1,628 Country Shortcuts from 1,628 Country People: The Best Tried-And-True Tips to Solve Everyday

by Roy Reiman (Editor)

Hardcover in pictorial boards, no dj as issued. 1995, Reiman Publications, Greendale, WI. 94 pages, b&w illustrations throughout. Compiled from great ideas, as sent in by magazine subscribers. How removing a skunk from your garage, how to wipe tree sap off your car, how to get rid of gophers from your garden, uses for discarded toothbrushes, how to remove finger nail polish as well as gum, the best way to make doughnuts, how to keep raccoons out of your corn patch, and--for sure--how to keep spiders off of your stuff. 1,628 tips, all of them brief, many of them very practical.

194 pages, Hardcover

First published November 1, 1995

About the author

Roy J. Reiman was an American philanthropist and publicist who was the founder of Reiman Publications based in Greendale, Wisconsin, which is best known for its country-oriented magazines, books, and other home products. Reiman is credited with building the country's largest, private, subscription-based publishing company. In 2003, it was reported that one out of every eight households in the United States subscribed to a Reiman magazine. He was named publisher of the year in 1991 by Magazine Weekly and Wisconsin's Master Entrepreneur in 1992. Reiman Publications, now affiliated with the Reader's Digest Corporation, currently publishes thirteen national consumer magazines, including Taste of Home, the most popular cooking magazine worldwide.

Reviews

[Sheri · Rating 3 out of 5]

I like being reminded of and learning new tips to tackle household tasks, avoid common aggravations, and save time and money. Many household items can be utilized in different ways to conveniently solve minor problems, you just need to see or know how these everyday items can come to the rescue.

Despite a fair number that are outdated or old-fashioned, there are some useful tips here, but the organization thereof leaves a lot to be desired. If you have an excellent memory, you'll gain much helpful knowledge, but to try and refer back to a tip you only vaguely remember will leave you frustrated and likely still without a solution to your problem.

To my mind, a few of the contributors seem awfully nitpicky about their housekeeping and other domestic efforts! The things they stress over are only noticed by their anxious minds. To each their own, I guess.

An interesting book to browse, but the tips are really only memorable if you can put them into practice relatively quickly.

[HeavyReader · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is full of little snippets of advice in the following categories: household repairs and maintenance, outdoor fix-ups, housecleaning, food and kitchen money-savers, gardening, dealing with stains and odors, painting and decoration aids, and childcare tips. All of the advice comes from readers of Country and Country Woman magazines.

Unfortunately, while many of the hints are helpful, accessing the information is frustrating and time consuming. The book has no index. The chapters are long enough to make it impractical to read one in its entirety in order to find a pertinent hint. Some problems (such as keeping brown sugar soft) have several solutions, but instead of listing the solutions one after the other, they are scattered throughout the book.

The book would be a lot shorter if the contributors relaxed a little. Is it really such a big deal if the house smells like cabbage while one is cooking cabbage? (If one can't stand the smell of cooking cabbage, will one really be able to eat the cooked cabbage?) Is it so dreadful if one's hands smell like onions or garlic for a while after chopping onions or garlic?

I'd like to think that after reading the book cover to cover I will be able to remember the hints when I need them, but I know that's just wishful thinking. Now I have to live with the frustration of knowing the book offers solutions to many of my household problems, but not being able to find those solutions when I need them.

[Ben · Rating 1 out of 5]

stupid. didnt really even read it