David PoguePogue's Basics: Life: Essential Tips and Shortcuts (That No One Bothers to Tell You) for Simplifying Your Day

As with any book of tips, David Pogue has something for everyone, but not everything for anyone. Fortunately, Pogue's dry humor can liven up the driest parts. The book is divided into the important parts of life: The Car, Travel, Food, Clothes, Out and About, House and Home, Animals, How to Clean Everything, Electronics, Your Body, Social Hacks, and Life Hack Lies. The last a myth bustingly entertaining chapter, shattering such illusions as bouncing batteries does not predict their charge and freezing candles does not extend their burn time.Pogue covers a wide range of topics from the pedestrian to the clever, but he is never pedantic. We learn that there is a better way to tie our shoes. Some of this secret knowledge is for young graduates others useful to the world weary of us.He says that book will contain "Common knowledge that is not as common as you think. "Alas, some tips are blindingly common. like: wash white and light colored clothes separately from dark. Fortunately, these are in the minority. Most tips are tremendously clever. For example, stretching cloth or mesh across a vacuum to find contact lens, jewelry or other small lost object. Or the secret indicator in a car's dash which shows which side the gas tank is on.Pogue's tips will help make life a little easier.

This compilations of tips is organized into chapters. They are 1. The car, 2. Travel (mostly tips for flying), 3. Food, 4. Clothes, 5. Out and About, 6. House and Home, 7. Animals, 8. How to Clean Everything, 9. Electronics, 10. Your body, 11. Social, and 12. Life Hack Lies. That last one is fun; it's tips that are passed around that don't work. For instance, tapping on a soda can before you open it does not keep it from spraying all over you. My favorite hacks were using a wooden spoon across the top of a pot to keep it from boiling over, and turning your iPad sideways if your polarized sunglasses are blocking you from viewing the contents of the screen. This book did not have as many tips that were useful to me as his other books of hacks, but it was fun to read--even the chapters that didn't apply to me, like the chapters on pets and air travel. I will definitely buy any future hack books he adds to this series.

David Pogue has the best reference books. I know, who reads or owns books any more but his books are keepers. They are rich with information about everyday things we miss. It's a tips and tricks book that I wish I had when I was younger. This edition has different tidbits that halfway through the book, you think someone missed telling you.My favorite is the gas gauge arrow indicating which side the gas cap is on. It has helped when I've had a rental and didn't know which side and when I got a new car.There are many tips and tricks that you'll use everyday. It's the missing manual for life essentials. It's one of my favorite books and one that I remember what's in it.

I bought this and POUGE'S BASICS: TECH at the same time. Both are packed full of useful tips and information on everyday questions and problems. I knew some of the stuff, but many items answer questions that may have frustrated you in the past.Some of the stuff is so simple when you see it that you wonder why you didn't already know that.This is not the kind of book that you can sit down and read cover to cover - when you are puzzled about something, go to the index at the back of the book and you may see your question listed. Otherwise, pick up the book when you have a few free minutes and browse - you'll be amazed at what you learn.

Much too outdated to be relevant. Information is from YEARS ago. I returned it.

I like Life Hacks.... If you don't, don't buy this book. But if you do, and you want to get reliable ones, you can't go wrong with anything from David Pogue (who is a great, no nonsense, accessible and funny writer). The value here isn't in the hacks so much as the reliability of the author. Oh he might not get it right EVERY time (though I haven't yet seen evidence of him ever being wrong). But he is genuinely trustworthy and humble so I am pretty confident in his willingness to mea culpa if he ever makes a mistake. And really, that gets him a red carpet into my circle of trust.

A bit disappointing, as many others have stated. So far, I have either known all of them, or the few I didn't know, didn't work for me. Mayo on heat rings my wood table? Didn't work. Turn peanut butter jar upside down so oil is the bottom and easier to stir? Nope, oil just flipped and was back on the top. Still have a few to read, but so far not that great. But hey, at 57 I have learned a bit in life, maybe better for a graduation gift or something?

What new college graduate wooden appreciate some of these life tricks? This is fun and easy to read, but would need a couple of updates for websites that are now shut down.

This is a book written by a nerd with helpful hints typically unknown to non-nerds. If you're a nerd, you'll feel like a know it all reading this book.

one of the must have books for ALL! the tips are pretty interesting (no doubt ull find them all on google!) - but hey the topics are very interesting!

Should be required reading for all adults! Great information about practical shortcuts to make life much easier in many ways. Also interesting and entertaining. A great gift for all seasons.

J’aime beaucoup David Pogue dont les conseils en termes d’applis sont très pertinents.En revanche, je suis très déçue par son livre, qui est très creux : je n’ai vraiment pas appris grand chose qui puisse m’être utile

everything I ALWAYS WANTED TOO KNOW