The Wish List

by Barbara Ann Kipfer

The Wish List is a quirky little gift book that sounds an irresistible call to get out there and start living. In the same chunky format as the authorfs bestselling 14,000 Things to Be Happy About, The Wish List presents a compulsively readable list of unexpected goals. There are wishes large--retrace Odysseus' route around the Mediterranean--and wishes small--find a genuine arrowhead. There are artistic wishes--write a sonnet. Athletic wishes--learn to box. Practical wishes--master the rudiments of plumbing. Whimsical wishes--become a taster at Ben & Jerry's. And fantasy wishes--live in a Venetian palazzo. The Wish List is meant to plant seeds, jog us out of complacency, and articulate unspoken desires.

63,000 copies in print.

Genres: Nonfiction, Self Help, Inspirational, Reference

432 pages, Paperback

First published January 10, 1997

About the author

Dr. Barbara Ann Kipfer (born in 1954) is a lexicographer,as well as an archaeologist. She has written more than 60 books, including 14,000 Things to be Happy About (Workman), which has more than a million copies in print and has given rise to many Page-a-Day calendars. The 25th anniversary edition of the book was published in October 2014. She is the editor of Roget's International Thesaurus.

Kipfer is Chief Lexicographer of the company Temnos. She has worked for such companies as Google, Dictionary.com and Thesaurus.com, Answers.com, Ask Jeeves, Bellcore/Telcordia, Federated Media Publishing, General Electric Research, IBM Research, idealab, Knowledge Adventure, Textdigger, The Chicago Tribune, and WolframAlpha. Barbara holds a PhD and MPhil in Linguistics (University of Exeter), a PhD in Archaeology (Greenwich University), an MA and a PhD in Buddhist Studies (Akamai University), and a BS in Physical Education (Valparaiso University).

(from Wikipedia)

Reviews

[GoldenjoyBazyll · Rating 5 out of 5]

I got this book as a gift for my 40th birthday and ever since I have been opening it once a year and going through this list of almost impossible tasks that people might think of accomplishing and I check off what I have done. For instance.... visitng a medina in FEZ (been there/ done that).... shop at the 24 hour LL Bean in Freeport Maine at 3:00 AM (check)... Take the tram up the Saint Louis Gateway Arch ( but of course!)... watch the sun set over Machu Picchu (is there any where else to watch it?)... train the dog to play frisbee (Hate to sound like a proud prent BUT Let me....Bazyll is a pro!).... Know what I am not (if not now.....when?)....Be the subject of a love poem (Go figure! And... twice no less!)

BUT wait there is more...
Stand on the shore and roar back at the ocean as loud as I can (I've done stranger during a full moon!).... take a bubble bath in the middle of the day (ruber duckie- you are the one!)... own a golden retriever (well, truth is- he owns me!)... accept that pain and disappointment are a part of life (yes BUT I don't have to like it!)... be served hot, fresh croissants for breakfast in bed (gutta love th Paris life style!)

Need I say more???? Get the book and start chcking off your own list of magical moments! It's FUN!

[Ryn · Rating 4 out of 5]

I really love this little book! When I went through it the first time, I checked off -in red ink- the things I had accomplished already in life. Then I took little sticky flags and marked pages of things I hoped to do. A few years later, when I picked it up and focused on the numerous colored flag pages, I found that I had accomplished many of those too! Somehow I just felt so satisfied that my wishes came true!

I marked further ones and we'll see what happens!! I expect they'll happen!

[Adriane Devries · Rating 3 out of 5]

Written in 1997, Barbara Ann Kipfer’s The Wish List is a tool that uses creative prompts to assess one’s priorities for a life well-spent--with a few 1990’s throwbacks to liven up the experience. While we no longer need dream of a voice-activated VCR, the discerning reader can peruse the thousands of proposed wishes and check off those items that resonate with them, and, hopefully, take the necessary steps to make these things happen. It’s like a bucket list, although some of the wishes are pure fantasy, such as taking a cross-Atlantic flight without crying babies, or getting a haircut by a hair dresser who never says a word. Obviously, some outcomes we can’t control. For those we can, however, Kipfer’s suggestions trigger a longing to pursue the highs and lows of life, to experience the paths often left untrodden. Some prompts ignite a desire for more adventure: earn a living doing what you love, rock the boat, bite off more than you can chew; while other suggestions encourage more temperance: live within your means, ignore discouraging people, or the ultimate challenge, be polite to telemarketers. The memories we make watching comets and jumpstarting cars are worth the slight bit of planning and gumption fostered by reading a book like this. Sure, you probably won’t be able to invent teleportation or an invisibility cloak, but you certainly could travel with no destination. Or adopt a person in a nursing home. Or become a volunteer tutor. Or just play like you did when you were 8.

I appreciated the sporadic blank lines interspersed for the reader to jot down ideas as they come to mind. Some of mine are:

1. Get a role in a commercial
2. Climb Mt. Vodno
3. Build a false door in a library
4. Take a sailing vacation
5. Get an elaborate henna tattoo
6. Participate in a flash mob
7. See whales in nature
8. Hold my stupid tarantula
9. See the Aurora Borealis
10. Finish the book, The Wish List

See? Some of my dreams have already come true, and it can work for you, too! As you read, be sure to additionally make checkmarks beside items you have already experienced. These are wonderful reminders of your accomplishments and a call to thank God for this amazing privilege called life.

[Jalila · Rating 5 out of 5]

A very nice list, I found myself highlighting a lot in.
This booklet is full of wishes we once had, we never had or never even dreamt of having.
While I had to admit that winning a nobel prize would be rather improbable, I found many many things I knew I wanted to accomplish sooner or later.
These can be smaller things, but also bigger achievements I might have to get out of comfort zone for, travels or simple recipes.
In anyway this book is a reminder to us all, to never stop wishing. To always aim for more - in a good way. Not in a ungreatful way, but rather in setting your goals high.

