# The desert island problem **URL:** \ **Category:** In My Humble Opinion\ **Tags:** movies\ **Created:** [September 25, 2025, 2:41am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370 "2025-09-25T02:41:28Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 2
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 7:54am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/21 "2025-09-25T07:54:05Z")
You bring the movie and the music, and players will be provided. ---
**Author:** ![chappachula](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/d2c977/32.png) [@chappachula](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/chappachula)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 8:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/22 "2025-09-25T08:43:16Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Asimov’s autobiography. Asimov wrote a lot of interesting fiction and nonfiction about science. But it would never occur to me to read his biography..His personal life doesn’t seem so interesting. Am I wrong? ---
**Author:** ![Bear\_Nenno](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bear_nenno/32/3358_2.png) [@Bear\_Nenno](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Bear_Nenno)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 9:25am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/23 "2025-09-25T09:25:27Z")
Book: World-2023 ESN Publications and London Organisation of Skills Development Ltd All of the pages will be useful for fire making and restarting fires, signaling, wiping, making funnels, padding, insulation, filtering water, etc. I want the biggest book with the most pages. CD: I want a completely blank CD with no music on it. This way, it will be even more reflective. This will be useful for fire making, signaling, hygiene, etc. Movie: 110+ Wilderness Survival Tips: THE MOVIE ---
**Author:** ![thorny\_locust](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/thorny_locust/32/431_2.png) [@thorny\_locust](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/thorny_locust)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 12:13pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/24 "2025-09-25T12:13:49Z")
> [@Jophiel](#): > > I figure I’ll be absolutely sick of anything if it’s my only option for five years This. Whatever I brought, I’d never want to see it again by the time I got home. So probably a book and a video both about the plants and creatures living on the island, to help me in studying the place. That wouldn’t get old. I’m not sure there’s an equivalent in music. ---
**Author:** ![Crafter\_Man](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/crafter_man/32/458_2.png) [@Crafter\_Man](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Crafter_Man)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 12:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/25 "2025-09-25T12:38:41Z")
Book: [Atlas Shrugged](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Atlas_Shrugged) by Ayn Rand Record: [Not Available](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Not_Available) by The Residents Film: [Black Robe](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Black_Robe_(film)) ---
**Author:** ![scudsucker](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/scudsucker/32/14101_2.png) [@scudsucker](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/scudsucker)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 1:02pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/26 "2025-09-25T13:02:38Z")
Going out on a limb here, but I’d choose the Bible. King James Version, because… I am by no means a believer, but aside from being massively flawed and ahistoric, it is complicated and has huge internal inconsistencies. It would give me something to do while I rest from trapping and eating seagulls ---
**Author:** ![Frodo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/frodo/32/302_2.png) [@Frodo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Frodo)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 1:15pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/27 "2025-09-25T13:15:02Z")
Book: The Silmarillion. Movie: Star Wars (No, it’s not called “A new hope”) Music: AC/DC[Live At River Plate](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Live_at_River_Plate) (technically it’s a film but it shouldn’t be so hard to convert it to an audio only record) ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 1:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/28 "2025-09-25T13:16:32Z")
Oh, yes. ---
**Author:** ![Gyrate](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/gyrate/32/3588_2.png) [@Gyrate](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Gyrate)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 1:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/29 "2025-09-25T13:23:35Z")
I’m selecting on an entertainment basis and not a survivalist basis, for the purposes of the exercise here. Book: **The Count of Monte Cristo** by Alexander Dumas. It’s long, it’s complex, and Monte Cristo is itself a desert island of sorts. It might inspire me to go looking for hidden treasure. Movie: Probably **Singin’ In The Rain**. In addition to being my favorite film, it’s got a lot of excellent music and dancing to distract me. And who knows - maybe I could learn some of the dance numbers since I have nothing better to do. Music: Oof - this is a toughie because there’s no single artist or type of music I like to listen to predominantly. In a pinch I’ll go with **Dark Side of the Moon** as already suggested, although the Beethoven 9 is also tempting. ---
