AOL's Book Maven

This week I've been putting together a gallery based on 'The 101 Most Influential People Who Never Lived.' (There are just 10 figures in the gallery; click here for the full list.)

You may not agree with all of the characters included. In fact, I have a strong feeling that many of you will bridle at the inclusion of The Marlboro Man.

I'm glad about that. I'm a fervent non-smoker, and I applaud the fact that we no longer accept advertising icons passively.

However, before you flame me here in this blog or send me emails shaming me for the appearance of The Marlboro Man, please note two things: one, that red-shirted cowboy is number one on the book's list and two, he's on there not because the authors or I believe in cigarettes, but because of his pervasiveness as an influence in our culture.

I conducted an informal poll with ten other editors here at AOL to choose the top ten out of the 101 in the book. Each of us included The Marlboro Man. Only one of us is a smoker.

|  Add to del.icio.us |  digg this