The Joy of Lists, eh? Entering the millennium listmaking fray (prematurely, as Stephen Jay Gould might point out), A&E presents 100 people for 1000 years, in this rapid-fire Biography-lite series comprised of 1-4 minute mediabites. Featuring input and commentary from editors at Time, Newsweek, and U.S. News & World Report, as well as various scientists, political leaders, and entertainers, the 4-volume compilation (from 100 to 1) is a combination of shrewd choices (even though it is more symbolic than anything else, the top slot going to Johann Gutenberg, father of the printing press, seemed very fitting to me) and notable omissions (not one single sports figure made the cut, although Princess Di weighed in at number 73, placing her well above--to cite a few memorable authors--Geoffrey Chaucer, John Milton, and Emily Brontë, none of whom appear on the list at all). In addition, the pairings of "experts" and honorees is, occasionally, downright weird: Norman Schwarzkopf on Isaac Newton? Newt Gingrich on Christopher Columbus? Robin Williams on William Shakespeare ? (At least Williams has the excuse of being characteristically hilarious--not so Norm and Newt.) Finally, libraries would have to create labels for the boxes listing the actual people covered on each tape for this set to have any reference value whatsoever. With individual Biography episodes now reduced to $14.95, we would recommend investing in the full-length biographies of these chosen 100 over this meager boxed set. Optional. Aud: J, H, C, P. (R. Pitman)
Biography of the Millennium
(1999) 4 videocassettes, approx. 50 min. each. $39.95. A&E Home Video. PPR. Color cover. ISBN: 0-7670-2215-7. Vol. 15, Issue 2
Biography of the Millennium
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