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u/shaykai · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Not sure if this will help, but a bit about my life:

I was a late bloomer, when I was in 8th grade I looked like I was in 5th and this trend continued until I was around age 21 when a job doing physical labor helped to spark some testosterone in me and build a few muscles (not many, but my bicep was no longer as thin as my wrist).

All through the last half of jr. High and high school I thought to myself, "I'm sort of a geek, I want the girls, cool guys get girls, what would a cool guy be doing?". Cool guys played guitar, so I started playing. Cool guys ride motorcycles, so I started riding. Cool guys throw knives, so I learned to throw knives. Cool guys can fight, I took up a variety of martial arts. By the time I was around 22-23 I had a bunch of skills that your generic action hero or movie protagonist might. I also took great pains to build skills in the social arts. Charm, like any other skill, can be learned (a great starter book on this is How to Win Friend's and Influence People). I feel like I achieved my cool guy status when I went to a party only knowing one person, and I left knowing every single person's name and at least a bit about them. The art of genuine conversation is probably the most important skill you can get. The trick is the 'genuine' part, people can spot fake interest a mile away.

Somewhere between my mid teens and my early 20's I became the cool guy I always wanted to be. The funny thing is I don't feel a whole lot different. Sure I have confidence, but confidence builds naturally through success, and the foundation of success is failure. If you can summon up the courage to put yourself out there I guarantee you will fail, but you will also succeed. Soon the failures will barely be a blip on the radar towards your successes. One of my favorite quotes is by Henry Emerson Fosdick who said,

"Happiness is not mostly pleasure; it is mostly victory."

I find that to be more true each day I live.

Now I'm in my mid 20's and being 'cool' or a 'man' means something else to me. To me a man is someone who sticks to his morals and ethics even when it is uncomfortable or even deadly. A man tries to improve himself as well as the souls around him, not only through example, but also through kindness and compassion. I can't say I'm the best at this, but I do make a conscience effort every day. Some books I would recommend on your journey (I used to be a self help nut!).

How to Win Friends and Influence People - Dale Carnegie
http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/1439167346/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278824794&sr=1-1

The Hagakure - Yamamota Tsunetomo
http://www.amazon.com/Hagakure-Book-Samurai-Yamamoto-Tsunetomo/dp/4770029160/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278824735&sr=8-2

The Emperor's Handbook / Meditations - Marcus Aurelius
http://www.amazon.com/Emperors-Handbook-New-Translation-Meditations/dp/0743233832/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278824862&sr=1-1

Zen Mind, Beginners Mind - Shunryu Suzuki (this one doesn't really pertain to being a man, but I find meditation to be particularly helpful in being mindful and focused during daily life).
http://www.amazon.com/Zen-Mind-Beginners-Shambhala-Library/dp/1590302672/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=books&qid=1278824911&sr=1-1


I think the most important thing to remember is that becoming the person you want to be is a gradual process that takes time. Something almost as important to realize is that all those people you think have it all together (be they some popular jock or long dead philosophers), struggle with the same sort of things you do. We all want to live up to our potential, we all want to make as few mistakes as possible, we all worry about what others think of us to some degree. Keep living life and don't give up, you can be as awesome as you want to be, just takes a little thought and some active choices.

Cheers!

u/SkyMarshal · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

It's really hard to make the best decision when you're personally involved, and seeking advice from a diverse community like Reddit was a good idea (you can easily filter the trolls and idiots). Without reading all of either thread, I do hope someone with a strong pscyhology background and experience posted some advice. Your sister is not the first to have this problem, won't be the last, and I'm sure the field has dissected it enough to have some insight on the issue.

However, personally, I like a different tack for situations like this. Sometimes, when there's no way out of a problem, the only solution is to go further in. In this case, use a 'jiu-jitsu' or 'aikido' solution - don't oppose your adversary, redirect her.

The problem seems to be that she has both a strong libido and low self-esteem due to that rape (and perhaps just being a young girl in a world that seems specifically designed to twist and distort young women's sense of self worth). Hence she's seeking attention and validation from any old asshole on the Internet. The libido is natural, the low self-esteem is what needs to be solved. (PUtting her in a mental hospital already has one major strike against it in that respect, the very act of being committed is a self-esteem hit, so even if the place is really good, they're already starting at a deficit).

