The original, benchmark compendium of facts weirder than fiction, intriguing information, and must-talk-about trivia that has sold over eight million copies worldwide and spawned many imitators. For nearly three decades David Wallechinsky and Amy Wallace have been researching curious facts and unusual statistics and the incredible stories behind them. Now the most entertaining and informative of these have been brought together in a long-awaited, thoroughly up-to-date, and Americanized new edition, including brand-new lists and list makers. Contributors include: Oliver Stone; Jane Fonda; Sean Connery; Robert Duvall; Pedro Almodovar; Stephen King; John Waters; Wynton Marsalis; Quincy Jones; Arnold Palmer; Kareem Abdul-Jabbar; Isaac Stern; Ian Rankin; Alan Dershowitz; Margaret Atwood; Dave Eggers; Brian Eno; and Elmore Leonard.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
41 of 41 people found the following review helpful
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Ok, there are more than five reasons! I was eight years old when my older brother received the original "Book of Lists" (1977) as a Christmas gift. The book compiled lists of mostly useless trivia. My family members all had fun scanning the lists, but I was the most mesmerized. To an eight-year-old list freak, The Book of Lists was like manna. Reading about people who died unusual deaths or about the shortest celebrity marriages provided endless hours of entertainment. I've always loved lists and eagerly anticipated each successive edition of the "Book of Lists." More than a decade has passed since the last version - the rather ho-hum "90s Edition." Since that time, the internet (especially google) has made these types of lists somewhat irrelevant, as anybody with a laptop can successfully build their own lists of trivia. However, it's still great fun and provides a certain nostalgia factor for those of us who grew up with this series.
"The New Book of Lists" brings back two of the original authors - David Wallechinsky and Amy Wallace (the third author was now-deceased Irving Wallace). This edition combines a number of old favorites (9 Disparaging Sobriquets), updates others (the 2002 Olympic ice skating scandal is added to "10 Olympic Controversies"), and includes a number of brand new lists (Oliver Stone's 12 Best Political Films). The book is perfect for bedside, as it can be digested in small portions before you slip into arcania-sated slumber. Since the first 1997 edition, numerous other books have aped the Book of Lists, but none has ever approached this series. A real winner.
"The New Book of Lists" brings back two of the original authors - David Wallechinsky and Amy Wallace (the third author was now-deceased Irving Wallace). This edition combines a number of old favorites (9 Disparaging Sobriquets), updates others (the 2002 Olympic ice skating scandal is added to "10 Olympic Controversies"), and includes a number of brand new lists (Oliver Stone's 12 Best Political Films). The book is perfect for bedside, as it can be digested in small portions before you slip into arcania-sated slumber. Since the first 1997 edition, numerous other books have aped the Book of Lists, but none has ever approached this series. A real winner.
19 of 21 people found the following review helpful
By Todd Hawley
Format:Paperback
Back in the 1970s, I bought the Book of Lists and Book of Lists #2. I loved the countless of facts both arcane and informative and I along with my fellow college radio DJ's recited a few on air. I'd long since forgotten the joy and pleasure I derived from reading all of these lists. I was reminded of those long ago memories when I bought a copy of this book. The authors have once again done an excellent job in compiling numerous lists. With main topics like Movies, Music, the Arts, Animals, Sex, Love & Marriage, Work & Money, Crime, Politics, etc. you can spend hours reading through this book. It's the kind of book you can leaf through on a rainy night or on a lazy afternoon. Guilty pleasure it may be, or just fascinating the amount of trivia available, this book is lots of fun.
16 of 19 people found the following review helpful
By R. C Sheehy
Format:Paperback|Amazon Verified Purchase
Having read the entire Book of Lists/People's Almananc series since I was a kid I was eagerly anticipating this newest version. I have to admit to being dissapointed in what is at best a rehash of some of the prior lists.
I would estimate that somewhere between 40-60% of this book is nothing more then repeates from previous books. While the original content is as fascinating as ever all of the warmed over lists really hurt this books experience for me. Having read the books by the folks at Mental Floss and the Bathroom Readers it would seem that the torch is being passed to a new generation.
I would estimate that somewhere between 40-60% of this book is nothing more then repeates from previous books. While the original content is as fascinating as ever all of the warmed over lists really hurt this books experience for me. Having read the books by the folks at Mental Floss and the Bathroom Readers it would seem that the torch is being passed to a new generation.
Most Recent Customer Reviews
5.0 out of 5 stars
Perfect
This product was exactly what it was supposed to be. It arrived on the correct date as well! Thanks so much!
Published 2 months ago by Hailey
5.0 out of 5 stars
A Sequel Worth Reading
Like many of the other reviewers, I was first introduced to the original 'Book of Lists' as a teenager. Read more
Published 3 months ago by Micah Salafsky
5.0 out of 5 stars
Book of Lists
Great! I am a coach for our knowledge bowl team at our school. This is the type of book that will help us prepare for competitions.
Published 5 months ago by Brent
4.0 out of 5 stars
Fun to read
I found this book fun to read. It has a lot of different interesting and odd facts that are complied in lists. It is a book just to read for fun and entertainment.
Published 10 months ago by JDM
4.0 out of 5 stars
Interesting Book.
This is an interesting book. I had never read one of these before and was looking for something different. I keep it on my desk at work and look though it more as I have time. Read more
Published 18 months ago by JuggoPop
4.0 out of 5 stars
I've been a trivia buff ever since -
Blame it on my dad's old army buddy, Jim. He was one to always bring something a little unusual when he came to visit - like the time he brought a solar hot-dog cooker to test in... Read more
Published on January 20, 2011 by Elaina Graham
5.0 out of 5 stars
The New Book of List
This book was on the shelf of a hotel where I was staying and I began reading it. I couldn't put it down. As soon as I got home I ordered it from Amazon.com. Read more
Published on August 9, 2010 by George Preiss
4.0 out of 5 stars
almost as good as the original
This was a lovely book, but it doesn't measure up to the 70's version, which was written in very small print and seemed to have twice the information The New Book of Lists does. Read more
Published on January 24, 2010 by I. Delgado
5.0 out of 5 stars
Husband's favorite book
My husband saw this book at a car mechanic's waiting room and loved it. He asked for it as a gift at Christmas, and I ordered it for him. Read more
Published on January 21, 2010 by Stacey Triplett
2.0 out of 5 stars
Hardly the "new" Book of Lists
I'm not sure why they call this The New Book of Lists, because there's very little that's "new" about it. Read more
Published on September 9, 2009 by Jaclyn McKewan
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