Why Things are & why Things Aren't

Why Things are & why Things Aren't

Author: Joel Achenbach

Publisher:

Published: 1996

Total Pages: 308

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

WHAT IS REALITY, ANYWAY? FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK. Washington Post columnist Joel Achenbach refuses to take "I don't know" for an answer. In Why Things Are, he gave you a world of answers in a nutshell. Well, once again it's time to get cracking. Just ask Achenbach, who's out to crack every mystery in the book. After all, why stop asking why when there's no end of questions left to be asked? * Why is the Oval Office oval? * Why is it so darn hard to lose weight? * Why did Napoleon keep his hand tucked in his vest? * Why is Muzak everywhere even though people claim they dislike "elevator music"? * Since we're mostly made of water, why don't we slosh around more? * Why are people so obsessed with talking, thinking, and hearing about sex? * Why is the interior of the Earth still hot after 4.6 billion years of letting off steam (and lava)? Why doesn't this thing ever cool off? Truly outrageous and outrageously true. That's the name of Joel Achenbach's game in this wildly original collection of questions and answers. If you have a taste for the unusual, here's a book that's just as fun as a box of assorted chocolates--but far less fattening.


Book Synopsis Why Things are & why Things Aren't by : Joel Achenbach

Download or read book Why Things are & why Things Aren't written by Joel Achenbach and published by . This book was released on 1996 with total page 308 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: WHAT IS REALITY, ANYWAY? FUNNY YOU SHOULD ASK. Washington Post columnist Joel Achenbach refuses to take "I don't know" for an answer. In Why Things Are, he gave you a world of answers in a nutshell. Well, once again it's time to get cracking. Just ask Achenbach, who's out to crack every mystery in the book. After all, why stop asking why when there's no end of questions left to be asked? * Why is the Oval Office oval? * Why is it so darn hard to lose weight? * Why did Napoleon keep his hand tucked in his vest? * Why is Muzak everywhere even though people claim they dislike "elevator music"? * Since we're mostly made of water, why don't we slosh around more? * Why are people so obsessed with talking, thinking, and hearing about sex? * Why is the interior of the Earth still hot after 4.6 billion years of letting off steam (and lava)? Why doesn't this thing ever cool off? Truly outrageous and outrageously true. That's the name of Joel Achenbach's game in this wildly original collection of questions and answers. If you have a taste for the unusual, here's a book that's just as fun as a box of assorted chocolates--but far less fattening.

Fewer, Better Things

Fewer, Better Things

Author: Glenn Adamson

Publisher: Bloomsbury Publishing USA

Published: 2018-08-07

Total Pages: 273

ISBN-13: 1632869640

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

From the former director of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, a timely and passionate case for the role of the well-designed object in the digital age. Curator and scholar Glenn Adamson opens Fewer, Better Things by contrasting his beloved childhood teddy bear to the smartphones and digital tablets children have today. He laments that many children and adults are losing touch with the material objects that have nurtured human development for thousands of years. The objects are still here, but we seem to care less and know less about them. In his presentations to groups, he often asks an audience member what he or she knows about the chair the person is sitting in. Few people know much more than whether it's made of wood, plastic, or metal. If we know little about how things are made, it's hard to remain connected to the world around us. Fewer, Better Things explores the history of craft in its many forms, explaining how raw materials, tools, design, and technique come together to produce beauty and utility in handmade or manufactured items. Whether describing the implements used in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, the use of woodworking tools, or the use of new fabrication technologies, Adamson writes expertly and lovingly about the aesthetics of objects, and the care and attention that goes into producing them. Reading this wise and elegant book is a truly transformative experience.


Book Synopsis Fewer, Better Things by : Glenn Adamson

Download or read book Fewer, Better Things written by Glenn Adamson and published by Bloomsbury Publishing USA. This book was released on 2018-08-07 with total page 273 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the former director of the Museum of Arts and Design in New York, a timely and passionate case for the role of the well-designed object in the digital age. Curator and scholar Glenn Adamson opens Fewer, Better Things by contrasting his beloved childhood teddy bear to the smartphones and digital tablets children have today. He laments that many children and adults are losing touch with the material objects that have nurtured human development for thousands of years. The objects are still here, but we seem to care less and know less about them. In his presentations to groups, he often asks an audience member what he or she knows about the chair the person is sitting in. Few people know much more than whether it's made of wood, plastic, or metal. If we know little about how things are made, it's hard to remain connected to the world around us. Fewer, Better Things explores the history of craft in its many forms, explaining how raw materials, tools, design, and technique come together to produce beauty and utility in handmade or manufactured items. Whether describing the implements used in a traditional Japanese tea ceremony, the use of woodworking tools, or the use of new fabrication technologies, Adamson writes expertly and lovingly about the aesthetics of objects, and the care and attention that goes into producing them. Reading this wise and elegant book is a truly transformative experience.

