“People are attracted to lists because we live in an era of overstimulation, especially in terms of information,” says David Wallechinsky, a co-author of the fabulous Book of Lists, first published in 1977. “And lists help us in organizing what is otherwise overwhelming.”

I can’t agree more. Here are my favorite lists of stories:

When going to the wet market in Hong Kong, my mother and grandmothers would examine every vegetable bundle, cuts of meat, or eggs as if they are little gems. Cooking a family meal from the best ingredients is their way to express love. ❤️

Michelangelo sent his servant to shop at the market with the following grocery list. This list called for herring, tortellini, two fennel soups, four anchovies, and some wine, and he did a quick drawing for each item. According to this article, “because the servant he was sending to market was illiterate, Michelangelo illustrated the shopping lists.” While the modern-day version in Apple Notes app is not museum-worthy, history shows us a drawing is an effective way to communicate ideas no matter how mundane the ingredient is.