Learn something new with 366 fascinating facts from NPR librarian Kee Malesky What was the greatest thing before sliced bread?1 What color did carrots used to be?2 Why do many American spellings differ from their British counterparts?3 What does it mean "to have one's eyes lined with ham"? 4 If you know the answers to these questions, then you're John Hodgman. If you had to look for them below, you need this book.5 Kee Malesky, author of All Facts Considered, returns with a year's worth of facts on the arts, history, language, natural history, religion, and science to build up your brain. From "What is the only sea without coastlines?" to "How did the tradition of April Fool's Day begin?", this book is the best way to know more stuff than that other guy.6 Learn Something New Every Day is the ideal gift for anyone with an inquisitive mind and an appreciation of the wonders of the world around us. But don't give it to them. You don't want them to know more than you do. 1. Bagged bread. 2. Purple. 3. Blame?or thank?Noah Webster. 4. That's the Italian expression for "can't see the wood for the trees." 5. You'd enjoy it too, Mr. Hodgman. 6. Discovering more than one fact per day can cause increased confidence. We've probably already put you at risk with the four above. Learn safely.

PUT WALT TO WORK FOR YOU! How do you go from dreaming of a theme park to building one? Walt Disney laid the blueprint. Learn how he did it, and how his wisdom can guide you toward achieving the things that you dream of. The experts told Walt it'd never work. A giant theme park, where parents and children could play together? Crazy! So Walt put all of his money into this crazy dream of his. He put his reputation on the line. Anyone else would have quit, discouraged and disillusioned, but Walt built Disneyland. How did he go from dreaming to doing? And how can you do the same, no matter what your goal? In The Wisdom of Walt, Professor Jeffrey Barnes distills Walt Disney's vision, his knowledge, and his methods into a series of actionable lessons. Through historical vignettes about Disneyland, as well as plentiful examples and exercises, Barnes creates a framework through which you can apply Walt's wisdom to improve your career, your company, and your life. Learn to: -Listen to your "Walter ego" and start trusting yourself -Go "beyond the berm" with the secrets of Disneyland's success -Make a "Main Street impression" on everyone you meet -Create "E-ticket experiences" that keep them coming back for more WITH THE WISDOM OF WALT, YOUR SUCCESS IS JUST A DREAM AWAY!

Forget the 10,000 hour rule— what if it’s possible to learn the basics of any new skill in 20 hours or less? Take a moment to consider how many things you want to learn to do. What’s on your list? What’s holding you back from getting started? Are you worried about the time and effort it takes to acquire new skills—time you don’t have and effort you can’t spare? Research suggests it takes 10,000 hours to develop a new skill. In this nonstop world when will you ever find that much time and energy? To make matters worse, the early hours of prac­ticing something new are always the most frustrating. That’s why it’s difficult to learn how to speak a new language, play an instrument, hit a golf ball, or shoot great photos. It’s so much easier to watch TV or surf the web . . . In The First 20 Hours, Josh Kaufman offers a systematic approach to rapid skill acquisition— how to learn any new skill as quickly as possible. His method shows you how to deconstruct com­plex skills, maximize productive practice, and remove common learning barriers. By complet­ing just 20 hours of focused, deliberate practice you’ll go from knowing absolutely nothing to performing noticeably well. Kaufman personally field-tested the meth­ods in this book. You’ll have a front row seat as he develops a personal yoga practice, writes his own web-based computer programs, teaches himself to touch type on a nonstandard key­board, explores the oldest and most complex board game in history, picks up the ukulele, and learns how to windsurf. Here are a few of the sim­ple techniques he teaches: Define your target performance level: Fig­ure out what your desired level of skill looks like, what you’re trying to achieve, and what you’ll be able to do when you’re done. The more specific, the better. Deconstruct the skill: Most of the things we think of as skills are actually bundles of smaller subskills. If you break down the subcompo­nents, it’s easier to figure out which ones are most important and practice those first. Eliminate barriers to practice: Removing common distractions and unnecessary effort makes it much easier to sit down and focus on deliberate practice. Create fast feedback loops: Getting accu­rate, real-time information about how well you’re performing during practice makes it much easier to improve. Whether you want to paint a portrait, launch a start-up, fly an airplane, or juggle flaming chain­saws, The First 20 Hours will help you pick up the basics of any skill in record time . . . and have more fun along the way.

