When The Useful Book by Sharon and David Bowers came across my desk, I thought, “Wow!” I mean, how does someone even start to put something like this together and what should it include? Well, the subtitle “194 Like Skills They Used to Teach in Home Ec and Shop” piqued my interest enough to explore. This useful book truly includes some unique items such as how to make decaf tea (out of regular tea!) and more mundane tasks (how to boil an egg). Projects cover folding a fitted sheet, doing basic car repairs, setting the table for a formal dinner and building a birdhouse.

For more books on how to straighten out, repair and ultimately set yourself up with the ideal lifestyle, check in the Housekeeping section in Magenta.