Table of Contents
Introduction 10
Part I Be More Interesting
Live Like an Aristocrat: The Best Places to Mingle with the Elite 16
Dive into the Underworld: Essential Tours of Gang Wars, the Drug Trade, and Otherwise Felonious Living 22
Drink the Kool-Aid: Touchstones for Quirky, Like-Minded People 28
Discover New Worlds: Explorers Who Can Take You into the Unknown 34
Find Your Calling: All-Consuming Hobbies for Your Consideration 40
Outwit Death: Essential Lessons in Survival 45
Put On a Poetic Air: Sources of Weird and Wonderful Word Combinations 50
Adopt a More Outlandish Childhood: Because Some Kids Have All the (Bad) Luck 56
Ten Essential Catchphrases for Use at Dinner Parties 62
Part II Get Smart(ER)
Get Up to Speed: Essential Podcasts for Aspiring Know-It-Alls 66
Think Outside the Box: Preparation for Every Eventuality (And Several Alternate Universes) 73
Get to the Heart of the Matter: Pithy Explanations of Really Complex Things 79
Watch the World Unfold: History Lessons That Will Keep You on the Edge of Your Seat 85
Catch a Predator (And More): Procedurals to Aid in Nearly Every Endeavor 91
Stand on the Shoulders of Giants: Geniuses Willing to Talk to Non-Geniuses 97
Cheat on Your Homework: Essential Literary Adaptations-For Both Information and Inspiration 103
Gain Emotional Intelligence: Because Sometimes IQ Just Isn't Enough 110
The Smartest Inanimate Objects in the History of Pop Culture 116
Part III Stop Doing It Wrong
Drop the Facade: Songs Guaranteed to Melt Your Frozen Heart 120
Stop Talking Bad: Models of Soulful, Incisive, Hard-Hitting Dialogue 124
Gain Some Perspective: Read a Book and Try On Another Human Being 130
Be More Responsible: Essential Reminders That if You Don't Do It, No One Will 136
Eat Better: Where to Find Your Culinary Inspiration 142
Get Motivated: Songs Guaranteed to Get You Pumped 148
Stop Being Such a Philistine: Easy Access Points to the World of High Art 153
Stop Being Such a Snob: Lowbrow Entertainment That Puts the High-Minded Stuff to Shame 160
How to Fix Pop Culture 166
Part IV Find Happiness
Achieve Mindfulness: Movies That Will Show You the Way (With Wise Elders Now Included!) 170
Sleep with the Fishes: The Ten Best Places to Find Your Spirit Animal 177
Eat, Pray, Love, Spelunk: Tag Along on a Life-Changing Vacation 182
Go Where Everybody Knows Your Name: The Best Places to Hang Out for an Hour 188
Lose Yourself in a Good Story: Essential Potboilers 194
Rest Assured: Movies Where People Get Exactly What They Deserve 201
Find Your Happy Place: Magical, Fictional Worlds 208
Laugh So Hard You Soil Yourself: Reliable Sources of Undeniable Joy 214
Happiness, as Defined by Ten Random Celebrities 220
Part V Survive the Holidays
New Year's Day: The Inspiration You Need to Keep Your Resolutions 224
Valentine's Day: Hallmark-Proof Love Stories 231
Martin Luther King Jr. Day: Speeches Worth Heeding 238
Independence Day: The Best Sources of AmericAttitude 244
Mother's Day: Celebrating Some Underappreciated Acts of Pop-Cultural Procreation 250
Thanksgiving: Ad Hoc Families That Will Do in a Pinch 256
Christmas: Ten Wildly Different Interpretations of the Meaning of Christmas 262
New Year's Eve: Parties That Will Get You Pumped for Parties 268
Ten Proposed Holiday Amendments 274
Appendix: Top Ten Resources for People Who Still Want More 278
Index 280
About the Author 288