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Rules of Thumb: A Life Manual
 
 
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Rules of Thumb: A Life Manual [Paperback]

Tom Parker (Author)
4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)

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Book Description

October 1, 2008
A mix of folk wisdom, common sense, shared experience, the advice of experts, and the kind of group think that's made websites like Wikipedia so vital, Rules of Thumb is the impulsive compendium of 1,000 general principles that apply to every facet of life. Collected by Tom Parker for over 25 years, these are rules that are practical, quirky, and as entertaining to read as they are relevant to the reader.

There's a rule of thumb for just about every subject imaginable— money, marriage, cooking, health, weather, cars, gardening, restaurants, travel. This is the priceless knowledge that's accumulated not from reading, but from living. Tempted by a string of pearls at a yard sale? Rub them against your teeth: The rule of thumb, as your grandmother might have told you, is that a genuine pearl will grate. Not sure how to choose a puppy? Pick one whose tail wags in sync with its walk—a sign of calmness. To win at blackjack, assume that any unseen card is an eight. And remember, a rule of thumb works four out of five times (including this one).

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Rules of Thumb: A Life Manual + The Order of Things: Hierarchies, Structures, and Pecking Orders + Smart Words: Vocabulary for the Erudite
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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Tom Parker is an author and illustrator who has written three volumes of Rules of Thumb, which The Wall Street Journal called a "brilliantly successful sample of our hidden intellectual resource." He is an IT specialist at Cornell University, a contributing writer for Make magazine, and a flight instructor. He lives in Ithaca, New York.

Product Details

  • Paperback: 409 pages
  • Publisher: Workman Publishing Company (October 1, 2008)
  • Language: English
  • ISBN-10: 0761150730
  • ISBN-13: 978-0761150732
  • Product Dimensions: 5.9 x 4 x 1.3 inches
  • Shipping Weight: 10.4 ounces (View shipping rates and policies)
  • Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (16 customer reviews)
  • Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #372,877 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Tom Parker is an author and illustrator who lives in Ithaca, N.Y., and works for Cornell University. He has written and illustrated Rules of Thumb volumes 1 and 2, In One Day, Never Trust a Calm Dog, and Le Livre du Bon Sens, a French translation which even he can't understand. Trained as a biologist (Earlham College) Parker spent fifteen years as the cover editor and a contributing writer for American Demographics Magazine. His writing and illustrations have appeared in text books, children's books and a long list of other publications including The Wall Street Journal, Audubon, National Wildlife, Glamour Magazine, and The Whole Earth Catalog/CoEvolutionQuarterly. Parker and his books have appeared on Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show, The Today Show and on the CBS Evening News. When he is not collecting rules of thumb, Parker is a flight instructor and flies a 1956 Cessna 180 bush plane. He is currently a contributing writer for MAKE Magazine.

 

Customer Reviews

16 Reviews
5 star:
 (8)
4 star:
 (6)
3 star:    (0)
2 star:
 (1)
1 star:
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Average Customer Review
4.2 out of 5 stars (16 customer reviews)
 
 
 
 
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews

9 of 9 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars Great Read!, December 31, 2003
By 
This review is from: Rules of Thumb (Paperback)
Tons of trivia ranging from useful to obscure. how many apples make a glass of apple juice? upon seeing a car crash, where should you aim your car to avoid it? how long, on average, does it take a person to paint a house? Interesting and fun(!) to read. Great if you're the kind of person who can't commit to reading straight through a book; you can pick up and put down this one...
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11 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars This is a REAL review--Read Me!, October 24, 2008
By 
Cheryl Russell (Beaufort, SC United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Rules of Thumb: A Life Manual (Paperback)
I don't know what it is with some of the so-called reviews of this book. They were written long before the book was even published. Amazon needs to get its act together and clean up the review process. For all of you potential readers out there, here is a REAL review of this book: Rules of Thumb is more than a book. It is a toolbox of shortcuts. There are a number of things I like about the book, starting with how it feels. It is small and fits in the palm of your hand. Set it on your kitchen counter, and it makes a great conversation starter when guests come over because no one can resist picking it up. It is fun because it is full of pictures. Use the index to find the rule you need. Best of all, Rules of Thumb compiles the advice of people who have learned from experience--so you don't have to. In this time of penny pinching, it will make a great stocking stuffer. I'm getting one for each member of my family.
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3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars A wonderfully entertaining book, February 27, 2007
This review is from: Rules of Thumb (Paperback)
No, this book is not a substitute for training in a profession or trade, so don't buy it with the expectation that it will unlock the secrets of the universe. HOWEVER, it is a very entertaining collection of anecdotal information, "guestimates" for a wide range of endeavors. It's a great book to read on a rainy day or while traveling. You'll be entertained, and learn a little bit, too. At the prices you can get this book used, it's a steal.
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Inside This Book (learn more)
Key Phrases - Capitalized Phrases (CAPs): (learn more)
Review Board, New Strategist Publications, James Macmillan, University of Florida, Bill Grierson, Ellen Parker, Explorers Ltd, Source Book
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Front Cover | First Pages | Index | Back Cover | Surprise Me!
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