Risk

Risk

Author: Dan Gardner

Publisher: McClelland & Stewart

Published: 2009-02-24

Total Pages: 416

ISBN-13: 1551992108

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

In the tradition of Malcolm Gladwell, Gardner explores a new way of thinking about the decisions we make. We are the safest and healthiest human beings who ever lived, and yet irrational fear is growing, with deadly consequences — such as the 1,595 Americans killed when they made the mistake of switching from planes to cars after September 11. In part, this irrationality is caused by those — politicians, activists, and the media — who promote fear for their own gain. Culture also matters. But a more fundamental cause is human psychology. Working with risk science pioneer Paul Slovic, author Dan Gardner sets out to explain in a compulsively readable fashion just what that statement above means as to how we make decisions and run our lives. We learn that the brain has not one but two systems to analyze risk. One is primitive, unconscious, and intuitive. The other is conscious and rational. The two systems often agree, but occasionally they come to very different conclusions. When that happens, we can find ourselves worrying about what the statistics tell us is a trivial threat — terrorism, child abduction, cancer caused by chemical pollution — or shrugging off serious risks like obesity and smoking. Gladwell told us about “the black box” of our brains; Gardner takes us inside, helping us to understand how to deconstruct the information we’re bombarded with and respond more logically and adaptively to our world. Risk is cutting-edge reading.


Book Synopsis Risk by : Dan Gardner

Download or read book Risk written by Dan Gardner and published by McClelland & Stewart. This book was released on 2009-02-24 with total page 416 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: In the tradition of Malcolm Gladwell, Gardner explores a new way of thinking about the decisions we make. We are the safest and healthiest human beings who ever lived, and yet irrational fear is growing, with deadly consequences — such as the 1,595 Americans killed when they made the mistake of switching from planes to cars after September 11. In part, this irrationality is caused by those — politicians, activists, and the media — who promote fear for their own gain. Culture also matters. But a more fundamental cause is human psychology. Working with risk science pioneer Paul Slovic, author Dan Gardner sets out to explain in a compulsively readable fashion just what that statement above means as to how we make decisions and run our lives. We learn that the brain has not one but two systems to analyze risk. One is primitive, unconscious, and intuitive. The other is conscious and rational. The two systems often agree, but occasionally they come to very different conclusions. When that happens, we can find ourselves worrying about what the statistics tell us is a trivial threat — terrorism, child abduction, cancer caused by chemical pollution — or shrugging off serious risks like obesity and smoking. Gladwell told us about “the black box” of our brains; Gardner takes us inside, helping us to understand how to deconstruct the information we’re bombarded with and respond more logically and adaptively to our world. Risk is cutting-edge reading.

Why Things are

Why Things are

Author: Joel Achenbach

Publisher:

Published: 1991

Total Pages: 374

ISBN-13:

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

"Not only does Joel Achenbach ask some great questions, but he actually answers them--and with a rigor that puts him somewhere between Socrates and Miss Manners. Plus he's funnier than either of them.: Judy Jones and William Wilson Authors of AN INCOMPLETE EDUCATION From the dawn of time to yesterday's headlines, from baseball to the atom bomb, fromant farms to Peperidge Farm, syndicated columnist Joel Achenbach answers the perennial question, WHY? Why do foreign languages sound so fast? Wh do fools fall in love? Why don't people talk in elevators? And much more.


Book Synopsis Why Things are by : Joel Achenbach

Download or read book Why Things are written by Joel Achenbach and published by . This book was released on 1991 with total page 374 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: "Not only does Joel Achenbach ask some great questions, but he actually answers them--and with a rigor that puts him somewhere between Socrates and Miss Manners. Plus he's funnier than either of them.: Judy Jones and William Wilson Authors of AN INCOMPLETE EDUCATION From the dawn of time to yesterday's headlines, from baseball to the atom bomb, fromant farms to Peperidge Farm, syndicated columnist Joel Achenbach answers the perennial question, WHY? Why do foreign languages sound so fast? Wh do fools fall in love? Why don't people talk in elevators? And much more.

