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101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die [Paperback]

Robert W. Harris (Author)
4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)


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Book Description

January 23, 2007
A witty, subversive guide that turns conventional "wisdom"" upside down!
 
Too many books tell us what to do to achieve happiness---unfortunately, often at great risk, expense, or effort. 101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die is not one of those books. It's a book for the rest of us.

Robert W. Harris says it's what we don't do that determines our happiness quotient. Using the exciting principle of "selective inaction," the author helps us adjust our thinking so we can make more satisfying decisions in everyday situations.

For example, do you think you'll feel complete if you try to run with the bulls? Don't do it! Do you feel compelled to drive around searching for the "best" parking spot? Don't do it! Are you sometimes tempted to confuse Randy Quaid with Dennis Quaid? Just don't do it!

Do you think that you should watch the colorized version of It's a Wonderful Life? Or ponder the lyrics to "Louie, Louie"? Or read War and Peace? Or push an elevator button more than twice? Think again! In many cases, you'll be better off not doing what "they" say you should do. Let 101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die be your guide to getting more out of life---simply by doing less.

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Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

Rather than put together a list of exciting things you'll never get around to doing, author Harris (When Good People Write Bad Sentences) presents a guide to navigating everyday choices that routinely lead either to "gratification or frustration." Beginning on a festive note, with "Don't watch the colorized version of It's a Wonderful Life," this slim gift book sticks a toe in every area of life, offering simple, sensible advice ranging from obvious ("Don't lock yourself out") to obscure ("Don't think of Paul Winchell as just a ventriloquist"-he's also "the original patent owner for the artificial heart"). Though jokes abound ("Don't confuse Randy Quaid with Dennis Quaid"), Harris proves a keen observer of modern man's most useless pursuits, including "Don't push an elevator button more than once," "Don't read War and Peace," and, naturally, "Don't make a list of 101 unusual things to do before you die." Obviously, some of Harris's suggestions are based on his personal tastes ("Don't make tuna salad with mayonnaise" suggests substituting Thousand Island dressing) and pet peeves ("Don't become a wine expert"), but the particularities of his list serve as great conversation starters, as much for what Harris includes as for what he misses.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

From the Inside Flap

A witty, subversive guide that turns conventional wisdom" upside down!

Too many books tell us what to do to achieve happiness&mdash-unfortunately, often at great risk, expense, or effort. 101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die is not one of those books. It’s a book for the rest of us.
Robert W. Harris says it’s what we don’t do that determines our happiness quotient. Using the exciting principle of selective inaction, the author helps us adjust our thinking so we can make more satisfying decisions in everyday situations.
For example, do you think you’ll feel complete if you try to run with the bulls? Don’t do it! Do you feel compelled to drive around searching for the best parking spot? Don’t do it! Are you sometimes tempted to confuse Randy Quaid with Dennis Quaid? Just don’t do it!
Do you think that you should watch the colorized version of It’s a Wonderful Life? Or ponder the lyrics to Louie, Louie? Or read War and Peace? Or push an elevator button more than twice? Think again! In many cases, you’ll be better off not doing what they say you should do. Let 101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die be your guide to getting more out of life&mdash-simply by doing less.


Product Details

  • Paperback: 192 pages
  • Publisher: St. Martin's Griffin; First Edition edition (January 23, 2007)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0312357583
  • ISBN-13: 978-0312357580
  • Product Dimensions: 8.1 x 5.5 x 0.8 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 4.8 ounces
  • Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #437,675 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

4 Reviews
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Average Customer Review
4.0 out of 5 stars (4 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A Perfect Distraction, June 7, 2008
This review is from: 101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die (Paperback)
The title of this quite funny book by Robert Harris is a knock-off of the varying successful: "101 things to do _____" series. I got the book from my daughter as a reward for helping her move and I read it on the airplane on the way home.

"101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die" is a list book with each idea standing alone on one or two pages. Harris's ideas are creative and his writing is very good. It is at various points clever, funny and thought provoking. In fact it is the kind of book I would write if I could write.

Exerpt: #93 Don't let the pessimists get you down: "History shows that things get better not worse over time." This could be the Maxim of the Week on my blog.

As a previous reviewer said this book will make a perfect gift. Buy it but read it first before you give it away.
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1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars Catchy title, good points inside, March 8, 2007
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This review is from: 101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die (Paperback)
Good casual read, no need to concentrate - just some useful information on things "not to do" we may never have given much thought to. Makes a wonderful gift!
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5.0 out of 5 stars Great Book Even Though It Doesn't Totally Live Up to Title, December 16, 2010
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This review is from: 101 Things NOT to Do Before You Die (Paperback)
This is one of the books that I pick up regularly to cheer me up and quite often refer to in conversation. It consists on a list of 101 Things Not to Do and a page or two explaining the rationale for each of them. The manner in which it does not live up to its title is that quite a few of the items are more positive advice framed in a negative manner. The cover gives an example of actual avoidance advice

Don't Run With The Bulls at Pamplona

On the other hand

Don't Risk Losing Personal Items

is really positive advice about the advantage of renting a safe deposit box

Don't Play Scrabble by The Conventional Rules

is an itneresting variant on one of my favorite games which minimizes the element of luck.

Regardless most of the book is hilarious with a dose of sound wisdom. I would say the funniest is

Don't Worry about The Inconsistencies on Gilligans Island

and the two most practical are

Don't accumulate non-funcitonal pens and

Don't hunt for the best parking space/

The only piece of advice I firmly disagree with is Don't read War and Peace. It really is worth the time.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
First Sentence:
Colorization-the process of adding color to black-and-white films-was invented by Wilson Markle and Brian Hunt in 1983. Read the first page
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Adam West, Gilligan's Island, Randy Quaid, Express Lane, Gambler's Fallacy, Los Angeles, Paul Winchell, The New York Times
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