Manual Labor Redux
Following up last week’s question about reading writing/grammar guides, this week, we’re expanding the question….
Scenario: You’ve just bought some complicated gadget home . . . do you read the accompanying documentation? Or not?
Do you ever read manuals?
How-to books?
Self-help guides?
Anything at all?
Don’t forget to leave a link to your actual response (so people don’t have to go searching for it) in the comments—or if you prefer, leave your answers in the comments themselves!
“Anything at all?” Of course I do! I read plenty – that’s why I’m here! Oh wait, sorry – you meant anything of the guidebook/manual variety, didn’t you?
I’ll usually skim the manual – or at least read the basic operating instructions – for any new electronic device or appliance, partly because I want to make sure I don’t do anything wrong with it right off the bat and break it! After the initial get-acquainted period, I may refer to the manual if I want to do something with the gadget for the first time – assuming I can find the manual at that point, which is never guaranteed – but I may just try to fumble into it at that point, or ask my husband if he knows how it works. Of course, these days you can always try to find the information online if you don’t have the manual any more, which is a nice option (and takes up less storage space in your house).
I rarely read anything that I’d consider “how-to” books, but there are a few occasional exceptions: cookbooks, travel/sightseeing guides, and books about writing and reading (oh, sorry, that was last week). A couple of years ago, I went on a spree with wedding-preparation books, which bridged “how-to” and “self-help” in a lot of ways, but after I got married I really didn’t need to read them any more.
Self-help books are a tricky category. I’m very interested in psychology, and in learning things that will help me improve myself and my relationships, but I don’t have a lot of patience with the prescriptive approach that a lot of self-help books seem to have; I really think they over-simplify, and sometimes the writing itself just isn’t very good, in my honest opinion. Much of the time, I feel that well-written fiction gives me at least as much insight into human nature as these books do, and sometimes more. I have bought, and read, books from the self-help section from time to time, since that’s where a lot of popular (as opposed to academic) writing on psychology seems to be filed – but those books are strictly for myself, and chances are I won’t blog about them.
Do you read any of this stuff – what, and why?
Friday Fill-Ins #72
Questions courtesy of Jennifer this week.
1. There is absolutely NO way you can get me to go to Disney World in August!
2. This ridiculous heat wave (95 degrees in May?!) reminds me that summer is almost here!
3. I cannot live without my online connection (hey, might as well be honest!).
4. Snorkeling and painting pottery are two things I’d like to try.
5. When life hands you lemons you can try out some recipes: lemon chicken, lemon cake – better get out a cookbook!
6. Stockings at the foot of the bed on Christmas morning is my favorite childhood memory.
7. And as for the weekend, tonight I’m looking forward to seeing our wedding video for the first time, tomorrow my plans include coffee with my sister, grocery shopping, and some reading and writing and Sunday, I want to relax and enjoy my facial appointment at the spa!
The list of books from last week’s Page 123 meme hasn’t changed much; I finished Eleanor Rushing and reviewed it here yesterday. I’m currently reading The Alchemist
for my next Book Club meeting.
You know how it goes:
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Provide a list of the books you’re currently reading (skipping this step this week – as I said, no big changes since last time).
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Pick up the nearest book, and open it to page 123.
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Find the fifth sentence, and post the next three sentences.
That she was waiting for him, a woman awaiting a courageous man in search of his treasure. From that day on, the desert would represent only one thing to her; the hope for his return.
*****************
“Don’t think about what you’ve left behind,” the alchemist said to the boy as they began to ride across the sands of the desert.
Have you read this book? If you’ve reviewed it on your blog, send me the link info and I’ll link to your post in my review here!
I will read manuals in order to put things together. I stink at doing it and that is the only way anything will get put together in my house. I rarely to for electronics, I like to try and figure it out.
I would never read a self-hlep book either. Ever notice how a good percentage of the authors get in trouble for something later on; drugs, booze, theft? How do you believe any of them? (sorry for the mini-rant. 🙂
I’ve heard about the heat wave out west. We know somebody in the San Francisco area; they are roasting too.
I usually only refer to manuals when necessary too. Besides buying things in Japan means I can’t read them anyway! But like you said, nowadays I can often get the info online if I really need it.
After today’s FF, I’m in the mood for something lemony! 🙂
BTW, I read The Alchemist a couple of years ago. It’s a really short review but here‘s the link if you feel so inclined.
Mike – Yeah, I read assembly instructions too. I forgot to mention that, so thanks for the reminder! It’s the worst when you have 100 pieces all over the floor and no idea how they go together.
I know what you mean about self-help books – if the authors don’t follow their own advice, why should we?
Tanabata – Thanks for the link to your review! I’ll include it in my post, which I hope to have up next week – the book seems to be a pretty quick read.
I truly detest self-help books. However, I can read philosophical ones.
My BTT post!
Gautami – You’re ahead of me as far as being able to read philosophy.
While cleaning out a drawer in the file cabinet the other day, I found where my husband’s been hiding all the manuals over the years. I tossed most of them because we don’t even own half of the things they belong to anymore.
I’d completely forgotten about travel guides! I use those too, especially when planning a vacation.
I didn’t mean to hit send just yet. Blame it on sleepiness. It’s past my bedtime. 🙂
It does feel like summer is here already, doesn’t it?
My internet connection was down yesterday evening and I was a mess! I came home from work and sulked for a few hours until it came back on.
I want to snorkel too!
How did the wedding video turn out?
I hope you have a great weekend, Florinda.
Literary Feline – It does feel like summer; it’s HOT here, and probably worse where you are. But I’m going to be doing some baking today. My son and his girlfriend just broke up, and I’m going to send him some cookies. He’s 3000 miles away, and it’s his first majir breakup – not much I can do for him, but I can do that.
I would be sulking too if my internet was down, trust me.
The wedding video turned out great! My brother-in-law works in TV production, and he did it for us. It was worth the wait.
Hope you have a great weekend, Wendy!
I love snorkeling! The first time I went was in Jamaica, and you could not get me to come out of the water. All the life down there…amazing!
Thanks for playing 🙂
Janet – I was supposed to try it during a Caribbean cruise, but it didn’t work out. I hope to get another opportunity sometime.