Through the simple act of drawing—whether it’s doodling or creating detailed illustrations—embrace your inner voice and unlock the power of your intuitive intelligence. Do you remember being a child and the pure joy brought on by a box of crayons and piece of paper? Do you still find yourself sketching away every time you pick up a pencil? That’s because drawing is a natural impulse that stays with us throughout our entire lives. Whether you are doodling in a notebook or carving your name in the sand, this simple, stream-of-consciousness activity is a window into your deepest, truest self. In Making Marks, you’ll learn that every single line, smudge, or spot you make contains visual imagery with the power to heal the past, develop your sense of empathy, and reveal solutions and answers you never realized before. You don’t need to have any specific experience or skills to benefit from this book; through simple steps and interactive exercises, people of all ages and artistic abilities can gain insight and learn to reconnect with their creative selves. With beautiful black-and-white and full-color illustrations, Making Marks is a powerful guide to self-discovery. Tap into your unconsciousness as artist and spiritual guide Elaine Clayton takes you on a journey of the soul.

A surprisingly simple way for students to master any subject--based on one of the world's most popular online courses and the bestselling book A Mind for Numbers A Mind for Numbers and its wildly popular online companion course "Learning How to Learn" have empowered more than two million learners of all ages from around the world to master subjects that they once struggled with. Fans often wish they'd discovered these learning strategies earlier and ask how they can help their kids master these skills as well. Now in this new book for kids and teens, the authors reveal how to make the most of time spent studying. We all have the tools to learn what might not seem to come naturally to us at first--the secret is to understand how the brain works so we can unlock its power. This book explains: Why sometimes letting your mind wander is an important part of the learning process How to avoid "rut think" in order to think outside the box Why having a poor memory can be a good thing The value of metaphors in developing understanding A simple, yet powerful, way to stop procrastinating Filled with illustrations, application questions, and exercises, this book makes learning easy and fun.

Transform Your Classroom with Tech Tools You Already Know With Control Alt Achieve, educational-technology wizard Eric Curts offers you the keys to revolutionizing classroom learning with the Google tools you already use. Dazzle your students by transforming Google Docs into blackout poetry, fire up creative possibilities by using Google Slides for comic strips, and make math more accessible--and fun--by turning to Google Drawings as an unlikely ally. With Eric as your guide to the technological horizons of Google tools, the possibilities are endless. With the step-by-step and easy-to-follow directions in Control Alt Achieve, you'll learn how to use common digital tools in unexpected ways. Whether you're new to technology or have been using Google tools for years, Eric Curts will help you innovate as you educate with ready-to-use activities that will reboot--and transform--your classroom. Reading this book is like sitting in on a presentation from one of educational technology's best presenters. Eric's writing reminds me of his sessions: comfortable and accessible for new tech users, while still valuable for experienced users. Jake Miller, @JakeMillerTech, host of The Educational Duct Tape Podcast Control Alt Achieve provides both practical and pedagogical strategies that go way beyond simple technology integration. This is a great handbook for any teacher looking to go beyond the how-to and shift toward a learning transformation. Ken Shelton, kennethshelton.net In this book, Eric has created a powerful method for meaningfully integrating technology into teaching and learning. His unique way of crafting technology-rich experiences will allow anyone from a novice techie to an edtech expert the ability to control, alt, achieve! Michael Cohen, the Tech Rabbi, creativity instigator and author of Educated by Design

Pick up your pencil, embrace your inner artist, and learn how to draw in thirty days with this approachable step-by-step guide from an Emmy award-winning PBS host. Drawing is an acquired skill, not a talent -- anyone can learn to draw! All you need is a pencil, a piece of paper, and the willingness to tap into your hidden artistic abilities. With Emmy award-winning, longtime PBS host Mark Kistler as your guide, you'll learn the secrets of sophisticated three-dimensional renderings, and have fun along the way -- in just twenty minutes a day for a month. Inside you'll find: Quick and easy step-by-step instructions for drawing everything from simple spheres to apples, trees, buildings, and the human hand and face More than 500 line drawings, illustrating each step Time-tested tips, techniques, and tutorials for drawing in 3-D The 9 Fundamental Laws of Drawing to create the illusion of depth in any drawing 75 student examples to encourage you in the process