Customer Reviews

The Know-It-All's Guide to Life: How to Climb Mount Everest, Cure Hiccups, Live to 100, and Dozens of Other Practical, Unusual, or Just Plain Fantasti

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There seem to be a lot of these semi-bizarre "how-to" books being published these days. Maybe they're a spinoff of reality TV. Like most, this one is a mix of genuinely interesting information ("How to hire a contractor" is good, as is "How to conduct like Toscanini"), misguided or inadequately informed recommendations ("How to make great grilled chicken" is simply a recipe for beer can chicken, which isn't at all the same thing), and tongue-in-cheek throwaways. (Under "How to become a billionaire," you find J. Paul Getty's line: "Rise early. Work late. Strike oil." Droll, but not useful.) Some sections are much longer than others, and some rate a "DUH" -- the paragraph on "How to improve your public speaking," for instance, is simply a recommendation for Toastmasters International. And "How to ace an interview" assumes you're an executive (or new B-school grad) trying out for a standardized corporate position, with very little relevancy for those of us in civil service or academia, to say nothing of applicants at Microsoft. "How to train a basset hound" is obviously a humorous paean to the author's pet, drawings of whose mug are scattered throughout the book. But the essay I personally found most informative? "How to select a single malt scotch."

This is an excellent purchase if you are interested in social
details; such as, formal titles, losing weight and notable
public events. Would like to purchase an English title? Details
are described in the section on Burke's Title & Manorial Auctions.

A section describes how to measure your body masse with the BMI
factor (body mass index). The author describes how to lose weight by chewing more gum. There is a NASA site entitled
888-85 SPACE for viewing important launches and space events.
The book is perfect for a student project.

The author clearly did a great deal of research on a broad array of interesting topics. The trenchant and witty manner in which the book is written makes for a decidedly compelling read.

In addition to the standard reference sources, the author also includes many websites for those who wish to obtain additional information on the topics covered.

In sum, I recommend highly this book and hope that the author writes another of this genre. Bravo!

I just received this book as a gift, and it is great. More concise, more informative, and more amusing than any
"For Dummies" title--I highly recommend it. In a short space, the book covers a wide array of topics.

The author clearly has spent a lot time doing serious research for a less-than-serious book. This short reference guide would make a great gift.