**Author:** ![msmith537](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/d9b06d/32.png) [@msmith537](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/msmith537)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 1:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/30 "2025-09-25T13:26:58Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Movie-_Xanadu._ Why _Xanadu_ out of curiosity? As I understand it, most people couldn’t sit through it once, let alone for 5 years. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 1:37pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/31 "2025-09-25T13:37:33Z")
You had to be there. Literally. I was a young guy just out of the U.S.A.F. and had just moved from Southern California to Bremerton, and this movie, when it premiered, was a swan song to everything 70’s related: polyester, roller disco, Art Deco, giant album cover artwork on billboards, pop art, choreography, and Hollywood’s last gasp as a tourist trap of note. It was a postcard from a 70’s that I had personally experienced and could never go back to. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 2:21pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/32 "2025-09-25T14:21:04Z")
> [@thorny\_locust](#): > > So probably a book and a video both about the plants and creatures living on the island, to help me in studying the place Not a bad choice. I know some people talked about survival type guides but I’m assuming that, if I’m being provided with a television, DVD player and stereo then my other basic needs are taken care of (food & drink already mentioned) and I don’t need to worry about using my book pages to bind my wounds or CD to start a campfire. However, a basic guide for funsies “Lemme try to find one of these lizards” might be useful and fill the days. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 2:44pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/33 "2025-09-25T14:44:10Z")
Except that no book or movie can be named because this is a hypothetical island. I am actually looking for specific books, CDs and movies. ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 2:52pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/34 "2025-09-25T14:52:37Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > this is a hypothetical island Meh, give a general location and I’m sure someone could scrounge up a “Field Guide to Fauna of the S. Pacific/Indonesia/Caribbean/etc” title. ---
**Author:** ![Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/elmer_j.fudd/32/1211_2.png) [@Elmer\_J.Fudd](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Elmer_J.Fudd)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 2:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/35 "2025-09-25T14:53:34Z")
> [@SenorBeef](#): > > I think this is more of a “pick your favorite pieces of entertainment that you could consume over and over” thread That was the spirit in which I made my choices. In reality, I would probably go with subject matter like first aid, food preparation, and porn. ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 2:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/36 "2025-09-25T14:57:22Z")
The only info I’m giving you is that it will be a desert island stocked with supplies. Please stop trying to find a “clever” workaround, and pick a _specific_ book, CD and movie. ---
**Author:** ![Cheesesteak](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cheesesteak/32/3694_2.png) [@Cheesesteak](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cheesesteak)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 2:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/37 "2025-09-25T14:59:10Z")
Book - Lord of the Rings Movie - The Godfather CD - Queen’s Greatest Hits [This one](https://www.amazon.com/Queen-Greatest-Hits-Fred/dp/B0CX6TPC71/ref=sr_1_1_sspa?crid=225OTQIL23P3G&dib=eyJ2IjoiMSJ9.tMuTlWTXgf72Ycc4HBTiqg4wyZlBoIp0ShJy6JdQ2KcO9INj65Dynx5PgKUYZYnVB17YurHdR_wyCR3vkCAhFG2UF8LyL3H6te7_-xKi86XGotb3Lb978uezCGJRY0Rrgf1o3stfhU-xZHjjVr82YMwRennjO81mfLto2Xk_Qf9bSO0fu8lDGK-z2GiflEKK70tvHpK3Vl_EtT5uv2SZ0Cb3ofgRopjst0TMrwp0TKs.0LBGI00biO9u9NUNopT7G6lfHZk6BUBb-e26tmL3GaA&dib_tag=se&keywords=queens+greatest+hits+cd&qid=1758812272&sprefix=queens+grea%252Caps%252C108&sr=8-1-spons&sp_csd=d2lkZ2V0TmFtZT1zcF9hdGY&psc=1) ---
**Author:** ![Jophiel](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/jophiel/32/66_2.png) [@Jophiel](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Jophiel)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 3:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/38 "2025-09-25T15:04:17Z")
> [@Czarcasm](#): > > Please stop trying to find a “clever” workaround, and pick a _specific_ book, CD and movie. I already did 😛 ---
**Author:** ![Czarcasm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/czarcasm/32/4050_2.png) [@Czarcasm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Czarcasm)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 3:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/39 "2025-09-25T15:06:16Z")
That was a response to your note, coupled with a general message to others going slightly vague with their answers. ---
**Author:** ![Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/j/ba9def/32.png) [@Just\_Asking\_Questions](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Just_Asking_Questions)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2025, 3:25pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370/40 "2025-09-25T15:25:41Z")
> [@chappachula](#): > > His personal life doesn’t seem so interesting. Am I wrong? From what little I’ve read, I fear if I found out the true Asimov, I might start to actively hate him. “Never meet your idols, kid.” Book: The Bible. tracking the inconsistencies would keep my mind occupied Movie: Cast Away CD: Relaxing ocean surf sounds [Previous page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370.md?page=1) [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/the-desert-island-problem/1023370.md?page=3)