The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't

The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't

Author: John Fixx

Publisher: Walter Foster Jr

Published: 2016-11-07

Total Pages: 112

ISBN-13: 1633223469

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't teaches creative thinking through deductive reasoning, listening skills, and imagination. The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't features thoughtful riddles - one for each letter of the alphabet - paired with engaging illustrations that reveal and explain the answer. Each spread features a riddle with several clues about an intangible item, such as air, breath, and jokes. Kids then have to figure out the answers through detective work and a little creative reasoning. The clues on each page progress from challenging, more abstract clues to a simple, final clue that encourages the reader to turn the page to discover the answer. The book covers a broad range of themes, from science, language arts, social studies, math, music, and art. The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't teaches creative thinking through deductive reasoning, listening skills, and imagination.


Book Synopsis The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't by : John Fixx

Download or read book The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't written by John Fixx and published by Walter Foster Jr. This book was released on 2016-11-07 with total page 112 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't teaches creative thinking through deductive reasoning, listening skills, and imagination. The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't features thoughtful riddles - one for each letter of the alphabet - paired with engaging illustrations that reveal and explain the answer. Each spread features a riddle with several clues about an intangible item, such as air, breath, and jokes. Kids then have to figure out the answers through detective work and a little creative reasoning. The clues on each page progress from challenging, more abstract clues to a simple, final clue that encourages the reader to turn the page to discover the answer. The book covers a broad range of themes, from science, language arts, social studies, math, music, and art. The Curious Guide to Things That Aren't teaches creative thinking through deductive reasoning, listening skills, and imagination.

Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault

Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault

Author: Cathy Guisewite

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2020-04-14

Total Pages: 338

ISBN-13: 0735218439

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

From the creator of the iconic Cathy comic strip comes her first collection of funny, wise, poignant, and incredibly honest essays about being a woman in what she lovingly calls "the panini generation." As the creator of Cathy, Cathy Guisewite found her way into the hearts of readers more than forty years ago, and has been there ever since. Her hilarious and deeply relatable look at the challenges of womanhood in a changing world became a cultural touchstone for women everywhere. Now Guisewite returns with her signature wit and warmth in this essay collection about another time of big transition, when everything starts changing and disappearing without permission: aging parents, aging children, aging self stuck in the middle. With her uniquely wry and funny admissions and insights, Guisewite unearths the humor and horror of everything from the mundane (trying to introduce her parents to TiVo and facing four decades' worth of unorganized photos) to the profound (finding a purpose post-retirement, helping parents downsize their lives, and declaring freedom from all those things that hold us back). No longer confined to the limits of four cosmic panels, Guisewite holds out her hand in prose form and becomes a reassuring companion for those on the threshold of "what happens next." Heartfelt and humane and always cathartic, Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault is ideal reading for mothers, daughters, and anyone who is caught somewhere in between.


Book Synopsis Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault by : Cathy Guisewite

Download or read book Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault written by Cathy Guisewite and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2020-04-14 with total page 338 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the creator of the iconic Cathy comic strip comes her first collection of funny, wise, poignant, and incredibly honest essays about being a woman in what she lovingly calls "the panini generation." As the creator of Cathy, Cathy Guisewite found her way into the hearts of readers more than forty years ago, and has been there ever since. Her hilarious and deeply relatable look at the challenges of womanhood in a changing world became a cultural touchstone for women everywhere. Now Guisewite returns with her signature wit and warmth in this essay collection about another time of big transition, when everything starts changing and disappearing without permission: aging parents, aging children, aging self stuck in the middle. With her uniquely wry and funny admissions and insights, Guisewite unearths the humor and horror of everything from the mundane (trying to introduce her parents to TiVo and facing four decades' worth of unorganized photos) to the profound (finding a purpose post-retirement, helping parents downsize their lives, and declaring freedom from all those things that hold us back). No longer confined to the limits of four cosmic panels, Guisewite holds out her hand in prose form and becomes a reassuring companion for those on the threshold of "what happens next." Heartfelt and humane and always cathartic, Fifty Things That Aren't My Fault is ideal reading for mothers, daughters, and anyone who is caught somewhere in between.

Why Don't I Do the Things I Know are Good For Me?

Why Don't I Do the Things I Know are Good For Me?

Author: Bj Gallagher

Publisher: Penguin

Published: 2009-06-02

Total Pages: 276

ISBN-13: 110106126X

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Women know what they should be doing, but still often don't do it. Gallagher explores the reasons why, and helps women to help themselves. Women know what they ought to do-eat right, exercise more, get plenty of rest, save money, and make smart decisions in their own best interest. But instead, it seems that women often take care of everyone else, yet neglect themselves. It's time they realize they're not hopeless or helpless. Here, sociologist and self-care expert BJ Gallagher shares fifty-two ways they can put themselves first on their priority list-rather than last. The book begins by exploring the most common reasons women don't take good care of themselves, and how those barriers can be overcome once they are recognized. Readers will discover step by step how small changes can have a big impact; how to replace poor habits with good ones; and finally, how to avoid the "quick fix" traps. BJ Gallagher's tips, tools, and suggestions will guide every woman to a life she deserves-taking better care of themselves and their loved ones.


