'To Do List' photo (c) 2008, °Florian - license: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/2.0/

Yes, you read the title of this post correctly — it’s posts and articles explaining why we like lists.

And, as a prolific list-maker (there are now 840 categorized “The Best…” lists), I thought this might be an interesting, useful, and fun post to publish.

You might also be interested in The Best Posts & Articles About Curation.

Here are my choices for The Bests Posts & Articles About Why We Like Lists:

The New York Times ran an essay on this very topic — titled “The Joy Of Lists”.” In it, Arthur Krystal writes:

“….there is something reassuring about a list, a precision and formality that makes us think we’ve got a handle on things. Isn’t every list in reality a ceremonial flourish against amnesia and chaos?”

The Lure Of Lists

10 Reasons Why We Love Making Lists is from NPR.

The Top 10 Reasons to Make (and Love) Top 10 Lists is from The New York Times Magazine.

Here’s what Umberto Eco has to say about lists.

“Our Longing For Lists”

Dean Shareski, though, doesn’t like lists. Here are his reasons why

The Hundred Best Lists of All Time is a great list from The New Yorker that also includes links to all of them. It can be serious and funny.

Here are their top five:

5. The Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders

4. The Ten Commandments

3. Craigslist

2. The Bill of Rights

1. The Periodic Table of Elements

10 amazing scientific facts about lists is from The Guardian.

10 Paragraphs About Lists You Need in Your Life Right Now is from The New Yorker.

A List of Reasons Why Our Brains Love Lists is from The New Yorker.

10 Reasons You Will Read This Medium Post is from…Medium.

Feedback is welcome!