The List of N Things

Paul Graham’s essay The List of N Things explains why the “7 Things…” format is popular—and what’s wrong with it.

Why Readers Prefer Lists

Structure is explicit, eliminating mental work
“Random access”—readers can skip sections without losing comprehension
Points are independent, making the format “fault tolerant”

Advantages for Writers

The format protects against incomplete thinking, allows quick scaffolding, and eliminates the risk of “running out of ideas” mid-argument.

The Critical Weakness

“There’s so little room for new thought.” Since writers determine the title first, discoveries during composition remain confined to predetermined categories. This constrains genuine intellectual exploration.

On Education

The five-paragraph essay is actually a disguised list of n things. Making this explicit would be more honest than obscuring the format with artificial transitions.

My Takeaway

The format’s accessibility represents both democratization and intellectual limitation. Recognize when you’re using constrained thinking structures.