Life Skills
How to Do Almost Anything
Overview of Life Skills
From ironing shirts to jumpstarting cars, "Life Skills" delivers the Chicago Tribune's practical wisdom for everyday challenges. This humorous 2013 guide tackles home, office, and social dilemmas - proving that sometimes the most valuable knowledge isn't taught in classrooms but found in these 208 pages.
Key Themes in Life Skills
- household maintenance
- domestic self-sufficiency
- practical home skills
- everyday task mastery
- home organization techniques
Quotes from Life Skills
People who claim they 'know where everything is' in cluttered spaces are deluding themselves.
Window cleaning transforms a home's brightness, making the effort worthwhile.
Don't fear shortening stems-flowers closer to the container's edge create more impact with fewer blooms.
Consider strategic wording (like "MOVING SALE" instead of "YARD SALE") to create urgency.
Characters in Life Skills
- Ray FoleyBartending expert and wine glass care specialist
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FAQs About This Book
Life Skills by Chicago Tribune is a practical and humorous guide compiling columns from the newspaper’s “Life Skills” feature. It covers essential tasks across home economics, workplace etiquette, outdoor safety, emergency preparedness, and social interactions—from fixing a clogged drain to delivering a wedding toast. Blending technical advice with lighthearted commentary, it serves as a manual for mastering everyday challenges.
This book is ideal for young adults, new homeowners, or anyone seeking to improve daily independence. Its mix of step-by-step tutorials (e.g., changing a tire) and social guidance (e.g., conflict resolution) appeals to readers navigating adult responsibilities. The humorous tone also makes it accessible for casual learners.
Yes, particularly for its breadth of actionable advice. It balances practicality (e.g., fire-starting techniques, first aid) with relatable topics like flirting or ending relationships. While not deeply technical, its concise, illustrated tutorials and witty approach make complex tasks feel manageable.
The book emphasizes CPR, wound care, and creating home evacuation plans. It advises staying calm via deep breathing and prioritizing safety—for example, calling 911 during crimes rather than intervening. Car emergencies, like jump-starting batteries, are also covered.
It outlines navigation (map/compass use), campfire safety, and weather-check protocols. The book stresses informing others of travel plans and carrying emergency gear. These tips aim to minimize risks while enhancing outdoor enjoyment.
Key advice includes active listening, empathy, and constructive conflict resolution. For flirting, it focuses on making others feel valued. The book also guides readers on delicate tasks like ending relationships or giving feedback.
Yes, it provides clear instructions for tasks like unclogging drains, sewing buttons, and cleaning keyboards. Diagrams accompany some tutorials, simplifying processes for beginners.
Chapters categorize skills into domains like “The Office” and “Social Issues.” Each skill is broken into bullet points or numbered steps, often with humorous commentary. This format allows quick referencing or casual browsing.
While praised for its range, some may find certain advice oversimplified (e.g., workplace negotiations) or too reliant on humor. As a compilation of columns, it lacks in-depth exploration of complex topics.
Unlike theoretical guides, it focuses on immediate, tangible tasks. Its newspaper-column roots provide bite-sized tips rather than overarching philosophies, making it a practical complement to books like Atomic Habits.
Yes, sections cover office etiquette, asking for raises, and time management. It blends technical advice (e.g., organizing emails) with soft skills like giving constructive feedback.
- Prioritize preparation for emergencies and outdoor activities.
- Use clear communication to strengthen relationships.
- Humor can ease learning complex or awkward tasks.
