The Experts' Guide to 100 Things Everyone Should Know How to Do [Paperback]

Samantha Ettus (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: September 22, 2009

"Utterly useful . . . its own cultural Rorschach." –New York Times

The simplest things are the hardest to master. This book provides unparalleled insights into how to accomplish your daily tasks better–more resourcefully, more effectively, and more efficiently–in a collection of brief, entertaining how-to essays by 100 of the world’s leading authorities. Topics include:

Interpersonal skills, such as how to listen by Larry King
Etiquette essentials, such as how to set a formal table by Peggy Post
Home pointers, such as how to paint a room by Bob Vila
Beauty basics, including how to apply lipstick by Bobbi Brown
Cooking tips, such as how to barbecue by Bobby Flay
Health hints, such as how to breathe by Bikram Choudhury
Athletic advice, including how to hit a tennis ball by Jennifer Capriati


"A brilliant package." –USA Weekend

"Packed with advice." –Newsweek

"The latest insights into how to do much of the day-to-day stuff better, more resourcefully, more effectively." –Family Circle

Editorial Reviews

From Publishers Weekly

When it comes to changing a tire, scrambling eggs, telling a joke or doing laundry, Ettus is no expert. (She’s just the president of a brand-management firm.) But for this guide, she tracked down people who are, and asked their advice on everyday tasks. So former White House social secretary Letitia Baldrige explains how to shake hands; make-up guru Bobbi Brown teaches how to apply lipstick; New York Times Company chairman Arthur Sulzberger Jr. gives tips on reading a newspaper; and three-time U.S. Open winner Jennifer Capriati instructs readers on hitting a tennis ball. For better or for worse, Ettus seems to have allowed each contributor to insert some personality into his or her offering. Accordingly, the explanation on how to make a bed, from Tracey R. Henderson, the Holiday Inn Select Executive Housekeeper of the Year 2003, ends with a hokey "Show someone else the job you’ve done so that they can pat you on the back," while the lesson on tying a bow tie, from Tucker Carlson, co-host of CNN’s Crossfire and an avid bow tie enthusiast, concludes, "Consider whether you really want to do this.... When you wear a bow tie, people will make assumptions about you." The result is a guide that’s alternately lighthearted and serious, a coffee-table book of the most practical sort. 30 line drawings.
Copyright © Reed Business Information, a division of Reed Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved. --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

From Booklist

Let's face it: most of us are never going to be in a position to get advice from Arthur Sulzberger, Bob Vila, Donald Trump, Larry King, Howie Mandel, and Suze Orman, now are we? That's why we need this book. These experts and 94 more show you how to read a newspaper (New York Times publisher Sulzberger), tell a joke (comedian Mandel), save money (financial guru Orman), and, well, pretty much anything else you can think of. Not sure how to tie your necktie? It's in here. Can't quite get the hang of just hanging out? Dr. Dean Ornish has some advice on relaxing. Some of the advice here is practical (making a bed, ironing a shirt, doing laundry), and some of it is of a more abstract nature (delivering bad news, making an educated guess, remembering names). The authors call the book "Cliff Notes to life," and that about sums it up. It's more fun than Cliff Notes, though. David Pitt
Copyright © American Library Association. All rights reserved --This text refers to the Hardcover edition.

See all Editorial Reviews

Product Details

• Paperback: 336 pages
• Publisher: Clarkson Potter (September 22, 2009)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0307587711
• ISBN-13: 978-0307587718
• Product Dimensions: 5.2 x 0.7 x 7.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 8 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #347,817 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Samantha Ettus launched the first-ever agency for personality-driven brands and created the bestselling "Experts' Guide" series of books. She currently writes "Personahood," a personal branding blog for Forbes. For three years, she wrote "Celebrity Assets" a syndicated personal branding column for Scripps Howard. She is a sought after speaker and appears regularly on national TV on the topic of personal branding. She was the co-founder and on-air host of ObsessedTV.com, a leading web video talk show. Email: [e-mail] Twitter: @samanthaettus