The Book of Lists

By david-wallace-amy-wallace-irving-wallechinsky

No Synopsis Available.

• Format: Mass Market Paperback
• ISBN: 0553124005
• ISBN13: 9780553124002
• Release Date: January 1979
• Publisher: Bantam Books
• Weight: 0.65 lbs.

Customer Reviews

A TRIVIA BUFF'S DELIGHT

How can one not love a book that probably has more trivia per page than almost any book written? And, what bettewr way to review a book of lists than to make a list of some of my favorite lists? So, here's my list of 6 of my favorite lists from the hundreds of lists in __THE BOOK OF LISTS__. 1. 10 Words you can't pronounce correctly 2. The 15 most boring classics 3. 10 memorable books that never existed 4. 18 famous brains, and what they weighed 5. 15 famous events that happened in the bathtub 6. 10 people not to invite to dinner In order to give you a further insight into the book, I have listed below a few random facts that I found particularly interesting. African Elephants have gestation periods of 640 days while Opossums have only 13 day gestastion periods. (These are the two extremes from a long list of gestation periods.) A flock of crows is correctly known as a murder of crows. Well before 9/11, Iraq had received military aid from the U.S., Great Britain, China, and the U.S.S.R. Desi Arnaz worked as a bird cage cleaner before he became a bandleader, Gerald Ford was a male model before he entered politics, and Carol Burnett started her entertainment career as an usherette. As you can tell, there is enough information here to add a thrill a minute to a trivia buff's life.

A grand way *not* to waste your time... so enjoy!

"The Book Of Lists" never ceases to intrigue and fascinate me even when in truth I've been reading it so many times, and for quite long hours. Many faves include: "9 Stupid Thieves" (I laughed to tears at the story where, during the trial the defendant said to the witness who pointed at him as suspect, "I should have blown your ------- head off!... If I'd been the one that was there."), "Facts are stupid things" (slip-ups by politicians), "15 Strangest Stories" and little trivias like "things you didn't know had names"... oh, geez, there are loads to mention!! This is so entertaining, at times revealing and, very funny, utterly shocking ... absolutely educational and fun to read. Who knows, what have you read from the book might have any good use for you in your life.This is so much better than (reading) those run-of-the-mill best-selling romantic paps. Always a refreshing read.

Fun and educational too !

Really, even though its got a lot of mindless fluff in it (that's fun to read I'll have you know) it also has lists that are fascinating and important from a historical or geographical standpoint, such as thirty new names for old places (i.e. Ethiopia for Abyssinia.) Besides that, the other lists are interesting even if inconsequential (like "seven remarkable messages in a bottle.") And I bet you didn't know that Anne Boleyn, wife of Henry VIII, had three breasts! Just another amazing fact that one can find in this praiseworthy book to discuss on long car trips . This book seems to have the affliction of becoming ragged through overuse, as almost every reviewer it seems will soon have to buy a new one. I guess that's just a testament to its fortitude and quality.

Lifetime Reading!

I stole this book off of my father's bookshelf when I was 9 years old, and have pored through it over and over since then. It has so many different kinds of lists in it.. everything from magazine and celebrity compiled lists to obscenely obscure trivia, and of course, those morbidly fascinating ones! My husband and I make an occasional game of opening to random pages and seeing if we can guess what's on the lists. I've bragged about this book to friends more often than any other and I'm shopping for another copy now because my poor copy's about to fall apart. Beware buying this one.. it's a longtime addiction. ;)

don't miss it

this is quite possibly one of the coolest books ever written. i wasn't much into school as a kid, but always win at trivia games because of this book and the other's written by it's authors. it's filled to the brim with fun, interesting, and amazing facts. you won't wanna put this book down.