I remember reading an article by John Deakin about checklists that made a lot of sense to me. The basis of it was that they should only include the "killer" items, those things that will kill you if you get them wrong.
The whole issue came back to me last week as I was renewing my instrument rating and adding a RNAV Approach endorsement to it at the same time. The company where I did this was very strong on using the checklist for the aircraft, a Baron BE-55. The checklist was straight from the handbook and involved several A5 pages of small type to get from pre-start to shut-down.
The detail contained in that checklist amused me when compared to the one contained in the Boeing 737 NG FCOM which in essence follows Mr Deakin's dictum of only having the killer items. It is set out below, with apologies for the formatting, and I think a perfect example of less is more:
PREFLIGHT
Oxygen Tested, 100%
NAVIGATION transfer
and DISPLAY switches NORMAL, AUTO
Window heat On
Pressurisation mode selector AUTO
Flight instruments Heading____, Altimeter____
Parking brake Set
Engine start levers CUTOFF
____________________________________________________________ __
BEFORE START
Flight deck door Closed and locked
Fuel _____KGS, PUMPS ON
Passenger signs On
Windows Locked
MCP V2____, HDG___, ALT___
Takeoff speeds V1____, VR____, V2____
CDU preflight Completed
Trim ___ UNITS, 0, 0
Taxi and takeoff briefing Completed
ANTI COLLISION light ON
BEFORE TAXI
Generators On
Probe Heat On
Anti-ice ___
Isolation valve AUTO
ENGINE START switches CONT
Recall Checked
Autobrake RTO
Engine start levers IDLE detent
Flight controls Checked
Ground equipment Clear
____________________________________________________________ __
BEFORE TAKEOFF
Flaps ___, Green light
____________________________________________________________ __
AFTER TAKEOFF
Engine Bleeds On
Packs AUTO
Landing gear UP and OFF
Flaps UP, no lights
DESCENT
Pressurisation LAND ALT___
Recall Checked
Autobrake ___
Landing data VREF___, Minimums___
Approach brief Completed
____________________________________________________________ __
APPROACH
Altimeters ___
____________________________________________________________ __
LANDING
ENGINE START switches CONT
Speedbrake Armed
Landing gear Down
Flaps ___, green light
SHUTDOWN
Fuel pumps Off
Probe heat Off
Hydraulic panel Set
Flaps Up
Parking brake ___
Engine start levers CUTOFF
Weather radar Off
____________________________________________________________ __
SECURE
IRSs Off
Emergency exit lights Off
Window heat Off
Packs Off