Before talking about the means to that end, lets identify the ideal end. I'm sure you've met women who have it together, smart, have a life, who are spontaneous, flirtatious, happy, and (for lack of an uncliched description) completely comfortable with their femininity and sexuality, and - most importantly - confidently in control. Regardless of their physical beauty, they have a strong sense of their emotional worth to the opposite sex, and no hangups. That's ideally where you'd want her to end up.

So how to get her there? You say she's attractive. In that case, instead of turning her in, it might have been better to sit her down and say something along the lines of 'look, you can do better than needy pervy Internet assholes. There are guys out there who are hot, rich, accomplished, socially skilled, discerning, and amazing in bed. You may not feel you're in their league, and right now you'd be correct. You've got the looks and the libido, but no skills at seduction. And you're certainly not going to learn any from these losers. Worse, you're going to learn bad habits from them, that all you need to do is flash your tits to have them eating out of your hand. But that only works on idiots. There's no challenge, or reward in that, and if you keep at it you'll spend your entire life chasing fulfillment from men from whom it will never come. They'll play mind games with you your entire life, treating you like garbage so you don't realize you can do better, and constantly come back to them for scraps of validation. Real seduction is emotional, psychological (the strongest erogenous zone is the mind). You can do better, but you have to learn how. Heres how'

Eg, speak to her on her own level, and guide her, don't rat her out. And from that point, show her the world of seduction artists, both men and women. All over the Internet now, easy to find. I say show her men's seduction communities b/c it's fascinating to see what the opposite sex is up to, and to understand the 'game' from their point of view. The Attraction Forums are probably the place to start, as is The Game and Mystery Method (although there is better, more natural, less canned/rote/routine stuff, those are good to start with since they've deconstructed the psychology of seduction very clearly, it's a fascinating read even if you never intend to learn and do it).

There are plenty of guides for women too, Mimi Tanner and Amy Waterman being the first two that come to mind (though Mimi is a little more old-fashioned, 'The Rules'-oriented), since I'm on both their email newsletter lists. The point being, all of this can be learned, it's not just some people who have it and some don't. Your sister's libido is never going away unless you med her up her whole life, which really isn't a solution. But if you can redirect her libido, and give it a healthier outlet that helps her feel like an attractive woman with high value to the opposite sex, and puts her in control of her sexuality, her wild emotions, and her relationships with men, I think that would be the best possible outcome for her.

This may have arrived too late, but hopefully it gives you something new to think about. If she hates you now, I'm not sure if you can help her in this way. But if she's still talking and listening to you, maybe you can try something like this. I assume she's got plenty of time to read books now in the hospital.

u/Dirk_Gently · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

I switched to a Merkur safty razor about 3 months ago (I used the same vibrating nonsense Fusion razor previously). I've been very happy with it. Shaving takes longer, but I get a better shave, and it's more enjoyable. I think I've nicked my face twice since I started. If you go slow you'll be fine.

I'd recommend checking out some of the forums like Badger and Blade and some youtube videos like mantic59's

Keep in mind, especially on the forums, there are some self righteous nuts who take themselves and their shaving method a little too seriously. It's not a big problem, but be aware so you don't get put off by it.

I got all my stuff on amazon (because I have a prime membership), But west coast shaving is a favorite of many. A usual recommendation is to get one of their blade samplers, so you can see what works for you. I like Derby extras, but blades are a personal preference thing. Most people will tell you to stay away from feather blades when you're first starting. I haven't had a problem with them, but my razor isn't super aggressive and my face isn't overly sensitive.

You have to get your technique down before you'll get good shaves, and that takes a while. The most helpful advice I got was to lock your wrist and make all the movement with your upper arm. This helps you to keep a consistent angle, and was really helpful for me.

Is it more economical? It can be, blades are much cheaper than modern cartridges. Especially once you figure out what type of blades you like, you can buy in larger quantities and get a better discount. The initial outlay is higher though, you'll need shaving soap or cream, a razor, blades, and a decent brush.

On the subject of shaving brushes, most people will recommend you get a badger hair brush. I have both a moderate quality badger brush and a cheap boar brush, and really, I like both. One of the good things about using a shave brush is that it scrubs your face, and a boar brush will do this far more aggressively. feels good man. The badger brushes are softer, and hold more water for a nicer lather. So it's something you'll have to try for yourself.

