LIFE 100 People Who Changed the World

by LIFE

Presents the religious and political leaders, artists, scientists, and adventurers such as Albert Einstein, Madame Curie, Thomas Paine, Igor Stravinsky, Elvis Presley, and others. This title examines the issues of race in the lives of not only Rosa Parks and Nelson Mandela and Barack Obama, but of Jesse Owens and Jackie Robinson and Muhammad Ali.

Genres: History, Nonfiction, Biography, Coffee Table Books

112 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2010

About the author

Life was an American magazine published weekly from 1883 to 1972, as an intermittent "special" until 1978, and as a monthly from 1978 until 2000. During its golden age from 1936 to 1972, Life was a wide-ranging weekly general interest magazine known for the quality of its photography.

Reviews

[Brian Fagan · Rating 2 out of 5]

My wife gave me this interesting volume for Christmas. Since the title does not include the word "Most", I suppose it's hard to argue with selections, since all of the people they discuss obviously changed the world in large ways. Even so, I'll mention two other individuals that came to mind as I read through this list. Environmentalist, naturalist, mountaineer and geologist John Muir was vitally important to the early conservation movement. Ignaz Semmelweis made an incredible contribution to science and medicine in the 19th century when he determined that hand washing by obstetricians reduced maternal deaths from post-partum uterine infections.

As I read the write-up on anthropologist Margaret Mead and her work I was reminded that I've been wanting to read her book Coming of Age in Samoa for some time. And I added a fundamental book on Buddha after reading his section.

Throughout the list, I kept track of individuals that I didn't remember hearing about before, and there were 7:

Nicephore Niepce: developed (pun intended) an early method of photography

Norman Borlaug: developed high-yield, disease-resistant wheat varieties that fed innumerable people in Central America and Asia

Rosalind Franklin: a biophysicist who created images of DNA that helped others map out its molecular structure

Mother Jones: labor organizer

Lewis Hine: photojournalist whose work helped push child labor reform

Le Corbusier: innovative architect

William Levitt: developed affordable houses

[Charles Wagner · Rating 3 out of 5]

Current celebrities of history

I bought the damn thing on December 23, 2019. It is the paper version available at checkouts everywhere until 3/13/2020 for $14.95 + 7% for Governor Holcomb.

This is a selection unlike yours or mine... Where is Ayn Rand who has risen from the dead and is sleeping with Jesus Christ? Where is Rush Limbaugh? Where is Milton Friedman?

The editor says that history is fluid. It evolves. It is also forgetful, clear as mud, and twice as obfuscated. The good deeds of a changer can be wiped out by a single Republican Senate, or, abruptly changed by those who control religious media or text books.

Ask yourself why Oprah Winfrey is on the cover, or how soon the Beatles will be forgotten. How about Muhammad Ali who got his brain destroyed for viewers’ amusement? This publication also includes fictional beings.

It is easy to argue, of course that the deeds done were either good or bad, but of major significance. People you love or hate are given a half page or full page as Life is so inclined... Ali got two pages and the full back cover in color.

Many of those included were involved in mass deaths, a couple even more so than Hitler or Stalin.

Nobody changes the world forever. In this long history of this planet, most events are soon forgetten.

Oh, well. This publication offers the opportunity to further research inclusions and consider who you would have included or deleted.

[Helen · Rating 3 out of 5]

It was nice, and I appreciate the information about the Beatles. It was very disappointing that Michael Jackson was not included! Michael Jackson has been noted for changing how Music was Marketed forever with Thriller. He opened the door for other black artist with Billie Jean something that was not easy to do. With his dancing and story lines in his short films he changed how music was viewed. Even today he is still one the highest earning Dead celebrity. Halloween has become an international event to celebrate MJ dancing in Thriller, people all over the world Dance this every year. No artist has topped his number of number 1 hits on a album, but he is the maker artist strive to do better than. He gave more money to charity than any artist and his music is filled with verses about ending War, wanting peace. Nothing anyone says about MJ can take this accomplishments away. He also has never been found guilty of anything.

