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Book Freak #7: Random Advice

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A grab-bag of advice

Book Freak is the third newsletter from Cool Tools Lab (our other two are the Cool Tools Newsletter and Recomendo). In each weekly issue, we offer three short pieces of advice from books. Here’s the advice from our fifth issue.

How to disobey your mother
“If your mother tells you to do a thing, it is wrong to reply that you won’t. It is better and more becoming to intimate that you will do as she bids you, and then afterward act quietly in the matter according to the dictates of your best judgment.”

― Mark Twain, Advice to Little Girls

How to avoid being hassled by the man
“If you want the law to leave you alone, keep your hair trimmed and your boots shined.”

― Louis L’Amour, The Man Called Noon

How to avoid someone you dislike
“Of course, to avoid getting stuck in that convo with someone you dislike or feel uncomfortable around, don’t be passive, be proactive. Do not let them direct your interaction on their terms, do it on yours. Ask a Misdirection Question–something too difficult to answer quickly–e.g., ‘What’s Congress up to?’ or ‘You ever learn any cool science?’ When you ask the question, don’t make eye contact, keep moving and get out of there. Do not wait for a response and deny ever asking it. Repeat these actions until you are never again spoken to by that individual (about four times).”

― Eugene Mirman, The Will to Whatevs: A Guide to Modern Life

-- MF 06/13/19

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