Friday, February 23, 2007

Six books that make the most of lists

According to Tara Ison's website, her new book, The List, is "[f]or anyone who has ever broken up with someone...a smart, sophisticated, and darkly comic novel about a dysfunctional couple who make a list of 10 things to do before they break up."

For The Week she named six favorite books that also make the most of lists.

One of her titles:
The Kama Sutra by Vatsayana

Sure, we all know the exhaustively gymnastic mix-and-match listings of Sexual Union found here (“Congress of the Cow”!). But don’t overlook the lists on how to choose friends and messengers, resolve “love quarrels,” the Arts & Sciences to be studied, and generally terrific (and still relevant) relationship advice.
Read about the other five titles.

John Sutherland, in his list of books about lists, intentionally omitted one title that Ison includes.