The Book of Lists
Encyclopedia
The Book of Lists refers to any one of a series of books compiled by David Wallechinsky
, his father best selling author
Irving Wallace
and sister Amy Wallace.
Each book contains hundreds of lists (many accompanied by textual explanations) on unusual or esoteric topics, for example:
The first Book of Lists was published in 1977, a second volume came out in 1980 and the third appeared in 1983. Book of Lists for the 1990s was published in 1993; yet another volume, The New Book of Lists, was published in 2005. The first volume was initially controversial and banned in some libraries and parts of the United States
when it was published due to, among other things, a chapter that graphically described popular sexual positions and their pros and cons. The 2005 volume was essentially "new" in name only; it was made up primarily of reprinted and updated lists selected from the first three volumes, which have gone out of print.
Wallechinsky and Wallace were also responsible for editing The People's Almanac
, which covered similar ground, as well as The Book of Predictions
.
Other authors who have followed this basic format include:
In 2005, a Canadian
edition of The Book of Lists was published and credited to David Wallechinsky
, Amy Wallace, Ira Basen
and Jane Farrow
. The book contained a mixture of content from the original three volumes, mixed in with updated material, and material with a specifically Canadian focus.
David Wallechinsky
David Wallechinsky has worked as a commentator for NBC Olympic coverage and is the author of many Olympic reference books and other reference books. He is a Jewish-American. He is the author of The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics and The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics series...
, his father best selling author
Author
An author is broadly defined as "the person who originates or gives existence to anything" and that authorship determines responsibility for what is created. Narrowly defined, an author is the originator of any written work.-Legal significance:...
Irving Wallace
Irving Wallace
Irving Wallace was an American best-selling author and screenwriter. Wallace was known for his heavily researched novels, many with a sexual theme. One critic described him "as the most successful of all the many exponents of junk fiction perhaps because he took it all so seriously, not so say...
and sister Amy Wallace.
Each book contains hundreds of lists (many accompanied by textual explanations) on unusual or esoteric topics, for example:
- Famous people who died during sexual intercourseSexual intercourseSexual intercourse, also known as copulation or coitus, commonly refers to the act in which a male's penis enters a female's vagina for the purposes of sexual pleasure or reproduction. The entities may be of opposite sexes, or they may be hermaphroditic, as is the case with snails...
- The world's greatest libel suits
- People suspected of being Jack the RipperJack the Ripper"Jack the Ripper" is the best-known name given to an unidentified serial killer who was active in the largely impoverished areas in and around the Whitechapel district of London in 1888. The name originated in a letter, written by someone claiming to be the murderer, that was disseminated in the...
- Worst places to hitchhike
- People misquoted by Ronald ReaganRonald ReaganRonald Wilson Reagan was the 40th President of the United States , the 33rd Governor of California and, prior to that, a radio, film and television actor....
- Breeds of dogs which bite people the most, and the least
The first Book of Lists was published in 1977, a second volume came out in 1980 and the third appeared in 1983. Book of Lists for the 1990s was published in 1993; yet another volume, The New Book of Lists, was published in 2005. The first volume was initially controversial and banned in some libraries and parts of the United States
United States
The United States of America is a federal constitutional republic comprising fifty states and a federal district...
when it was published due to, among other things, a chapter that graphically described popular sexual positions and their pros and cons. The 2005 volume was essentially "new" in name only; it was made up primarily of reprinted and updated lists selected from the first three volumes, which have gone out of print.
Wallechinsky and Wallace were also responsible for editing The People's Almanac
The People's Almanac
The People's Almanac was a series of three books published in 1975, 1978 and 1981 by David Wallechinsky and his father Irving Wallace, the novelist responsible for co-authoring the series The Book of Lists. The format of the almanac departs from a conventional almanac and included many obscure...
, which covered similar ground, as well as The Book of Predictions
The Book of Predictions
The Book of Predictions was a book published in 1980 and written by David Wallechinsky, Amy Wallace, and Irving Wallace, the authors of The Book of Lists...
.
Other authors who have followed this basic format include:
- Russ KickRuss KickRuss Kick is an American editor and publisher. He is editor of the website The Memory Hole which published and archived U.S. government documents, including scientific studies and reports, civil rights-related reports, intelligence and covert action reports, consumer safety reports, and images...
, author of The Disinformation Book of Lists - Louis RukeyserLouis RukeyserLouis Richard "Lou" Rukeyser was an American financial journalist, columnist, and commentator, through print, radio, and television....
, author of Louis Rukeyser's Book Of Lists - Bernard Schwartz, author of A Book of Legal Lists
- Geoff Tibballs, author of the Best Book Of Lists Ever!
In 2005, a Canadian
Canada
Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...
edition of The Book of Lists was published and credited to David Wallechinsky
David Wallechinsky
David Wallechinsky has worked as a commentator for NBC Olympic coverage and is the author of many Olympic reference books and other reference books. He is a Jewish-American. He is the author of The Complete Book of the Summer Olympics and The Complete Book of the Winter Olympics series...
, Amy Wallace, Ira Basen
Ira Basen
Ira Basen is a Canadian radio producer, who has been associated with CBC Radio since 1984. He has been associated with the programs Sunday Morning, Quirks and Quarks, The Inside Track and This Morning, and has written for Saturday Night and The Globe and Mail.-Life:He graduated from Carleton...
and Jane Farrow
Jane Farrow
Jane Farrow is a Canadian author and broadcaster. Her written works include Wanted Words, Wanted Words 2, and the Canadian Book of Lists...
. The book contained a mixture of content from the original three volumes, mixed in with updated material, and material with a specifically Canadian focus.