So if you have $100 to spend, I'd probably go:

razor
brush
blades
cream (if you're not opposed to menthol, proraso if very nice)

So it's not super cheap to get into, but the razor will last forever unless you take an angle grinder to it, the brush will last pretty much forever if you treat it right. You get 40 blades for $16 (compare to 4 blades for the same price for a cartridge) and the proraso is a big ass tube that will last you a long time.

Hopefully that was all coherent enough to be useful.

*edit
Also, Buying shaving stuff can be addicting. Looking around at this stuff makes me want to spend at least $400,000 on razors and brushes and shaving creams. beware.

u/mahonster · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Congrats on getting out of that bad foster situation man. I might have a few tips and tricks I haven't seen getting put out yet for you.

  1. I second what some people are saying, take as many showers as you want. Something I did find, however, is that if I only shampooed my hair every other day, eventually my hair wouldn't get oily. I've found that something like a Head and Shoulders shampoo/conditioner all in one cleans and keeps the white flakies off.

  2. Those razor burn bumps were the bane of my existence, 'till I discovered the old-school double bladed safety razors (like this one and learned how to use one. For the shaving cream I alternate between Shave Secret (you can find it at Wal-Mart for a couple bucks) and a Gillette sensitive skin gel. No more bumps.

  3. I am one hairy dude. I even have hair on the backs of my fingers. Mostly what I do is keep my pubes trimmed up (helps keep down body odor), and every once in a while use a trimmer with a guard to trim up my eyebrows and get rid of the uni-brow. They would look like caterpillars having sex on my face otherwise. I wouldn't recommend the eyebrow trimming unless it noticeably gets out of hand, but definitely take care of the uni-brow, if you're cursed with that. Otherwise, lots and lots of chicks dig a hairy-chested (fit) dude.

  4. T-shirts get one use from me. Button downs, one to three uses, depending on if I've sweated. Jeans... if it looks or smells dirty, wash them. Otherwise, just hang them up at the end of the day and you're good to go. If it looks dirty or smells like anything other than your deodorant/cologne, wash it. I just use liquid detergent and about 2 cups of vinegar in the wash. The vinegar actually helps get rid of odors and stains. Also, use unscented fabric softener sheets. It helps keep your clothes looking nice, and there won't be any scent to clash with whatever you're wearing.

    Also, I highly recommend sticking with something like an Old Spice deodorant and no cologne, unless you can ask a girl that you trust what cologne would smell good on you. And then only use a spray or two under your shirt for the day.

    Biotene mouthwash (from Wal-Mart again) dissolves the gunk that is left on your teeth after eating, makes brushing your teeth much more effective. It's a bit more expensive than Listerine, but I've only had a couple cavities in my entire life.

    A good, comfortable pair of shoes will make you feel and look better. If your feet hurt, then you will hurt all over. My personal favorite for everyday wear is Macbeths (you can find them at Journeys in the mall). Good foot support, they look great, and they're (relatively) inexpensive. I was without a vehicle in California for about 6 months, wore a pair out walking everywhere in them without a single problem.

    I know I'm late to the party, but I hope these help!
u/[deleted] · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Alright I hope you get this. Sounds like you are a lot like I was growing up. I would read a book a week and listen to two. haha. these were books i had to grow into a lot of times. so don't get discouraged. some of these are tough but they'll help you in the long run. promise.

anyways.. here's my list.

Foreign Policy

-Dying to Win- Science and strategy behind suicide terrorism

-Imperial Hubris- good book by a CIA vet on what to expect because of US foreign policy

-Blowback- Same type of book as above, but better.

-The Looming Tower- a good history and account for Sept 11






Economics and Money

-Freakonomics- Ever wonder about he economics of drug dealing, including the surprisingly low earnings and abject working conditions of crack cocaine dealers? This book is fantastic.

-Outliers- Gladwell is a master of minute detail. This book helps you focus on the future.

-Blink-Great book on intuitive judgement

-The Age of Uncertainty- the best book I've ever read on the fight between Capitalism and Communism

Biology and Science

-Why Do Men Have Nipples- a general Q&A book. Good for info you can use at a party or to impress somebody. really random stuff.

-A Short History of Nearly Everything- Humorous take on some heavy heavy science. Easier to read than people think.

-The Ancestors Tale- It was hard picking just one Dawkins book, so I gave you two.

-The Greatest Show on Earth- Dawkins is the world-standard for books on biology and evolution in layman's terms.

