The Madness of Chairman Mao:Much of the background material for this essay was derived from Harrison E. Salisbury's The New Emperors, Jonathan D. Spence's The Search for Modern China, and John K. Fairbank's China: A New History.

Hus, Luther and Gutenberg: James Burke's The Day the Universe Changed was my source for the idea that printing made the Protestant Reformation possible, although my focus and interpretation are substantially different. A History of the Modern World, by R.R. Palmer and Joel Colton, introduced me to much of the history contained in this section, such as the Albigensian Crusade and the Babylonian Captivity. Barbara W. Tuchman's The March of Folly suggested how the Renaissance popes' corruption contributed to the rise of reform movements. John Zizka and the Hussite Revolution, by Frederick Heymann, gave me some historical background regarding Hus and his followers, the title figure of the book in particular.

Barbarians at the Gate: Once again, A History of the Modern World provided valuable background information.

The Philosopher-Kings: Franklin's Autobiography provided background on his life and views; likewise, Margaret Thatcher's The Downing Street Years provided great insights into how Thatcher viewed her own years in power. I also benefited from I. Bernard Cohen's Benjamin Franklin: Scientist and Statesman, and Benjamin Franklin: A Profile, edited by Esmond Wright.

Arms and the Mind: Isaac Asimov first inspired me with the idea that technology played a powerful role in historical change. He also introduced me to the importance of Henry V's longbows at Agincourt.

The Persistent Misdirection: The Philadelphia Inquirer quote comes from June 9, 1996, page H-1.