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Riverhead Books
375 Hudson St.
NY, NY 10014 |
Review
Top Five Lists: Nick Hornby's High Fidelity
by Erik Swedlund
By now, everyone should have read this book. It’s been out since 1995, so you’ve had ample time. If you haven’t, immediately step away from your computer and invest a few bucks in antiquated print media.
o this point, I’ll forgo a review of the book as a whole, and instead focus on the Top Five Lists. Rob, the protagonist of High Fidelity, is endlessly making lists, like the standard "top five films," to the non-standard "top five breakups." Besides being a thoroughly entertaining book, the inclusion of these lists reminds me of what a great thing lists are.
Making lists is fun. I think everyone should make lists--and not just grocery lists. List what shirts you wore for the last week. While out with friends, do your top five movies or top five books; argue about the differences between your lists. Some people like to make a list of their plans for the future, then store it away for a much later date. I don’t like that idea: lists are spontaneous and have a very short shelf life.
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Delight in the inadequacies
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From High
Fidelity
"My Five Dream Jobs"
- New Musical Express journalist, 1976-1979
- Producer, Atlantic Records, 1964-1971 (approx.)
- Any kind of musician (apart from classical or rap)
- Film director
- Architect
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Lists are so entertaining because they are at once both all-inclusive and a ridiculous simplification. When you make a list, you presume that what is on the list is exhaustive--a list contains everything relevant, and you didn’t forget anything--which is never true. Also, putting things in a list takes them out of context, simplifies them as simply under the heading "best books," or whatever. Although this makes list wholly inadequate, it also makes them fun. Delight in the inadequacies. Exploit them for the purpose of humor. Make lists like "my top five
parents." |
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We want lists.
Send us your most grossly oversimplified ways of looking at the world, and we’ll post them here. Email your "top five whatever" to topfive@toomanycolors.com
Readers
Respond
We asked, and you sent! Below are some readers' Top Five lists. Send yours in, too, and see them
here!
The top five clips on home video TV shows that reveal
television to be a vast mind-control conspiracy because the people
laugh SO hard at these clips:
by Michael Kreger
- Pants falling down
- Bat in the crotch
- Motorcycle spinout
- Kid acting like a moron in front of video camera because he doesn't think his parents will EVER watch it
- Pet used as a mop
Sorry, "Wedding ruined cause somebody tripped" didn't make
the cut!
Top Five Mullet Names
by Jeff Swedlund
- The Shag
- The Mudflap
- The El Camino (somewhat redundant)
- The Neck Beard
- Business Up Front, Party Backstage!
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