Good Novels

-1984-Hopefully no explanation needed

-A Brave New World- a different type of dystopian universe compared to 1984. read both back to back.

-The Brothers Karamazov- My favorite piece of Russian Literature. It made me think more than any other book on this list honestly. I can't recommend it enough.

-Catch-22- There are so many layers to this book. So much symbolism, so much allusion. You must pay attention to get the full affect of this book. Great satire. Masterfully written.

-Alas Babylon- Yet another dystopian novel. This time about what would happen after a world wide nuclear war.

-Slaughterhouse-5 Vonnegut is a badass. And that's really all there is to know. I read this book in one day. It was that good. Satire on WW2.

Philosophy

-Sophies World- Good intro to a lot of basic principles of the major philosophers

-Beyond Good and Evil- Nietzche can get REALLY depressing because he is a nihilist but this book is extremely quotable and will give fresh perspective on a lot of things.

-Atlas Shrugged- Ayn Rand's masthead. Its a novel, but its also a commentary on her precious objectivism.


So there you have it. My short list of books to read. I can get deeper into certain subjects if you want me to. Just PM me.

u/hydroxy · 52 pointsr/AskReddit

Ideas I've had or seen in the thread thus far:

u/Thiox · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Rules of the Game - by Neil Strauss

http://www.amazon.com/Rules-Game-Neil-Strauss/dp/0061911690/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1302470632&sr=8-1

I can't believe noone has mentioned it yet. If you want to finally start having relationships with people, getting girls this is the way to go. It takes you through the steps required to interact meaningfully with people (the basis of relationships) and takes you through the basics involved from meeting someone to taking them on a date. (It's a well known idea that there are a number of stages involved in for lack of a better word the courting process, eg. first meeting someone and connecting on some level, building comfort- so that you are both comfortable around each other etc. - this book takes you through the basics)

And the best thing is its not written by some douche- this guy is genuine. The reason he wrote the book was to help guys like me and you who are trying to figure out how to start being social, dating girls and having alot of sex. He's the author of The Game

http://www.amazon.com/Game-Penetrating-Secret-Society-Artists/dp/0060554738/ref=sr_1_1?s=books&ie=UTF8&qid=1302471001&sr=1-1

a great adventure into the world of pickup, it's an absolute blast to read!!! (if you really want check it out quick without buying just yet, you can torrent it hint hint*) Anyway so he has some mad adventures, he went from this normal average guy to this guy thats irresistable to women, bedding many, MANY of them. Its hard to describe this without making him or me sound like a douche but he's awesome and genuine, he frikkin wrote a book to help guys out damnit!!!

Anyway the reason I'm saying all of this is well, I went through the exact same thing. I'm 22 now. About a year ago now I had enough of the bull$hit and decided to figure out how to get with girls and be social, figure all that shit out. Well, I succeeded. Life is better than ever, I have no problems talking to girls, dating them and fucking the hell out of them ^.^ Also figured out who (well still working on it) are the people in my life I can trust, who will help me and who want me to succeed and who are the fucking deadweights holding me back that I have to forget. Ain't being no douche but about a month ago I was seeing 3 girls every week regularly to fuck and I accidentally made one of them fall in love with me >.<, fuck I wasn't prepared for that considering I didn't lay down the groundwork for our relationship n' stuff.

In the end, I realized who I was (still on the journey) and this is the basis of social interaction. The ideal world should be inter-dependant, each person knows what they wants and interact with each other in that respect. Having a laugh with someone is fun, thats why we do it! But we should never give up who we are in order to do it.
Fuck lol, that's way too little words to explain that idea, but the idea comes from Stephen Covey's 7 habits of highly effective people (EPIC BOOK)- which lays the groundwork out on how to live life.

Anyway, PLEASE, PLEASE have a look into The Rules of the Game, I think this is exactly what you're looking for.

Send me a message- I'm here to help a fellow man who needs help out :)

u/Doc_Strangeluv · 1 pointr/AskReddit

You can reformat your hard drive! It sounds like you have some real positive motivators in your life, too.

I think you're looking for some form of re-imprint/cognitive behavioral therapy to help set your mind on the right track, much like the brainwashing the army likely put you through, but to your own advantage. Many recovering alcoholics find this refuge in religion. A church might actually be a good bet for you, but as an avid redditor, you may be more geared towards finding your own solution. Counseling is helpful, but it sounds as if you want to set your own direction.

