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What single book is the best introduction to your field (or specialization within your field) for laypeople? [more inside]
posted by limon to Education at 5:40 PM on Sep 8, 2007 - 237 answers [1907 favorites]

What in life did it take you a surprisingly long time to realize you've been doing wrong all along? [more inside]
posted by colinmarshall to Grab Bag at 1:58 PM on Jul 6, 2010 - 918 answers [1243 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 to Human Relations at 10:48 AM on Nov 3, 2009 - 58 answers [1214 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 to Society & Culture at 4:41 AM on Feb 2, 2005 - 210 answers [900 favorites]

What cooking secrets take your food to the almost-pro level? [more inside]
posted by chalbe to Food & Drink at 8:34 AM on Aug 24, 2009 - 131 answers [855 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 to Home & Garden at 9:03 PM on Dec 2, 2008 - 100 answers [806 favorites]

A Russian friend of mine may be in a dangerous situation in Washington, DC. [more inside]
posted by fake to Travel & Transportation at 3:09 PM on May 19, 2010 - 235 answers [773 favorites]

What one book could pretty much give me a new, useful superpower if I follow it and put the methods inside into practice? In my life, I've come across a small handful of books that have really allowed me to learn to do some things that were previously unthinkable to me, and which I'm able to use all the time in my life. I'm most interested in a book that has actually worked to change your life, rather than one that seems like it would be good if you one day got around to following it. Thanks.
posted by surenoproblem to Education at 7:54 AM on Sep 12, 2012 - 77 answers [692 favorites]

What are some comprehensive one-topic websites maintained by cranky old guys (or gals)? [more inside]
posted by theodolite to Computers & Internet at 12:12 PM on Sep 7, 2010 - 121 answers [644 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 to Grab Bag at 8:46 AM on Feb 21, 2007 - 57 answers [596 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 to Human Relations at 5:21 PM on May 17, 2009 - 19 answers [580 favorites]

I'm looking for examples of insanely overbuilt, reasonably-priced consumer goods: "Cheap, bombproof...XXXXX" [more inside]
posted by oalocke to Technology at 9:27 AM on Jan 13, 2008 - 92 answers [559 favorites]

Please tell me a book you think everyone should read and why. [more inside]
posted by pasici to Society & Culture at 9:48 PM on Jul 20, 2006 - 132 answers [533 favorites]

What are your recipes for weeknight meals? What do you have for dinner that you make yourself in a relatively short amount of time and/or with relatively little effort? Help us figure out a variety of dinners to put on a meal-planning list! [more inside]
posted by Mrs. Pterodactyl to Food & Drink at 7:27 AM on Mar 9, 2016 - 75 answers [503 favorites]

What are some cheap (less than $10) but satisfying luxuries? [more inside]
posted by theodolite to Work & Money at 11:48 AM on Mar 21, 2011 - 108 answers [482 favorites]

What are your favourite simple recipes that make "guests plead for the secret"? [more inside]
posted by Vrai to Food & Drink at 5:12 AM on Oct 2, 2013 - 61 answers [471 favorites]

My father passed away this morning. I'm going through his file, and I came across JOKES.TXT ... which contains only the punchlines. Can the Mind please tell me the jokes? [more inside]
posted by dmd to Society & Culture at 4:49 PM on Mar 22, 2013 - 74 answers [462 favorites]

In light of the thread on the blue about unpaid emotional labor, I'd like to construct a self-assessment checklist so that I can actively work on being better at emotional labor. I've got 20 or so line items already written down (posted below the fold), which I've amassed from trying to distill the thread. What additional items should I add or change to more fully flesh out this list? [more inside]
posted by Maecenas to Human Relations at 11:57 AM on Jul 20, 2015 - 76 answers [462 favorites]

What are some of your absolute favourite online essays, articles and other pieces of non-fiction writing? [more inside]
posted by turgid dahlia to Media & Arts at 4:21 PM on May 1, 2008 - 54 answers [459 favorites]

What $10-$20 item improved your lifestyle? [more inside]
posted by HeyAllie to Home & Garden at 10:12 AM on Dec 1, 2009 - 84 answers [438 favorites]