Each of the 100 books selected for inclusion have made significant impacts upon different aspects of our lives, including world religions, politics, sciences, arts and theater, and social awareness. Books from ancient times, such as Egyptian Book of the Dead, The Koran and The Republic by Plato are included. So are Common Sense by Thomas Paine, Cartaguena Manifesto by Simon Bolivar, and Uncle Tom's Cabin by Harriet Beecher Stowe. Some of the more contemporary books are: Ulysses by James Joyce, and Grapes of Wrath by John Steinbeck.
Miriam Raftery is a mother of two children and freelance writer. She is the author of Apollo's Fault (1996) for Leisure Books. She has also had over 2,000 nonfiction articles published in numerous historical articles in national and regional publications, including Writer's Digest, Woman's Day, and Arizona Highways. She is a former columnist for the San Diego Union-Tribune and editor of the Nutrition Business Journal. Ms. Raftery was the winner of "Best Historical Article" by the National Federation of Press Women and "Best News and Feature Articles" by the California Press Women.