Dream a lot, and most importantly dream big, is what this book taught me between its lines.

[Karen Elizabeth · Rating 2 out of 5]

dated and a bit repetitive in ideas, but served its purpose which was to prompt creating bucket list. not a bad starting point.

[kutingtin · Rating 5 out of 5]

felt like i’ve travelled the world with this one 🗺💛

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

cute little things you can do to enhance your lives and the opporunity to add your own ideas. some are funny, silly and inspiring.

[sarah · Rating 5 out of 5]

my favorite gift to give (along with a nice red pen)!

[K. McDevitt · Rating 3 out of 5]

This book is one long list of things to do. It was nice to be able to read through it and check off things I'd done as well as mark things I wanted to do. However, there are a lot of blank "fill it in yourself" lines that were unnecessary for me. There were a LOT Of things that can no longer be done (like be in the audience for The Tonight Show with David Letterman). There were a number of things that I had no interest in at all (like things to do with Newt Gingrich). There were some things that are pretty impossible (like time traveling back to see a specific historical event). There were some things that were incorrect (like visiting the place where Hamilton killed Burr when, in fact, it was Burr who killed Hamilton). And there were some repeats (learn to play the clarinet was there twice, getting wicker furniture was there twice).

But my favorite part of reading this book was that my friend read it before me, and I got to learn about things she did and wanted to do!

[Xainab · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book wasn't something I would pick up to read by choice. Initially, it started off really well, serving its purpose which was to prompt a bucket list. Although it successfully gave me the inspiration to have a list, it became repetitive and unrealistic. It may have been made that way to accommodate as many different ideas as possible, but it made my procrastinator self overwhelmed.

[Dianne Oliver · Rating 3 out of 5]

There are some ridiculous ideas I wish she had not wasted time on, such as going back in time, however, there were some good ideas and some that sparked my imagination. I stalk bucket lists, and this was fun to peruse.

[L S C · Rating 5 out of 5]

I return to this book often for inspiration on things and places and ideas on what I want to try in my life. Love it.

[Lisa · Rating 4 out of 5]

Funny book with sometimes funny wishes, and sometime the most impossible wishes. But who knows, maybe dreams come true?

[Relyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

I'm guessing at the read date, but I remember absolutely loving this book. When I picked it back up, I loved it again. I do love a good list.

[Beth · Rating 2 out of 5]

Overall, okay. Several repeats throughout the book. I wish this would be updated.

[Kerie Lynn Jelks (nee McAfee) · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not as good as her others

[Kim · Rating 3 out of 5]

Just recently unearthed my copy of the Wish List (purchased in 1999), and went through it again, knowing I had at least a few more things I could check off. Still a fun little book, but definitely now dated - so many references to doing things on the Internet that are just second nature today. Which I guess is a pretty cool thing too. And I had to grin at the item about learning to program a VCR.

Also got to review some of my own wishes that I added to the book's blank lines. Nice to see I have accomplished some of them - and still have room to work towards others.

Putting this away now - and looking forward to the day I happen upon it again.

[Cheryl · Rating 3 out of 5]

I selected this book because my friends and I do a list of 101 goals in 1001 days and I thought this would give me some ideas for the next round. I got some ideas, I got to feel pride about the things that I have accomplished, and I was reminded that realistic goals (learn to use chopsticks) are better than pie-in-the-sky drams (having dinner with Barbra Streisand).

I think I will pass it on to my friends to use.

[Suzy Marnell · Rating 5 out of 5]

I first found this book in college about 12 yrs ago. It's basically a huge list of things to do & it inspired a book I later made for myself that I call my "Lifelong To Do List". Some of the things in this Wish List book were things I know I would never do or even want to, so I made my own personalized list. :) Great book though.

[Emily · Rating 3 out of 5]

one of those i dip into every few years. hilarious to see what i used to wish & suddenly decide i wish - & what wishes i accidentally achieve without remembering i'd highlighted or written it into the book. i do love it — but if lots of these wishes are in reach, it is a book about heavy privilege too

[Erin · Rating 5 out of 5]

I've often carried this little book with me on tour - gives me new ideas of things "to do". And I had to buy when on the very first page I could check off "Rehearse a Chekhov play with Vanessa Redgrave" and years later realized I could check off "Kick with the Rockettes". Hee.

[Lillian · Rating 5 out of 5]

i read and re-read then read it again. i keep it by my bed and pick it up every six months or so. in doing so it reminds me to live and that i have lived.

[Heather · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fun checklist book - similar to "2,001 Things to Do Before You Die"

Makes a great gift.

[Summer · Rating 5 out of 5]

My blog was inspired by it. If you know me long enough, there is no way to NOT hear about this book... 'nough said. :) :)

[Brenda · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer got this book and has started a Wish List frenzy. Our family loves it and we all have one to check things off in.

[Steven Mahlburg · Rating 4 out of 5]

Kind of like a starter bucket list. I've already checked a few things off.

[Samantha · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some things are impossible, but it's fun to dream!

[Barb Bailey · Rating 4 out of 5]

My daugther gave me this book. She wants me to stay active . I must say it gives me lots of good ideas to add to my bucket list. Good book to start off the new years book list !

[Angie Mendoza · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book has opened multiple distant ions for myself and my best friend. We look through it and think something that relates to the topic and go out and do it!! On make it into a bucket list.

[Marilyn · Rating 5 out of 5]

Reading this book will assure that you will never be boring or lack for something to do ever again.