (I think it was in Useless Facts - check there. If it's not there, let me know, and I'll try to find it!) Remember that the category was "Most Influential," so don't be surprised by some of the people who made it on the list. For instance, Hitler is on there. Not a very nice person, but "influential" to our history nonetheless.

Just checked - it's in there. Look at the topic "Most Influential?" Aquiace, I have a feeling that you're going to agree with my choice for #1! (And, I don't buy the argument that He wasn't in this millennium. He's in every millennium!)

[This message has been edited by Linda1 (edited 11-17-1999).]

Who cares who number one is except the person chosen,after all it's only a method for someone to pat someone else on the back in order to suck-up to them, or to try and impress people they don't know by showing how intelligentthry are/not.

Who cares who number one is except the person chosen,after all it's only a method for someone to pat someone else on the back in order to suck-up to them, or to try and impress people they don't know by showing how intelligentthry are/not.

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dragonsaver