Wacky Wisdom: How to Do Hundreds of Unusual Things

By Maurice Benziger

B & W illus. throughout. 6 1/2 x 7. This description may be from another edition of this product.

• Format: Hardcover
• Language: English
• ISBN: 0517149397
• ISBN13: 9780517149393
• Release Date: December 1997
• Publisher: Gramercy Books
• Length: 256 Pages
• Weight: 0.75 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.9" x 5.8" x 6.3"

Customer Reviews

What a Wacky little tome!!!

This is one of the most unusual little books I've seen for a long time. This little book will tell you how to do hundreds of things that have puzzled you over the years.The author has an uncanny ability of being able to detail how to do things in remarkably few and simple words. I have not come across this author before,and am unable to find any other books by him.It is normal to find a short bio. of the author on the dust jacket flap;but not in this case. So,whether it is a first by him, or is written under a pseudonym---who knows? This book is filled with "How to Do" things,much like Ripley's is filled with "Believe It or Not" facts. Many of the things you will learn,will probably never be particularly useful in your daily life,but interesting nonetheless. Examples might be how to read Chinese Numbers,how to make Invisible Ink,(4 different methods,and one is not the old standby of using lemon juice),how to Slice a Banana before peeling it,how to decode Morse Code and many more. You will also learn many things that will be very useful when the need arises Examples: How to Escape from Quicksand,how to count in Roman Numerals,how to build a Sand Castle,how to make Buttons stay on longer,how to Tie a Bow Tie,how to check the engine of a Used Car,how to Seat Guests at a dinner table,how to offer food to a Horse,Donkey or a Camel,how to mix the perfect Martini,how to make Dandelion Wine,how to know Pasta by its shape,how to Measure a Mile,how to Teach a Dog to Beg,and on and on. Then there are the really Wacky things that are interesting to know,but unlikely will ever be used. Examples: How to race a Crocodile,how to avoid the Evil Eye,How to recognize a Vampire,how to Surrender,how to Make it Rain,how to play an Alp Horn,and what about this one,How to Hunt the Snark. I think the author is on to something here. There are virtually an endless number of things that he could tell us "How to Do".I'll be looking and hoping for more to come. This is the kind of book one can leave around for someone to pick up and wile away a few minutes or a couple of hours. Don't be surprised if people rip out a "How to Do" page ,here and there;that is if they don't run off with the whole book. It would make a great stocking stuffer or just a little gift at any time. Remember, Anything is easy To Do,if you know how!

One great little book for those who enjoy the unusual.

This book will never win a prize, but it is wonderful and full of interesting ways of doing unusual things that you may, or may not, be into. It is well written, with a wry sense of humor, and it is to be taken seriously. It is certainly worth the asking price, and I have had fun trying some of the stuff that they tell you about. Thank you, mr. Benziger.