[Mr. Kovach · Rating 3 out of 5]

An enjoyable book with interesting pictures and brief bios of 100 important people. I love lists, history, and pictures, so I knew I'd enjoy this read. Two issues I have with it, though, are 1) the annoyingly folksie writing style and 2) the constantly interspersed apologies and hedges about who they chose to be on the list (including numerous references to Time having chosen this or that person as well, so THERE). Kind of dopey but a fun and
informative read.

[Roos · Rating 3 out of 5]

Ik vond het een leuk boek om tussendoor te lezen. De categorieën maakten het overzichtelijk. Er komen veel diverse personen aan bod, vaak met schitterende foto’s. Daarnaast zijn de teksten informatief, maar niet te droog. Vaak staan er ook leuke weetjes tussen. Een grappig, informatief boek voor tussendoor!

Mijn volledige recensie vind je op:
http://sterrenboek.wordpress.com/2015...

[Chelsea · Rating 3 out of 5]

Book 12/50.

Mom threw it out before I could finish it :( I still consider it completed. It was 'ight.

[nobume san · Rating 2 out of 5]

It was Alright, the book was very concise and intrigued me to read more about the people included that I haven't heard of. There were things that I disliked and I don't have much energy to point them all out but one of the things that disappointed me was how they didn't include other people whom I though should've been included. Like Chuck Berry, He's the father of rock n roll and pretty much paved way for modern music/rock music. Another one was Michael Jackson, dude if there is anybody in the world more worthy of this title it's Michael Jackson, Not only was he an outstanding artists, he was also a philanthropist. This man changed music forever.

I have other things I'd like to say but I shouldn't voice it for now, overall it was okay.

[Abbas Mehrabian · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book lists 100 of the most influential people on the West and explains their life and the reason for their importance in some 500 words. It has excellent photographs, as you would expect from a LIFE book, and I liked the collection, especially the selected cultural icons, people like Mary Wollstonecraft, P. T. Barnum, Mother Jones, Lewis Hine, Margaret Sanger, Igor Stravinsky, Martha Graham, Benjamin Spock, Dr. Seuss, Rachel Carson, whom I didn’t know about before reading this book. The main lesson learned was that you can change the world if your work is excellent, regardless of your specific profession.

[Rowan]

Dear Sir/Ma’am. Greetings!it is for your kind information that I have read the Life magazine it’s very impressive ,on the other side I have shocked that Dr. B.R. Ambedker The Hero of human Rights,his name and struggle is not a part of your magazine, whole world has known his participation . It is therefore requested to analyze my feedback . With regards. Rowan.

[Joseph Dinas · Rating 4 out of 5]

Definitely would say this book is worth reading. It has a wealth of little bios on lost of people who changed the world in many great and very bad ways. Some of the entries arent great but most of them are helpful. I learned a lot from almost every entry. Also helpful for my overall education on humanity in general.

[Leew49 · Rating 2 out of 5]

This special LIFE issue is a politically correct and Western-oriented view of history. To be fair, LIFE doesn't make the claim that its choices are the 100 people who MOST changed the world. But some of their choices are questionable.

[Nattapan · Rating 4 out of 5]

An interesting book with a concise biography for each one.
It is good to have a chance to learn more about people (someone I have never heard of) who had significant impacts to the world.

[Emilyf11]

very interesting read

[Kamal Kabir · Rating 5 out of 5]

Amazing

[Elizabeth Dorfman · Rating 2 out of 5]

Badly boringly written in my opinion. But inspiring i guess.

[Farahin Nadh · Rating 4 out of 5]

as a non-english speaker, for me, this is quite hard to understand book. it is not direct profile, name, birth, contribution etc. but it is very informative, that i could tell you. just be patient and try to read it slowly page by page and thought about what these 100 people significantly changed the world. that's what i do till the last page.

[Charissa Ty · Rating 4 out of 5]

This mag should spend less time justifying themselves. Nevertheless, that's history in tiny little bite sized pieces. Easily digestible, and I seem to be going online to acquire further knowledge on these figures. It provides just enough information to fuel my need and appetite to know more about them. Great. Now I'm hungry.

[Ago · Rating 4 out of 5]

Interesting vignettes.

[Bianca]

Very good