Book Synopsis Why Don't I Do the Things I Know are Good For Me? by : Bj Gallagher

Download or read book Why Don't I Do the Things I Know are Good For Me? written by Bj Gallagher and published by Penguin. This book was released on 2009-06-02 with total page 276 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Women know what they should be doing, but still often don't do it. Gallagher explores the reasons why, and helps women to help themselves. Women know what they ought to do-eat right, exercise more, get plenty of rest, save money, and make smart decisions in their own best interest. But instead, it seems that women often take care of everyone else, yet neglect themselves. It's time they realize they're not hopeless or helpless. Here, sociologist and self-care expert BJ Gallagher shares fifty-two ways they can put themselves first on their priority list-rather than last. The book begins by exploring the most common reasons women don't take good care of themselves, and how those barriers can be overcome once they are recognized. Readers will discover step by step how small changes can have a big impact; how to replace poor habits with good ones; and finally, how to avoid the "quick fix" traps. BJ Gallagher's tips, tools, and suggestions will guide every woman to a life she deserves-taking better care of themselves and their loved ones.

Destined to Win

Destined to Win

Author: Kris Vallotton

Publisher: HarperChristian + ORM

Published: 2017-01-03

Total Pages: 225

ISBN-13: 0718080653

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Pastor and cofounder of the Bethel School of Ministry Kris Vallotton walks Christians through the profound process of discovering their true identity and experiencing the wonder of their kingdom purposes. Christians are often told that they were born with a purpose that reaches beyond their human strivings, but most are not sure how to break past the daily struggles holding them back, much less how to fully step into their callings. As a pastor and the cofounder of the Bethel School of Ministry, Kris Vallotton has been teaching Christians all over the world how to walk in wholeness and purpose for more than seventeen years. In Destined to Win, he passes on the lessons that will help readers discover who they really are, overcome destructive behaviors, and become equipped for their kingdom purposes. Confronting the challenges that limit Christians—such as living shackled by past pain, fear, and unforgiveness—Vallotton offers practical solutions to the of­ten-complex problems that undermine their destinies and derail their pur­poses. With personal stories and biblical teaching, Destined to Win combines practical wisdom and profound revelation to unlock the latent potential present in each person.


Book Synopsis Destined to Win by : Kris Vallotton

Download or read book Destined to Win written by Kris Vallotton and published by HarperChristian + ORM. This book was released on 2017-01-03 with total page 225 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Pastor and cofounder of the Bethel School of Ministry Kris Vallotton walks Christians through the profound process of discovering their true identity and experiencing the wonder of their kingdom purposes. Christians are often told that they were born with a purpose that reaches beyond their human strivings, but most are not sure how to break past the daily struggles holding them back, much less how to fully step into their callings. As a pastor and the cofounder of the Bethel School of Ministry, Kris Vallotton has been teaching Christians all over the world how to walk in wholeness and purpose for more than seventeen years. In Destined to Win, he passes on the lessons that will help readers discover who they really are, overcome destructive behaviors, and become equipped for their kingdom purposes. Confronting the challenges that limit Christians—such as living shackled by past pain, fear, and unforgiveness—Vallotton offers practical solutions to the of­ten-complex problems that undermine their destinies and derail their pur­poses. With personal stories and biblical teaching, Destined to Win combines practical wisdom and profound revelation to unlock the latent potential present in each person.

