A result of the outcome of a survey presented to the librarians of The New York Public Library on the occasion of its centennial anniversary, this book takes readers on a thought-provoking tour of the last 100 years, through the medium of the printed word. From Ulysses to Mein Kampf, from Hisroshima to Goodnight, Moon, over 150 pivotal works are annotated, each introduced with a brief commentary illuminating the themes and issues the book addresses. 60 illustrations.