How To: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know

by Jennifer McKnight-Trontz

A delightful visual compendium and very nearly a substitute for good common sense, How To is the silly and seriously useful guide to mastering the miscellany of modern life. Packed in this chunky little volume are hundreds of instructional diagrams, culled from vintage how-to books, manuals, and product packaging, illustrating how to do anything you'll ever need to do -- and many things you won't. With a bare minimum of text and just a few action arrows, these hard-working graphics are here to help. Learn how to use chopsticks, breakdance, tie a trash bag, diaper a baby, and parallel park. Discover the right way to do a cartwheel, use dental floss, hammer a nail, and slice bread. And if you've ever wondered whether you were walking correctly, wonder no more. With chapters to help you navigate the daily concerns of manners and grooming, home and family, health and safety, sports and exercise, and science and the world at large, this pocket-sized primer is the only book you'll ever really need. Honest.

Genres: Nonfiction

256 pages, Paperback

First published January 1, 2004

Reviews

[Bookfairy · Rating 2 out of 5]

This book is unfortunately not very useful to learn much of anything, most explanations are all obtuse pictures. For a book published in 2004, I don't see the uses for many of these items, it looks like it's directed toward a 1960s audience.
As far as being interesting--there are lots of amusing or unusual drawings, interesting style, and some information is fairly outdated. I did enjoy some of the style, and it could almost be a game to figure out what exactly they're explaining (because most sections don't tell you what they're explaining, you have to go back to the table of contents for titles).

[Dylan · Rating 5 out of 5]

How To: Absolutely Everything You Need to Know Fully Illustrated is probably one of the most entertaining "quick" reads that I've had the privilege to read. It kept me busy when I was at home with nothing to do with its many "how-to" guides. I spent most of my time with this book following the guides, such as drawing a duck. The book was also very humorous. It had a great mix of entertainment and learning. I give this book a solid 5/5 stars and recommend this to anyone whos looking for a book to provide a quick read to provide some entertaining activities.

[Sande · Rating 4 out of 5]

very amusing little book. glad I picked it up

[Harley · Rating 4 out of 5]

Some of this was interesting and informative, I had to think real hard about what was being explained in the pictures, because there are no instructions!

[Christi Balisti · Rating 4 out of 5]

LOVE this little book!

[Neeti · Rating 1 out of 5]

idiots guide to some idiotically simple stuff. may be good for the 'non-natives', especially if they're from another world.