The Book Of Lists

by Ian Messiter

Whether it's 'Five strange things from the sea', 'Seven deadly sins', 'Eight reasons for eating garlic' or 'Ten terrible tongue twisters' there's sure to be a list to intrigue, fascinate or amuse you.

Compiled by Ian Messiter, the well-known deviser of panel games and scriptwriter of radio and TV shows, the lists take a light-hearted look at the facts, foibles and futilities which surround us. The author's own researches into such diverse mysteries as 'haggis ingredients' or 'things dating couples argue about' are supplemented by special contributions from people in the worlds of entertainment, science and business.

So open up the book and be amazed and amused by snippets of information on subjects ranging from astrology to venomous snakes and from caves to cocktails.

Genres: Humor

192 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 1984

About the author

Ian Cassan Messiter was a BBC Radio producer and the creator of a number of panel games, including Just a Minute, and Many a Slip. He was also the Programme Associate on Family Fortunes. Messiter was born in Dudley, Worcestershire and educated at Sherborne School in Dorset. He acted as whistle blower on both One Minute Please and Just a Minute. He published his autobiography My Life and Other Games in 1990.

Apart from game shows, Messiter wrote several plays for the BBC, including Mr Drake's Duck, a comedy which was filmed in 1950 with Douglas Fairbanks Jnr as the star.

Reviews

[Dark-Draco · Rating 4 out of 5]

This isn't the sort of book you read from cover to cover, but something to dip in and out of for a few moments of entertainment. It includes a huge miss-match of lists - from 'Ways to be a Wally' to 'A list about Patrick Moore'. Some are funny, some interesting and some, to be honest, I couldn't be bothered with, but overall I thought it was a great little book.

Some of my favourite, completely random and odd lists are...
* 'Unsolicited mail found on my hall mat'
* 'Bob Monkhouse lists My Ten Worst Puns' - includes "Racial superiority is a pigment of your imagination"
* 'A list from astronomer Patrick Moore' - I actually learnt what some obscure space things were
* 'Phrase Origins' - I never new that POSH came from a boating term for rich passengers
* 'Ten Printed Items that made me laugh' - my favourite was "Once you have dealt with us you will recommend others"
* 'Drivers statements after an accident - a classic but a favourite "The man was all over the road. I had to swerve a number of times before I hit him."
* 'A curious list of things people have done for no apparent reason."