In the meantime, you want to avoid stress and lower your cortisol levels. A few ways to do this besides prescription drugs would be:

  • restful nights' sleep (8 hours is just a guess)

  • maintain a nutritious diet

  • Omega 3s (eat fish)

  • daily exercise (to a certain level)

  • massage

  • pranayama yoga (this is, in my opinion, the best technique you can learn to reduce stress)

    the mind is a powerful tool, but for many of us, (especially those predisposed to addiction and depression) it can be a challenge to control.

    Maybe try some self help books for some good mind control techniques. I don't particularly agree with the philosophies of all of these, but there are good things to be gleaned from each; (Tony Robbins, Deepak Choprah, Richard Warren, Christopher Hyatt, Viktor Frankl, Feeling Good, Zen and the Art of Motorcycle Maintenance, 7 Habits of Highly Effective People, Art of War, Tao of Pooh, 48 Laws of Power, The Secret, Prometheus Rising).

    However you DECIDE TO PROGRESS, have fun!
u/qwicksilfer · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Oh god. Okay. I feel like I've been preparing for this post my whole life (or at least since I found these awesome things on amazon):

u/Imagist · -6 pointsr/AskReddit

The entire purpose of your best man speech is to get you laid. Wedding Crashers was a mediocre movie, but the basic premise was spot-on: nothing kicks a woman's sex drive into higher gear than a public display of commitment. The evolutionary purpose of selecting a best man is to allow one to pick an unrelated set of genes which you approve of to promote for intermingling with genes similar to yours (your family's). Basically, your friend has put the spotlight on one man in a crowd of horny women.

So here's how you do it: pick up The Game and Rules of the Game before writing your speech. Practice beforehand. Your goal is to exude confidence. The wedding traditions will practically force you to interact with women: do so with gusto, but make a point of completely ignoring the girl you want to hook up with (make it obvious). Then go do your speech. You want to subtly insult the happy couple but do so in a way that's joking so it's not offensive. This will make you come across as bold and likable. Then go for the gusto and request that they give a round of applause for the couple (which, to the subconscious, is about the same as a round of applause for you). While the focus of the room is still centered on you, but there's a little confusion as they transition to the next event, make a beeline to your target woman. You'll be at the height of your social attractiveness and she won't be able to resist you.

u/ballpein · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

See if your school has any counselling available that might be free. Failing that, many psychologists and therapists work on a sliding scale and you might be able to find someone affordable. You should only need a few sessions with a good psychologist to see some real progress.

As far as pills go, something like Atavan might help you manage the panic attacks, but it is habit forming, no matter what any dr. tells you. I don't normally advocate medication, but in this case it sounds like you're in an urgent situation and need whatever help you can get to finish up the semester. The good thing about Atavan (the generic is lorazepam) is that you only take it when you're having a panic attack, and it works really fast. If you do get pills, just make sure that once you get through this crisis you make some time for yourself to get off them and deal with your issues - pills are a bandaid, not a cure.

Just be honest with your profs about the situation. You're not the first person to have this problem and I highly doubt they'll think you're just lazy. They will either be understanding and grant you extensions, or tell you to pound sand - either way, nothing lost. I struggled with depression after the passing of my father as I was finishing up my BA... like you, I got all angsty about going to my profs for extensions, but when I finally did they were all understanding and helpful. One prof even confided in me that she was a sufferer of depression and we actually bonded a bit.

I highly recommend the book "feeling good" by David Burns. It's focused on depression, but I guarantee there will be useful techniques for you in this book. It's based on cognitive behavioral therapy which is fast, relatively simple, and effective. If you end up going to a shrink (please do) I recommend seeing someone who employs CBT.

good luck, and please feel free to PM me if I can be of any help at all.

u/Trudzilllla · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

OK, so most people will have the same basic plan: Get out of town, find remote fortifiable location. lay low, gather supplies, hold out til you can rebuild (great basic strategies Here!)

However, most people will be cramming the highways with the same strategy, then you get swarmed in the car on the way out.

SO, you need a contingency plan to hold out until you actually find a safe/quick/Stealthy way to execute the get-the-hell-outta-dodge part.

Supplies

have enough supplies on hand so that you could safely bunker down where (or near to) where you are. This is good advice in general and the same supplies will help you hunker down should a hurricane or a riot sweep through or society falls apart for some other reason.

