It’s hard to explain the  List Central concept sometimes.

It usually goes something like this:

Me: “List Central is an online community for people who love lists.”

Random person: “Oooooooh, ok. That sounds neat.”

But even though the response is usually positive, there is a subtle look of confusion that follows. I know the idea of a social networking site dedicated to lists can be puzzling. I mean, why would you spend time on a website that is all about lists? For us the answer is obvious – lists are cool. We love lists because they offer so much in such a simple package.

With all the time we’ve spent working towards getting List Central off the ground, there is something really special that we have come to realize. We are not alone. People who love lists are everywhere, not just online, and they are passionate about lists for more than their ability to organize ideas.

To demonstrate the value of lists in our society, I want to share a few books that offer an in-depth look at lists and their role in documenting and categorizing our cultural and personal experience.  Think of it as recommended reading for the list hobbyist.

1. The Book of Lists – David Wallechinsky, Amy Wallace, Ira Basen & Jane Farrow

We were actually surprised to find this on our bookshelf. Neither Marilyn  nor I remember owning it. We’re not sure where it came from. But it’s filled with a wealth of random facts and trivia.

A few lists featured in the book:

• The 10 Men Who Conquered the Most Area
• 11 Unusual Lawsuits
• 16 Memorable Kisses
• 13 Famous People Who Went Bankrupt

I don’t want to give anything away, but yeah – Hammer is on that list.

2. The Infinity of Lists: An Illustrated Essay – Umberto Eco

Author and philosopher Umberto Eco provides a more in-depth analysis of lists. Eco examines the role list-building plays in Western culture. He talks about the human obsession with cataloging and categorizing throughout history, from lists of saints to collections of art. He also mentions that lists have the power to be “poetics of catalogs.”

And you thought your grocery list was just a list.

3. To Do List – From Buying Milk to Finding a Soul Mate, What Our Lists Reveal About Us – Sasha Cagen

Speaking of meaningful grocery lists, Sasha Cagen believes that scanning someone’s to-do list will allow you to delve deep into their psyche.

Building on her popular blog theme, Cogen compiled over 5,000 to-do lists from voluntary participants to find that each list offers clues about the list-builders personality. For example, list items like, “call cat psychic” or “think about prostitution” give us a  good sense of that individual’s identity.

4. List Yourself: Listmaking as the Way to Self-Discovery - Ilene Segalove & Bob Paul Velick

If we can learn so much about a stranger by reading their lists, imagine what we could learn about ourselves. This is the idea behind List Yourself. The author offers pages of list headings to be filled in by the reader. The idea being that adding lists items will act as an exercise in introspection and self-discovery.

What would you write if someone asked you to fill in a list with the heading “List all the qualities you love about being human”? What about “List the activities you’d do if you weren’t afraid”? What would that list look like?

So there it is. A list of books that delve deeper into the world of list fanatics and the cultural relevance of the lists they build. And sure, it may still be tough explaining the concept of a social networking site dedicated to lists. But at least I know I have some books to refer to for inspiration.

We are launching the Beta release of List Central today. The morning has been filled with nerves and adrenaline (not to mention a ton of coffee). So as we scramble to get the last details in order, it seems appropriate to write a post to remind ourselves why we love lists.

The love of lists is obvious in the online world. The most interesting blog posts come in the form of a list. Amazon has listmania, and even Twitter is getting in on the list game.

So what is it about lists that grabs our attention? How can there be so much love for something so simple?

The only way to explain the list-love phenomenon is with – well – a great list! So here it is:

1. Clear and Concise

It’s really tough to read through a 1500 word, rambling article online. The best written content on the web is presented in small, easy to read bits. A good post is usually clear and to the point.

This is what makes lists ideal for the web. Lists break down complex theories or ideas into small, descriptive points.

2. Easy to read

Have you ever tried to read a big paragraph online? Even the most interesting post can lose a reader’s attention if it’s buried in a lot of text.

Lists are broken down into aesthetically pleasing tidbits. They break through all the clutter of an essay-style post and present information in a simple, comprehensive way.

3. Organized

A good list organizes ideas so that your message is easier to understand. As a writer, it also forces you to leave out anything unnecessary and get straight to the point.

4. Scannable

You can’t read an article by starting at the end and working your way to the beginning. But with a list, you can start at the end and work your way back, or go right to the middle.

Being able to scan a list is what makes it engaging. You know it’s possible to pick out the exact piece of information you’re looking for, without having to commit to reading everything.

This makes a good list like a buffet of information – you pick and choose only the tastiest morsels that are relevant to you.

5. Insight

There’s something special about sharing lists online. It’s not like writing a grocery list and handing it to your roommate.

Sharing lists online creates a community of like-minded individuals. It unifies people based on similar interests, opinions or values.

A top ten list of history’s best sports teams, is  likely to attract a completely different group of people than, say, a top ten list of fashion trends.

A list also gives you insight into the personality of the list builder. By reading someone’s list, you can get a sense of who they are and what they value.

6. Fun

We love lists because they’re fun! Lists are a creative from of self-expression. There are no rules, no limitations and definitely no lack of ideas. And that’s what makes them so fun.

The possibilities are endless.

This is why we love lists and why we’re dedicated to building an online community for list-lovers everywhere.

Do you love lists?