What single book is the best introduction to your field (or specialization within your field) for laypeople? [more inside]
posted by limon at 5:40 PM Sep 8 2007 - 237 answers [1144 favorites]

What cooking secrets take your food to the almost-pro level? [more inside]
posted by chalbe at 8:34 AM Aug 24 2009 - 134 answers [614 favorites]

Life-altering experiences. Can you point to a single experience in your life, as a child, which you can define as having contributed to the person you are today? (+) [more inside]
posted by jeremias at 4:41 AM Feb 2 2005 - 215 answers [578 favorites]

Can you suggest some replacements for standard, everyday household items that are far superior in terms of usefulness, luxuriousness and quality? [more inside]
posted by Balonious Assault at 9:03 PM Dec 2 2008 - 98 answers [473 favorites]

What do I need to do in daily life that I don't realize I need to be doing? [more inside]
posted by phoenixy at 8:46 AM Feb 21 2007 - 58 answers [445 favorites]

What are some of your absolute favourite online essays, articles and other pieces of non-fiction writing? [more inside]
posted by turgid dahlia at 4:21 PM May 1 2008 - 54 answers [348 favorites]

What podcasts will make me more intelligent just by listening to them? I enjoy the BBC's "In Our Time", which features serious discussion of historical events and people by academics working in the field, and also quirky, thought-provoking programs like WNYC's "Radio Lab" and "This American Life". I'm not so keen on some of the podcasts I typically get from newspapers that gloss over the surface of a subject with little analysis. What other highbrow podcasts are made by people who really know their shit?
posted by nowonmai at 9:01 AM Nov 20 2007 - 61 answers [341 favorites]

My son is graduating from high school in a week. I want to make him a Best of Ask Metafilter book with all the best advice from the hive mind. [more inside]
posted by katyjack at 5:21 PM May 17 2009 - 21 answers [311 favorites]

I'm looking for examples of insanely overbuilt, reasonably-priced consumer goods: "Cheap, bombproof...XXXXX" [more inside]
posted by oalocke at 9:27 AM Jan 13 2008 - 96 answers [304 favorites]

What clever relationship "hacks" have you come up with? I'm looking to build up my mental catalogue of examples of non-obvious solutions to relationship difficulties. Help me think out of the box better in the future! [more inside]
posted by wyzewoman at 10:48 AM Nov 3 2009 - 54 answers [289 favorites]

Please tell me a book you think everyone should read and why. [more inside]
posted by pasici at 9:48 PM Jul 20 2006 - 134 answers [283 favorites]

What are the best minimal (2-6) ingredient recipes you have? [more inside]
posted by flibbertigibbet at 7:56 PM Oct 27 2007 - 66 answers [282 favorites]

I want a badass skill. I want to know how to do something that people will see and think "wow, that is badass." [more inside]
posted by Autarky at 8:36 PM Jun 29 2009 - 106 answers [279 favorites]

What is the iconic (or just "your favorite") dead-tree product catalog (listing of merchandise for mail-order sale) for your hobby, industry, or trade? [more inside]
posted by cadastral at 9:23 AM Apr 1 2008 - 74 answers [276 favorites]

What are some good, somewhat dirty jokes suitable for telling to my Grandma? [more inside]
posted by sciurus at 2:52 PM Jun 26 2007 - 53 answers [268 favorites]

What have you learned through your career, major, or specialization that you wish the general public knew? [more inside]
posted by Earl the Polliwog at 11:27 PM Jul 2 2009 - 211 answers [267 favorites]

Weird-in-a-good-way-filter: I need suggestions for online stores/catalogs for Christmas Shopping! [more inside]
posted by deedeep at 1:08 PM Nov 14 2006 - 46 answers [257 favorites]

How do you develop focus, drive, and personal discipline? [more inside]
posted by Saxon Kane at 8:26 PM May 11 2008 - 28 answers [250 favorites]

What Is That Song They Always Use...? [more inside]
posted by jfrancis at 11:23 AM Jun 3 2009 - 127 answers [244 favorites]

It's that time of year again...it's getting cold and I'm craving soup more and more. The only problem is I'm sick of canned soup and I'd rather make most of it homemade. Lay your best soup recipes on me, ingredients/prep the works! Any type of soup accepted! Hot, cold, lukewarm! Chicken, cream-based, potato leek, broth-based etc. I want to start a good collection of new recipes to try!
posted by PetiePal at 9:46 AM Oct 25 2006 - 49 answers [243 favorites]