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Henry Luce, the founder of this magazine, is to me a towering figure of this century because he understood these two strands: the value of a citizenry that shared a common ground of information, but also the individual empowerment that comes from new ways of disseminating ideas. That is one reason we wrestled (trying to ignore our own conflict of interest) with putting him on this list. Though he didn't get on in the end, his spirit permeates this issue and the entire TIME 100 series, which is guided by another of his principles: telling the history of our time through the people who make it.
The result has been a project that is more popular than we dared dream. Indeed, the issue you hold is the largest in TIME's 75-year history. The companion television show will air on CBS Wednesday, Dec. 2 (10 p.m. E.T.).
This success is largely due to all the ideas and opinions we've received from readers. We'd love to hear your thoughts about who should be on our final two lists covering the century's great Scientists & Thinkers and, then, the most influential Heroes & Inspirations. We're also beginning to debate who should be named the Person of the Century. So please write us, e-mail us or visit our website at time.com to offer your nominees.
Walter Isaacson, Managing Editor