# I laughed, I cried, I wept for the future of literacy **URL:** \ **Category:** Miscellaneous and Personal Stuff I Must Share\ **Created:** [June 13, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629 "2001-06-13T04:41:01Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 9\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Little\_Nemo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/little_nemo/32/3120_2.png) [@Little\_Nemo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Little_Nemo)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2001, 4:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629/1 "2001-06-13T04:41:01Z")
[Amazon.com](http://Amazon.com) now offers a feature where people can create and post lists on their site. Most lists have themes like “My favorite science fiction novels” or “A dozen movies with cool car chases” but some people get more ambitious. People like woodrow. After modestly giving his name as woodrow and describing his occupation as consultant, he then gives his list the theme [The Most Intelligent List On The Internet.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/C6PHRMMVL729/qid=992405920/sr=5-5/ref=lm_b_5/103-2122655-2225408). With a title like this, I felt I had to check it out. I expected awesome and ponderous classics of science, history, and philosophy. Instead I got… well, I wouldn’t want to steal woodrow’s thunder by naming his choices but I will give you this hint: Suzanne Somers made the cut. ---
**Author:** ![Fern\_Forest](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/71c47a/32.png) [@Fern\_Forest](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Fern_Forest)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2001, 7:27am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629/2 "2001-06-13T07:27:08Z")
2 comments leap out at me, “A pretty good mystery” and “Eh, well, maybe not.” Yes with conviiction like that, you know he’s really thought this list out! ---
**Author:** ![Cazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cazzle/32/75_2.png) [@Cazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cazzle)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2001, 11:46am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629/3 "2001-06-13T11:46:10Z")
I think woodrow has competition - check out this list by “T”, entitled Great Books. Either he has a wicked sense of humour, or he linked to the wrong books… [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/1ZFUDAOPPB7G1/ref=lm\_ol\_17/002-7180196-5190411](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/1ZFUDAOPPB7G1/ref=lm_ol_17/002-7180196-5190411) ---
**Author:** ![curwin](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f05b48/32.png) [@curwin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/curwin)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2001, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629/4 "2001-06-13T12:13:18Z")
Not that it matters much, but there is no domain “calc.edu”. ---
**Author:** ![foolsguinea](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/foolsguinea/32/14751_2.png) [@foolsguinea](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/foolsguinea)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2001, 1:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629/5 "2001-06-13T13:49:44Z")
This is a neat idea. I went and got an Amazon account just to make one of my very own. [Here.](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/3KI1UVIR9BPE4/002-1434591-9204840) ---
**Author:** ![ultrafilter](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/3d9bf3/32.png) [@ultrafilter](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ultrafilter)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2001, 2:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629/6 "2001-06-13T14:14:58Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by cazzle \* > \*\*I think woodrow has competition - check out this list by “T”, entitled Great Books. > > Either he has a wicked sense of humour, or he linked to the wrong books… > > [http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/1ZFUDAOPPB7G1/ref=lm\_ol\_17/002-7180196-5190411](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/1ZFUDAOPPB7G1/ref=lm_ol_17/002-7180196-5190411) > > \*\* Damn! That’s easily the funniest thing I’ve read in a long time. I hope he did it on purpose & will be treating us to more of the same in the future. ---
**Author:** ![panamajack](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/47e85d/32.png) [@panamajack](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/panamajack)\ **Post date:** [June 13, 2001, 5:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629/7 "2001-06-13T17:26:08Z")
I’m wondering if woodrow’s sense of humor is just a little too subtle. I found this list (which comes up on the side when you go to woodrow’s) a bit funnier : [Best Books of the Billenium](http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/tg/listmania/list-browse/-/PGVJG2WRDFAZ/ref=lm_ol_1/107-4944536-5474148) > [@](#): > > On “April 1865: the month that saved America” – Details the social upheaval caused by the transition from the Julian to the modern Fiscal calendar. The book’s Caesarian section is particularly gory. Also check out the themed list “John Adams : The Greatest American ever”, featuring all books about JA. ---
**Author:** ![Guinastasia](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/guinastasia/32/5751_2.png) [@Guinastasia](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Guinastasia)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 12:42am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629/8 "2001-06-14T00:42:29Z")
I have a list on there…about Royalty books. Yes, I know, my descriptions are somewhat cheesy. Look for Romanov books, and you’ll find my list… ---
**Author:** ![Freudian\_Slit](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/f/5daacb/32.png) [@Freudian\_Slit](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Freudian_Slit)\ **Post date:** [June 14, 2001, 1:13am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/i-laughed-i-cried-i-wept-for-the-future-of-literacy/68629/9 "2001-06-14T01:13:23Z")
But he put Death in Holy Orders on. That’s definitely a plus. Something in his favor- liking P.D. James. 😛