Can you name five military leaders who were -transgendered?
Twelve cases of involuntary human experimentation by the U.S. government?
How about the four porn novels written by famous authors, 11 books left out of the Bible and over 50 side effects of NutraSweet that have been reported to the FDA?
In 1977, David Wallechinsky, Irving Wallace and Amy Wallace published The Book of Lists, causing an immediate sensation. Not only did it lead to three direct sequels (in 1980, 1983 and 1993), it also created a new genre. Soon, shelves were lined with The First Original Unexpurgated Authentic Canadian Book of Lists (1978), The Book of Sports Lists (1979) and Meredith's Book of Bible Lists (1980), among many others. Using this popular, enduring format, Russ Kick's Disinformation Book of Lists delves into the murkier aspects of politics, current events, business, history, science, art and literature, sex, drugs, death and more. Despite such unusual subject matter, this book presents hard, substantiated facts with full references.
Among the lists presented:
Innocent People Freed from Prison Members of the Skull & Bones Secret Society at Yale Drugs Pulled Off the Market After They Killed Too Many People Legal Substances that Will Get You High Dead People Surrounding Bill Clinton Scenes that Were Cut from Movies Raunchy Songs that Were Never Released Military Officers, Government Officials, Astronauts, and Airline Personnel Who Say UFOs Are Real Words and Phrases No Longer Allowed in Textbooks
Facts And Information From Outside The Mainstream Russ Kick uses a format similar to the one Irving Wallace and family first popularized with the original "Book Of Lists" in the 1970's (which I was a big fan of as a kid). But Kick's book is different in that it offers lists from a countercultural perspective. Some examples are "82 Brands of Heroin," "7 CIA Plots to Kill Castro," and "23 Strange Genres of Porn Movie." If you have an interest in such topics than this book will probably be a fun and informative read. But those seeking more conventional knowledge should probably look elsewhere.
It's O.K., but not worth the money. This is a book of lists; there is no details behind anything, no extra information. Many of the chosen topics are very interesting and are great to share with friends (especially if your friends are semi-intelligent fifteen year olds, like mine).
But, the book is short and your jollys end quickly. Because of the lack of background material provided, it doesn't really help if you want to refrence it for an essay or project.
You could also easily research some of these things in about an hour, and it would all cost you signifacantly less than the $10-12 this book usually sells for.
Eye-catching, previously neglected information Russ Kick has a knack for eye-catching, previously neglected information. There are 36 Corporations That Ripped of the U.S. Government (led by HCA, ripping off America's Health Care System in spectacular fashion). Another: 36 Botched Executions, complete with gory details. How about: 19 Suicide Notes (Male, 74. "I married the wrong nag-nag-nag and I lost my life.") One of my favorites: The 9 US Companies Allowed to Manufacture Illegal Drugs (The Polaroid Corporation makes a powerful psychedelic amphetamine - who knew?)
The book is great taken a few lists at a time over a month or two.
Okay, but the Internet beats it ten years ago, this would have been a 4 star book, but you can sit down to Google and have all this and much more faster and in much greater depth. It's a good toilet tank book, but that's about it.
Strange things indeed! Russ Hicks provides an anarchistic (or at least non-maintsteam) view of the world in his alternative media Book of Lists.
Some of it is current, including commentary on the war in Iraq. From List 31, 23 Quotes Regarding the 2003 Invasion of Iraq: "Simply stated, there is no doubt that Saddam Hussein now has weapons of mass destruction." - Vice President Dick Cheney, August 26, 2002
Some of it is a spin on religeon. List 64 includes 87+ People Mormons have Baptized by Proxy, including Buddha, Albert Einstein and Joan of Arc.
Some of it is just strange, such as List 42, 9 Visitors Who Died at Disneyland. This includes examples like Mark Maples, the first, death, who was thrown from the Bobsled ride after unlocking the seat belt and standing up.
A lot of this leaves you scratching your head. The book is certainly a subversive assault on the mainstraim. No doubt it's not 100% true, but it's certainly worth the "Ahas", "Could it bes" and "No ways!" that it will generate.
Anything Goes Trivia
Megaton Man
Trevor
