Book excerpt: Who are the pivotal figures in American history--the men and women who have helped shape who we are as a people and how we look at ourselves as Americans? Historian Axelrod suggests we can answer this question only after we look with an open mind into all the areas of our collective past. This book highlights the famous as well as the infamous, the virtuous as well as the notorious, from the nation's earliest days to the present. Serving up history in lively, accessible bits, the book presents a who's who of American politics, arts, science, business, religion, and pop culture, along with concise explanations of each figure's historical significance.--From publisher description.