Rules of Thumb: A Life Manual

By Tom Parker

Book Overview

A mix of folk wisdom, common sense, shared experience, the advice of experts, and the kind of group think that's made websites like Wikipedia so vital, Rules of Thumb is the impulsive compendium of 1,000 general principles that apply to every facet of life. Collected by Tom Parker for over 25 years, these are rules that are practical, quirky, and as entertaining to read as they are relevant to the reader. There's a rule of thumb for just about every subject imaginable-- money, marriage, cooking, health, weather, cars, gardening, restaurants, travel. This is the priceless knowledge that's accumulated not from reading, but from living . Tempted by a string of pearls at a yard sale? Rub them against your teeth: The rule of thumb, as your grandmother might have told you, is that a genuine pearl will grate. Not sure how to choose a puppy? Pick one whose tail wags in sync with its walk--a sign of calmness. To win at blackjack, assume that any unseen card is an eight. And remember, a rule of thumb works four out of five times (including this one).

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0761150730
• ISBN13: 9780761150732
• Release Date: October 2008
• Publisher: Workman Publishing
• Length: 409 Pages
• Weight: 0.78 lbs.
• Dimensions: 1.1" x 4.2" x 6.0"

Customer Reviews

Entertaining read!

Tom Parker is the guru of the rule of thumb, having written a couple of other very entertaining books on the same topic (but containing entirely different rules) both of which I have in my possession. This one is just as good, good for people with short attention spans, or just people interested in trivia. I can pick this up and read a few every day, so as to prolong the enjoyment. And every once in a while I stumble upon a rule I can actually use!

Some tips, some chuckles, and a guffaw or two

A light and lighthearted look at the world around us, "Rules of Thumb" casts a clever glance at many of the truisms we take for granted, while offering a stack of new ones. What size flower pot do you need? What size hard drive? How big a tip should you leave the bartender? These gems and more, helpful or just humourous, make this a great book to pick up for a few spare minutes or to read through in its entirety.

A wonderfully entertaining book

No, this book is not a substitute for training in a profession or trade, so don't buy it with the expectation that it will unlock the secrets of the universe. HOWEVER, it is a very entertaining collection of anecdotal information, "guestimates" for a wide range of endeavors. It's a great book to read on a rainy day or while traveling. You'll be entertained, and learn a little bit, too. At the prices you can get this book used, it's a steal.

Great Read!

Tons of trivia ranging from useful to obscure. how many apples make a glass of apple juice? upon seeing a car crash, where should you aim your car to avoid it? how long, on average, does it take a person to paint a house? Interesting and fun(!) to read. Great if you're the kind of person who can't commit to reading straight through a book; you can pick up and put down this one...