Many non-fiction books contain practical information, but have you ever seen one that you can actually use? That is, one that you can cut, fold, and consult for luggage tags to bookmarks, zip codes to area codes, signs to table coasters, a chessboard (with pieces!) to a vision chart? Yes, it slices…it dices…it’s a new book by Melissa Heckscher called Use This Book! – The Only Book You’ll Ever Need.
This one-of-kind 209-page spiral-bound book features a plethora of handy reference material, helpful charts, and vital information that could even save your life. Here’s but a few of the instructive sundries:
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How to treat a venomous snake bite
How to treat a venomous snake bite•How to perform CPR
How to perform CPR•How to give the Heimlich Maneuver to a child
How to give the Heimlich Maneuver to a child•Three page poison plant guide
Three page poison plant guide•Commonly misspelled words
Commonly misspelled words•Skin cancer check sheet
Skin cancer check sheet•Weight chart
Weight chart•Muscular and skeletal systems charts
Muscular and skeletal systems charts•Approved words for Scrabble (such as four letter “J” words)
Approved words for Scrabble (such as four letter “J” words)•Useful foreign phrases in 8 languages
Useful foreign phrases in 8 languages•Travel pictograms (for when you don’t know the native language)
Travel pictograms (for when you don’t know the native language)•Currencies from around the world
Currencies from around the world•Metric conversion chart
Metric conversion chart•How to drive a stick shift
How to drive a stick shift•How to change a tire
How to change a tireAs if that’s not enough, Use This Book! is chock full of rulers, gadgets, tools, and form letters that can be assembled using just a pair of scissors! Are you thirsty? Go to page 193 and fold together a drinking cup. Do you want to learn how to type? Use the coded keyboard graphic on page 73 if no computer or typewriter is available. Did you just park in a spot where the meter is broken? Cut out one of the signs on page 27 to alert parking enforcement officials. Did you break down on the side of the road? Leave a “Went for Help” sign on your dashboard. Need a thank you note? One is only a scissor-cut away on page 87. Is it sweltering out today? Open to page 197 and build yourself a cooling fan. Forget your watch? Page 157 shows you how to make—and read—a sundial. Were you invited to an impromptu masquerade party? No need to fear…just turn to page 207 and cut out a dashing blue eye mask!
Some of the other fun things you’ll find in Use This Book! include:
•Form letters and certificates (including a Dear John letter and a generic job application)
Form letters and certificates (including a Dear John letter and a generic job application)•A solar eclipse viewing device
A solar eclipse viewing device•Fortune dice
Fortune dice•Palmistry chart
Palmistry chart•Zener cards to test your psychic skills
Zener cards to test your psychic skills•Tic Tac Toe Board
Tic Tac Toe Board•Paper airplane
Paper airplane•Time zone maps
Time zone maps•A cootie catcher
A cootie catcher•Dance steps (Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot, and Rumba)
Dance steps (Tango, Waltz, Foxtrot, and Rumba)•Acupressure chart
Acupressure chart•Yoga positions
Yoga positions•Phone message forms
Phone message forms•Classic cocktail recipes (Black Russian, Bloody Mary, Cosmopolitan, etc.)
Classic cocktail recipes (Black Russian, Bloody Mary, Cosmopolitan, etc.)•International dialing codes
International dialing codes•Fast food nutrition guide
Fast food nutrition guideThis delightful book is an essential companion for people of all ages. Think about it: how many books are at once Swiss-Army knife useful, amazingly entertaining, and highly informative? Use This Book! would make an especially great gift for those hard-to-buy-for friends and family members.
Now, if you’ll excuse me, I’m going to go make a picture frame out of the back cover of the book…
Content copyright © by Janet Boyer. All rights reserved. This review was written by Janet Boyer. If you wish to use this content in any manner, you need written permission.
