Voting Station

Clifton Hillegass

Please vote to return to collections.

Entrepreneur

The Resume

    (April 18, 1918-May 5, 2001)
    Born in Rising City, Nebraska
    Publisher of CliffsNotes

Why he might be annoying:

    He copied the idea from a Canadian study guide, Coles Notes.
    CliffsNotes have been banned from the campus bookstores of more than 30 universities.
    He said, 'A thorough appreciation of literature allows for no shortcuts,' which is pretty ironic given his business.

Why he might not be annoying:

    He started the business with $4,000 in 1958 and sold it 40 years later for $14 million.
    He always said his notes should be used as an aid and not as a substitute for actually reading the book.
    An AIA profile resembles a CliffsNotes biography.

Credit: C. Fishel


Featured in the following Annoying Collections:

Year In Review:

    For 2024, as of last weekly ranking, Out of 1 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2023, Out of 4 Votes: 0% Annoying
    In 2022, Out of 3 Votes: 33.33% Annoying
    In 2021, Out of 17 Votes: 64.71% Annoying
    In 2020, Out of 2 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2019, Out of 3 Votes: 66.67% Annoying
    In 2018, Out of 1 Votes: 100% Annoying
    In 2017, Out of 4 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2016, Out of 5 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2015, Out of 8 Votes: 62.50% Annoying
    In 2014, Out of 9 Votes: 44.44% Annoying
    In 2013, Out of 10 Votes: 40.0% Annoying
    In 2012, Out of 12 Votes: 50.0% Annoying
    In 2011, Out of 5 Votes: 60.0% Annoying
    In 2010, Out of 29 Votes: 48.28% Annoying
    In 2009, Out of 31 Votes: 54.84% Annoying
    In 2008, Out of 32 Votes: 43.75% Annoying
    In 2007, Out of 49 Votes: 59.18% Annoying