The Man Who Made Lists

Love, Death, Madness, and the Creation of 'Roget's Thesaurus'

By: Joshua Kendall

Narrated by: Stephen Hoye

Peter Mark Roget - polymath, eccentric, and synonym aficionado - was a complicated man. He was an eminent scholar who absorbed himself in his work, yet he also possessed an allure that endeared him to his mentors and colleagues - not to mention a host of female admirers. But, most notably, Roget made lists.

From the age of eight, Roget kept these lists with the intention of ordering the chaotic world around him. After his father's death, his mother became overbearing and despondent. Soon, his sister also descended into mental illness. Despite these tragedies, Roget lived a colorful life full of unexpected twists and discoveries - including narrowly avoiding jail in Napoleon's France, assisting famed physician Thomas Beddoes by personally testing the effects of laughing gas, and inventing the slide rule.

Evocative and entertaining, The Man Who Made Lists lets listeners join Roget on his worldly adventures and emotional journeys. This rich narrative explores the power of words and the everlasting legacy of a rediscovered genius.

©2008 Joshua Kendall (P)2008 Tantor

Critic reviews

"Brisk and vivid." ( Los Angeles Times)

Fascinating character--clear narrative arc

Sometimes historical biographies can be a little difficult to follow if secondary characters and events aren't handled well, but this book was very well done in this regard.

Boring

Boring.
Adjective. Arousing no interest or curiosity.
Synonyms: drear, dreary, dry, dull, humdrum, irksome, monotonous, stuffy, tedious, tiresome, uninteresting, weariful, wearisome, weary, blah, colorless, displeasing, drag, dry, flat, humdrum, irksome, mundane, piercing, tedious, tiresome, tiring.

Disappointing. Seems to be the life of a relatively ordinary -- although odd -- individual who created a useful tool. Nothing special here.