Best Of '90's: Well, Hello to '90s Humility

It's listmaking time again, and the compulsion not only sums up the year but also charts a new decade and a new mood

Reassuring things, lists. They affirm that the buzzing, blooming confusion of the universe can be reduced to a tidy vertical column. But wait, there's a better way to do this. Herewith the Top Four Reasons Why People Love Lists:

1. Lists are fun.

2. Lists are quick.

3. Lists help us remember things.

4. Lists give us something to argue about.

Lists have been around forever. Noah undoubtedly used one to check off the lucky couples on his boat. Moses went up a mountain and came down with one. Man is an inveterate listmaker. I list, therefore I am. To define...

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