Editor: Samantha Ettus

Publisher: Clarkson Potter (September 21, 2004)

ISBN: 1400052564

The following review was contributed by: Jennifer Murray 

Samantha Ettus went to the experts to find out exactly how to do something “more resourcefully, more effectively and more efficiently” with topics ranging from how to make a bed by the Holiday Inn Executive Housekeeper of the year, how to drive a stick shift by a NASCAR Craftsman Truck Series driver, how to listen by Larry King, Paint a room by Bob Vila and how to buy a diamond by the CEO and president of Harry Winston.

These essays, divided up into sections such as morning life, work life, home life, weekend life, and the big life are anywhere from two to four pages long and are written in laymen’s terms.

They maybe written by experts but you as the reader do not feel intimidated and lost reading them and some even have great diagrams to go along with them to help with the understanding.

 To me, this is also a great little small conversation trivia book.  I learned that when you’re buying coffee, only buy a weeks worth at a time and if you find some that you can’t live without and can’t consume in that period of time, put the unopened package in the freezer and it will extend it’s life for 2 months for whole bean and 1 month for ground.

I found the big life section to be the most fun with instructions on how to kiss, how to flirt and just how to breathe in general. This is one of those books that point out things that cause you to say, “Man, why didn’t I think of that?”

I also found a number of topics that I’d love to figure out a way to discretely leave laying around for various people to find with hopes that it will have them take stock in how they do the task or behavior. Just think of how many people you know that have a hard time receiving a compliment or are at a loss as to how to be a good houseguest or even a gracious host.

I think this book would make a good gift for someone who is experiencing one of life’s transitions. The authors of the essays do a good job of either coming out and saying, or at least alluding to the fact that most people feel intimidated and overwhelmed when faced with the same situation, so you’re not alone. Just take all the steps necessary to complete the task and you’ll come across as polished and poised even though you feel like you’re working with two left feet.