A friend recently posted The Atlantic‘s 2006 list of the 100 most influential Americans. Not surprisingly, 5 of the top 10 Americans were presidents, with several more in the top 20, including Andrew Jackson (#18).
Lists like this are intended to generate conversation, and there were certainly some questionable placements, Ben Franklin at #6 being one of them. I also question Mary Baker Eddy making the list, given some of the other religious leaders who did not. On the other hand, I think we can all be glad that John F. Kennedy didn’t appear on the list.
If we were to make such a list today, what changes would you make? Where would President Obama appear on the list? Would Bill Gates move up? Can we all agree that Justin Bieber and Ariana Grande don’t belong?
Jacksonian America: Society, Personality, and Politics 
I only counted 10 women. I flipped through really fast but questioned some of the choices.