  1. Food/water - enough to last for a couple weeks, stuff that will cover your basic needs for 2 weeks- 1 month (Canned food, dried food, rice, beans, etc)
  2. Basic Defense- Guns are great and all but are loud and need ammo. Think knives, axes or bludgeons. Ideally something with some reach.
  3. Fortifications- Know how you are going to secure your shelter. Going to board up your windows? Better have the tools on hand and know what you're going to use to do it.
    4)Basic Hurricane Kit - hand-powered flashlight, Radio, signal flares etc. buy at any sporting goods store.

    Secure Shelter

    Now this part depends greatly on when/where you are when you become aware whats going on. But in general, (unless you are just pants-shittingly unaware of your surroundings) you should have a day or so between your first Zombie sighting and when stuff really starts going to shit.

    You need to have a clear idea in your head where you are going to draw the line in the sand across which the Undead shall not cross. For me this is the small section of my apartment complex. 22 units with a high iron fence all the way around. 3 entry points which can all automatically lock. I'd need to first secure and barricade these then begin to make a sweep of the neighboring units. There are 3 possibilities of what you will find. 1) Unoccupied unit - poor bastards were either caught in the initial outbreak or tried to make a run for it. make a not of these and come back for supplies. 2) Survivors - Congratulations you're not alone. enlist their help or have them keep their heads down. 3) Biters - You know what you have to do.

    Adapt

    Now once you have a safe defensible location for at least the short run, all planning goes out the window. Depending on how situations develop your plans are probably going to get blown to shit. Maybe the government falls faster than anticipated, so they don't have time to firebomb major cities. Maybe you become entrenched and are going to have to survive in place ad infinitum. Maybe you find your escape path and can make for the hills and follow the default plans.

    You can never be prepared - only more prepared

    TLDR; Have fun feasting on the brains of your loved ones

u/winnen · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I can't offer you a lot in the way of non-fiction. If you haven't read it, Gödel, Escher, Bach by Douglas Hofstadter is a good read. It is very dense and slow reading, but can be rewarding. If you like computer science, biology, math, or music in any combination, this could be a good book for you.

The secret to picking good non-fiction is to find something you're interested in or curious about and read a book about it. Things like neuro-linguistic programming, cryptography, riding horses, biking, running, cacti of the saguaro desert, Trees of the Eastern Forests, Scuba diving, Lockpicking, Prestidigitation (aka "magic tricks"), etc.

Of other books I've loved but could not mention in my top 3, I include:

  • Kushiel's Dart by Jacqueline Carey
  • Black Sun Rising by C.S. Friedman
  • Cryptonomicon by Neal Stephenson
  • Slaughterhouse Five by Kurt Vonnegut (or any book by Kurt Vonnegut)

    That's all I can think of right now at work, but if you want more, PM me and I'll see what I can dig up.
u/jaystop · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Identify things about yourself that you would like to improve.

For example, are you happy with the way you look? Change what you can through exercise and healthy eating. Not sure if you exercise much, but, if not, you would be surprised how much better you feel after a good run, bike, weight room session. Endorphins, man!

It's also more than just being happy about how you look.

Identify aspects of your personality that you would like to improve. Awkward talking to girls? There are tons of books to help with that. The Game by Neil Strauss helped my when I was your age. Don't be put off by it's douchebaggy appearance.

Maybe if you gave some specific examples of what exactly you want to improve.

u/Seoul_Train · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Seeking help is obviously a good thing for you to do...or simply having a good friend who'll listen to you vent is also really helpful.

Certain vitamins and minerals can help lessen the effects of depression like Vitamin E. Also exercise!

Finally, a book I read that helped me out this past year after I got out of college and was very disillusioned with my post grad life/depressed about personal issues was Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy. Written by a doctor, it has some really great tips on written exercises to help you get out of the cycle of negative/depressed thinking. Give it a try, and if you don't want to buy it just go chill in a Barnes and Noble for a while and read it! It was in the bestselling paperbacks section when I found it. Hope this helps!

u/lookslikespeed · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Just finished reading "Truth About Addiction and Recovery" (amazon link), and it was fantastic.

I'm 27, and (with the exception of a 2 year sober period) have abused alcohol pretty consistently since I was a teen. Not in the outlandish braggadocios way, I was just drunk a lot, and used it to escape -- social situations, romantic situations, painful situations, boredom, lack of substantial goals, and just as a time filler.

