Show Me How: 500 Things You Should Know - Instructions for Life from the Everyday to the Exotic [Paperback]

Lauren Smith (Author), Derek Fagerstrom (Author)

Book Description

Release date: October 28, 2008

Show Me How is a revolutionary reimagining of the reference genre, one part how-to guide, one part graphic art showpiece, and one part pure inspiration. In a series of 500 nearly wordless, highly informative step-by-step procedurals, readers learn how to do hundreds of useful (and fascinating and important and sometimes downright bizarre) tasks, including: Perform CPR, dance the tango, pack a suitcase, win a bar bet, play the blues, make authentic sushi rolls, fight a shark . . . and 493 more essentials of modern life. Packed with useful hands-on reference material, Show Me How is a work of art that just happens to also be an indispensable real-life resource.

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Editorial Reviews

About the Author

Lauren Smith and Derek Fagerstrom are California-based editors, writers, designers, shop owners, and lovers of the unusual, the eclectic and, especially, the hand-crafted. They currently run The Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco's Mission District, selling (and falling in love with) everything from a make-it-yourself ukulele to a DIY bird-watching kit.

Product Details

• Paperback: 320 pages
• Publisher: Harper Design; First Edition edition (October 28, 2008)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 0061662577
• ISBN-13: 978-0061729621
• Product Dimensions: 8.9 x 9 x 1.1 inches
• Shipping Weight: 1 pounds (View shipping rates and policies)
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (149 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #20,472 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

More About the Author

Lauren Smith and Derek Fagerstrom are San Francisco based editors, writers, designers, shop owners, and lovers of the unusual, the eclectic and, especially, the hand-crafted. They currently run The Curiosity Shoppe in San Francisco's Mission District, selling (and falling in love with) everything from a make-it-yourself ukulele to a DIY bird-watching kit. They haven't yet found a subject they aren't interested in, making them the perfect partners for the Show Me How book and series. Prior to opening the Shoppe, Lauren and Derek lived busy, creative lives in New York where, among other things, they started what they called the Curiosity Guild-a group of friends who gathered regularly to teach each other how to do cool, quirky, or downright useful things.

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

34 of 34 people found the following review helpful

4.0 out of 5 stars So THAT'S how you drink from a boot... November 15, 2008

By Ben Rubenstein

Format:Paperback

Like many people of the so-called internet generation, I have a pretty short attention span. This is fine when I have hundreds of cable channels to choose from, and thousands of MP3s to shuffle through on my iPod. But it's really done a number on my ability to learn useful skills. That kind of thing usually requires putting in some serious time. But with this book, I can learn anything from how to install a dimmer switch to how to exfoliate properly, usually in just a few simple steps. Sure, a little more depth could be useful in some of these how-tos, and sometimes the instructions are a little obvious (if humorous), but overall the concept works pretty well. The awesome illustrations keep things from getting too dry; it's an attractive, entertaining package that makes you actually want to try to do some of this stuff. Especially "intrigue with a game of footsie." Now there's something I can commit to.

36 of 38 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars Show me Awesome November 4, 2008

By seamus

Format:Paperback

I was walking around my local (big box) bookstore and I asked a salesperson about what I should get for my 15 year old nephew. She did not hesitate at all and walked me over to her "new favorite book." She explained that once this book arrived the employees immediately stole a copy for the break room. I flipped through it and bought myself two copies, one for him and one for my coffee table. Flipping through this book there seemed to be a tip for everything. And, in four days I have already used it twice. Once to finally learn to hem a pair of jeans, and after seeing how easy there tip on dissecting a pomegranate looked I went out and got one... incredible! This book is full of great step by step instructions from the usefully to the absurd.

14 of 14 people found the following review helpful

5.0 out of 5 stars More hours of fun than any video game November 26, 2008

By Alex

Format:Paperback

I've had some difficulty connecting with my kids in the past. Unless it's X-Box this or Playstation that, they don't seem to have any interest in anything. We do things as a family, but I always feel like they look at family time as their way of paying rent. My youngest is 5 and obsessed with spys, and secret agent-type stuff. The weekend we got the book, he and I spent it making book safes and writing secret messages with "invisible ink." My daughter is 17 and (I don't know how I got so lucky) loves all things retro. I swear, she's the only one who isn't embarrassed of me when I talk about the '70s. We made some bowls for her room out of a couple records we picked up at a thrift store, and a disco ball from a CD she cut into pieces. I love being able to go into their rooms and see them NOT glued to one screen or another.