USA Today: J.K. Rowling One of 25 Most Influential People

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USA Today: J.K. Rowling One of 25 Most Influential People

J.K. Rowling

Posted by: Sue

September 05, 2007, 10:49 PM

As the USA Today is marking 25 years of publication, the newspaper is releasing 25 lists to mark the occasion. The most recent list is of the 25 most influential people of the past 25 years, and includes J.K. Rowling. The Harry Potter author is included on this list of those who “changed our world, transformed technology, mapped the human body and affected the way we relate to one another.” Jo is ranked at number 20, with the paper noting:

The first Harry Potter book, completed in 1995 and initially rejected by several publishing houses, launched a seven-volume series that absorbed children and adults in complicated fantasies spanning thousands of pages.

Number one on the spot went to Microsoft chairman Bill Gates, followed by Ronald Reagan, 40th U.S. president, Oprah Winfrey, talk show host, and Francis Collins & J. Craig Venter, mappers of the human genome. As a reminder, back in April we told you the USA Today had released their list of most memorable books, with Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone being the number one book.

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11 Comments

Of course everyone here would disagree and say she deserves to be number one on the list but oh wel. ;) Hooray for Jo!

Posted by Maggie on September 05, 2007, 10:57 PM report to moderator

=] This makes me happy! ^^

Posted by Helena on September 05, 2007, 11:16 PM report to moderator

Well, congrats to JKR for landing a publicity shot, but in all seriousness this list is merely a ridiculous way to sell magazines. Lance Armstrong ranked higher than Gorbechev and Mandela?! Bono? And the listing of Homer Simpson instead of the guy who created him just highlights how silly this is. So many worthier, or at the very least understandable choices for such a list: Princess Diana, Steven Spielberg, Steve Jobs, George Lucas, QEII, Gary Larson (if you want to be silly and serious), Oliver Sacks, Martha Stewart and so on…

Posted by Verin on September 05, 2007, 11:23 PM report to moderator

JK has an astoundingly keen understanding of people. Much of her writing she says is based upon her personal experiences. Yet for such a reception for her work, she is genuinely gifted with a talent to influence extraordinary populations (a gift as rare as the invisibility cloak?). 60+ languages for D.H.? Great job!! Who knows? D.A. in Tianenman Square?

Posted by William on September 05, 2007, 11:30 PM report to moderator

Well this is quite a cool honor indeed. Well done Jo :)

Posted by Amy S on September 05, 2007, 11:41 PM report to moderator

wow congrats to Jo and yes most would agree she should be number 1 but she made it in the top 25

Posted by sheesh on September 05, 2007, 11:46 PM report to moderator

It’s great that Jo made the list of influential people, but did you miss the list of “25 books that leave a legacy”? Harry Potter and the Sorcerer’s Stone is #1!

Posted by Christy on September 06, 2007, 12:43 AM report to moderator

YESS!! This is perfect. I just wrote a college entrance essay based on a person who has influenced me. Who better to choose than Jo Rowling. I did want to choose Harry but my English teacher told me that I should pick an actual person. O well. Lol, good for her.

Posted by michael aka. jkrowlemy on September 06, 2007, 03:37 AM report to moderator

ofcourse she is! congratulations, Jo! i can’t thank you enough for bringing Harry and everybody and everything else to life! cheers!

Posted by joycemorrison on September 06, 2007, 04:37 AM report to moderator

She should be much higher up than that but oh well XD She’s done a lot more than present a talk show!

Posted by Becca on September 06, 2007, 08:10 AM report to moderator

CONGRATULATIONS JO!!! But you really deserve to be at number 1!!! If i hadn’t read the harry potter books i would still hate reading and think that it was boring! Jo has changed my life soooo much, and now i love harry potter and books!!!

Posted by masha on September 06, 2007, 09:08 PM report to moderator

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