The book basically called out the whole 'Addiction is a Disease(tm)' mentality perpetuated by a lot of doctors, counselors and especially AA. They argue very effectively against the whole concept that 'ZOMG you have a disease, and are powerless against it, and will ALWAYS be an alcoholic!!'.

I can't summarize the book very effectively in a short post, but it has really changed my approach. Instead of constantly struggling in my head against the urge to drink, and having ample opportunities to overdrink, I fill the gaps in my life up with positive things that don't really tolerate overindulgence. A healthy life & support structure simply doesn't have room for substance abuse.

I still go out on weekends and have a few (sometimes more than a few), but I know I have to wake up in the morning to go hiking with friends, or work out at the gym. I'm slowly replacing 'normal fun = drunk' with 'normal fun = clearheaded'.

I'd also recommend 'Feeling Good' (amazon link), because it kind of sounds like you allow yourself to drift into depressive thoughts.

Anyway, good luck.

u/hippopippopotamus · 4 pointsr/AskReddit

I'm sorry you've got SAD - it's horrid. I've had it for 10 years, so I have a few suggestions that work for me.

  • Light therapy is probably the most effective thing you can do. 30-60 minutes first thing in the morning. 10,000 lux at 12-18" from your face (yes, it's incredibly bright and really close). If you get a prescription for it, your insurance should cover part or all of the cost of the lamp. If you can't get a prescription, they're available online, and $100-200 is a low price to pay to combat worsening and reccurent depression. Just make sure the one you buy gives off 10,000 lux at 12-18".

  • Cognitive behavioral therapy could be helpful, even if your SAD doesn't reach clinical degrees of depression. Feeling Good by David Burns is popular and has been really helpful for me. You can also go see a therapist.

  • Regular aerobic exercise has been repeatedly shown to be highly effective at reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety. While it's best to get your heart rate up, at the very least take a brisk 20 minute walk every day. Get outside, every day.

  • Fish oil and folic acid were recommended to me by multiple psychiatrists because they support the production of neurotransmitters. 1000mg/day fish oil (I take Spectrum Brand fish oils because they're made from fish very low on the food chain, which minimizes the levels of mercury and PCBs in the oil). 1000mcg/day folic acid, but be sure to get enough B12.

  • Deplin is a prescription form of folic acid for those people whose bodies are highly inefficient at metabolizing folic acid. People who suffer from depression are more likely to have the mutation that reduces metabolism efficiency. Probably not something to try right away, but something to keep in mind.

  • Dawn Simulators like this one can help you wake up in the morning.

  • Meditation can help reduce your symptoms, especially if you can get into a regular practice of it. NYTimes article about it here.

  • Sleep hygiene is especially critical. Go to bed at the same time every day, and get up early enough to maximize the hours you're awake during daylight.

  • Socializing can be tough if you go through social withdrawal in the winter, but you'll probably feel better after hanging out with friends.

  • Anti-depressants are an option, but if you're hesitant about them, there is a lot you can do to treat your SAD aside from anti-depressants.

  • Winter Blues is a pretty comprehensive book about SAD.

    It's only November, so there's a long stretch of winter ahead. Feel free to PM if you ever start feeling down. Seriously, any time.

    Good luck, and I hope that you have a good winter!

    edit: formatting
u/real_nice_guy · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Here's the thing:

You have to be doing things all the time, it doesn't matter too much what, but preferably things that are in the direction you want to head, and you just loose yourself in it, and being so positive and involved in something attracts positive situations and chances to you. You then meet people, and opportunities present themselves, then you grab them by the horns and there you go.

This isn't to say, "well things will just happen!" Luck is only part of it, a very small part, the other part is meeting everyone, and making sure to leave a good impression, get coffee with people, get them talking about themselves.

if you fail, don't think about it, you get up and you keep going and going and going until you succeed.

Also, no "what ifs," you have to not think, but do. The mind can be man's best friend, or his worst enemy, and by being active and not in your own head all the time, you'll master the mind.

READ THIS BOOK

u/FatalErection · 0 pointsr/AskReddit

This is going to sound completely random but hear me out.

Remote Control Helicopter. Just a little indoor one.

If likes video games I know he likes controllers, keyboards and electronic stuff.

