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 [1086 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 [555 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 - 96 answers [401 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 [333 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 [330 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 [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 [288 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 [278 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 the best minimal (2-6) ingredient recipes you have? [more inside]
posted by flibbertigibbet at 7:56 PM Oct 27 2007 - 66 answers [268 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 [251 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 [247 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 [246 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 [239 favorites]

What are some movies that have either drastically changed the way you view the world or changed the way you live your life? [more inside]
posted by MaryDellamorte at 5:09 PM Feb 12 2008 - 154 answers [236 favorites]

What Is That Song They Always Use...? [more inside]
posted by jfrancis at 11:23 AM Jun 3 2009 - 125 answers [234 favorites]

I love reading sites like kottke.org and Neatorama (and, of course, Metafilter). It's exciting - I never know what I'll come across next. What are some other sites that have lots of interesting stuff, preferably on a daily basis (but less often is fine as long as the content is high quality)? [more inside]
posted by jasminerain at 1:14 PM Feb 21 2008 - 41 answers [229 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 - 100 answers [229 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 [228 favorites]

FrugalFilter: I used to do _____, but now I use _____ on the internet for free! Examples and ... [more inside]
posted by math at 1:59 PM Apr 7 2009 - 41 answers [224 favorites]