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things

Author: Whitney Phillips

Publisher: MIT Press

Published: 2015-02-27

Total Pages: 251

ISBN-13: 0262028948

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

Internet trolls live to upset as many people as possible, using all the technical and psychological tools at their disposal. They gleefully whip the media into a frenzy over a fake teen drug crisis; they post offensive messages on Facebook memorial pages, traumatizing grief-stricken friends and family; they use unabashedly racist language and images. They take pleasure in ruining a complete stranger's day and find amusement in their victim's anguish. In short, trolling is the obstacle to a kinder, gentler Internet. To quote a famous Internet meme, trolling is why we can't have nice things online. Or at least that's what we have been led to believe. In this provocative book, Whitney Phillips argues that trolling, widely condemned as obscene and deviant, actually fits comfortably within the contemporary media landscape. Trolling may be obscene, but, Phillips argues, it isn't all that deviant. Trolls' actions are born of and fueled by culturally sanctioned impulses -- which are just as damaging as the trolls' most disruptive behaviors. Phillips describes, for example, the relationship between trolling and sensationalist corporate media -- pointing out that for trolls, exploitation is a leisure activity; for media, it's a business strategy. She shows how trolls, "the grimacing poster children for a socially networked world," align with social media. And she documents how trolls, in addition to parroting media tropes, also offer a grotesque pantomime of dominant cultural tropes, including gendered notions of dominance and success and an ideology of entitlement. We don't just have a trolling problem, Phillips argues; we have a culture problem. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things isn't only about trolls; it's about a culture in which trolls thrive.


Book Synopsis This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things by : Whitney Phillips

Download or read book This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things written by Whitney Phillips and published by MIT Press. This book was released on 2015-02-27 with total page 251 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: Internet trolls live to upset as many people as possible, using all the technical and psychological tools at their disposal. They gleefully whip the media into a frenzy over a fake teen drug crisis; they post offensive messages on Facebook memorial pages, traumatizing grief-stricken friends and family; they use unabashedly racist language and images. They take pleasure in ruining a complete stranger's day and find amusement in their victim's anguish. In short, trolling is the obstacle to a kinder, gentler Internet. To quote a famous Internet meme, trolling is why we can't have nice things online. Or at least that's what we have been led to believe. In this provocative book, Whitney Phillips argues that trolling, widely condemned as obscene and deviant, actually fits comfortably within the contemporary media landscape. Trolling may be obscene, but, Phillips argues, it isn't all that deviant. Trolls' actions are born of and fueled by culturally sanctioned impulses -- which are just as damaging as the trolls' most disruptive behaviors. Phillips describes, for example, the relationship between trolling and sensationalist corporate media -- pointing out that for trolls, exploitation is a leisure activity; for media, it's a business strategy. She shows how trolls, "the grimacing poster children for a socially networked world," align with social media. And she documents how trolls, in addition to parroting media tropes, also offer a grotesque pantomime of dominant cultural tropes, including gendered notions of dominance and success and an ideology of entitlement. We don't just have a trolling problem, Phillips argues; we have a culture problem. This Is Why We Can't Have Nice Things isn't only about trolls; it's about a culture in which trolls thrive.

Things No One Else Can Teach Us

Things No One Else Can Teach Us

Author: Humble the Poet

Publisher: HarperCollins

Published: 2019-10-15

Total Pages: 320

ISBN-13: 1443457930

DOWNLOAD EBOOK

From the international bestselling author of Unlearn, Humble the Poet speaks new truths about how we can create silver linings from our most difficult moments. Every one of us endures setbacks, disappointments, and failures that can beat us down. But we don’t have to let them. Instead, we can use them as opportunities for growth. In Things No One Else Can Teach Us, Humble the Poet goes against conventional wisdom for happiness and success, showing us how our most painful experiences can be our greatest teachers. Humble shares raw, honest stories from his own life—from his rocky start becoming a rapper to nearly going broke to battling racism—to demonstrate how we can change our minds to better our lives. From a breakup to losing a loved one, our hardest moments can help us flourish, but only if we seize the opportunity. While we can’t control life, we have the power to control how we react to it. Things No One Else Can Teach Us reminds us that we have the power to transform the way we respond to everyday challenges and ultimately be our best selves.


Book Synopsis Things No One Else Can Teach Us by : Humble the Poet

Download or read book Things No One Else Can Teach Us written by Humble the Poet and published by HarperCollins. This book was released on 2019-10-15 with total page 320 pages. Available in PDF, EPUB and Kindle. Book excerpt: From the international bestselling author of Unlearn, Humble the Poet speaks new truths about how we can create silver linings from our most difficult moments. Every one of us endures setbacks, disappointments, and failures that can beat us down. But we don’t have to let them. Instead, we can use them as opportunities for growth. In Things No One Else Can Teach Us, Humble the Poet goes against conventional wisdom for happiness and success, showing us how our most painful experiences can be our greatest teachers. Humble shares raw, honest stories from his own life—from his rocky start becoming a rapper to nearly going broke to battling racism—to demonstrate how we can change our minds to better our lives. From a breakup to losing a loved one, our hardest moments can help us flourish, but only if we seize the opportunity. While we can’t control life, we have the power to control how we react to it. Things No One Else Can Teach Us reminds us that we have the power to transform the way we respond to everyday challenges and ultimately be our best selves.