I got one last year from my sister as kind of a joke gift. Jokes on her, I maybe 27 and too old for toys, but I love it so much I broke it when it got out of control and fell in my dogs water dish and now have another 6 various models.

If you consider it, the Syma S107 is probably the best and most affordable starter. Just keep it away from water.

u/ibleedblu7 · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

My list:




u/MonkeyMachine · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Learn how your brain and body effect your behavior subconsciously.

The first step in learning any practical skill is to familiarize yourself with your tools, if you want to be a woodworker, you need to understand how a saw, hammer and nails work, if you want to be a programmer, you need to understand how to type and how to use your IDE and compiler.

It's surprising to me that so few people take the time to examine how their automatic responses dictate their behavior, when it really is such a fundamental building block for any sort of mental/emotional development.

Here's a few books to get you started (you'll probably be able to find all of these at your local library as well):

How to Win Friends and Influence People

Predictably Irrational

Influence: the Psychology of Persuasion

Also, an oddly insightful series of fiction books, The War against the Chtorr series by David Gerrold expands upon the idea of treating your brain like a machine that you're been programming without knowing it since birth and how to become consiously aware of your 'programming' so that you can better direct your actions. The thought exercises he invents in the stories presents some intriguing ideas.

The point of all these books would be to help you build a base of understanding of the tools that we are ALL working with, and from there you can much more easily, and consciously work toward becoming the kind of person you want to be, whatever specific form that takes is up to you.

I think it's important to approach personal development like this, in the same way that it is important to understand how addition and subtraction work before you try to understand how calculus works :)

u/poonky · 4 pointsr/AskReddit

I suffered with it for a long time and I saw a cognitive behavioural therapist.
It worked great, best thing I ever went through with all my life. On my final session with him he suggested I buy this book.

http://www.amazon.co.uk/Feeling-Good-New-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1319468027&sr=8-1

Reading this book is the nearest thing he could suggest to me to actually seeing a therapist in person, you have to make sure you do the exercises in the book also to learn how to change and improve your thinking patterns.

I bought the book twice. One to read every day and one on standby in case I lose the 1st book! Awesome book, and I sincerely hope my suggestion helps some of the people in here to move forward.

u/heytherejesus · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

Not a biography but How to Win Friends and Influence People is a good read. It's more about self-improvement than inspiration, though.

u/fancycat · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Dale Carnegie has a book called How to Stop Worrying and Start Living. I admit I haven't read it yet, but I got huge value out of his other book How to Win Friends and Influence People, so I expect this one is also good. Maybe some other redditors know more?

u/thisisntadam · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Read. Make sure they are good books. If you want a leg-up on your classmates, make sure they cover topics you will be studying next year. Probably the best books for this off the top of my head are Lies My Teacher Told Me and A Short History of Nearly Everything. The first covers American history (including Columbus), the second covers many of the natural sciences.

For someone who is looking at public school as a failing educational tool, these two books will do a wonderful job of explaining topics in a way that will make them interesting and living subjects, not just a useless series of facts to be memorized.

As far as literature goes, try to read some heavy-hitting classics instead of whatever fantasy/Twilight crap someone your age might be reading. Again, try to keep ahead of the curve, both with what you are going to study and what is intellectually beyond what you are going to study. Something with more than 300 pages, if you need a measuring stick. If you really want to go above and beyond, email teachers and ask for book suggestions that AREN'T on the suggested summer reading list.

u/thegrinchwhostoleyou · 6 pointsr/AskReddit

Scalp Massager. I'd consider it more of a mini gift/ stocking stuffer. It was part of the gift I got for my conservative Catholic father's birthday. The man tells his children to just get him golf balls for every gifting occasion, which gets old after awhile and does his other passions a disservice (like his love for novelty items/gadgets). This item was the jumping off point for my new golf ball supplementing gift strategy and he enjoyed it so much that he even gave it as a gift for a few of his coworkers.

u/seeker135 · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

One day at a time. Plan as best you can, but you are adjusting to a different way of looking at the world. Take it slow, give yourself a chance.

See if you can get to the library and read this book. It was recommended to me by my therapist. It helped me by the time I finished the first chapter. Read the reviews on Amazon. If the library doesn't have it, used copies are really inexpensive.

Keep your dog. There is housing for both of you, somewhere. Best of luck.

u/McKrakalaka · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

http://www.amazon.com/Ready-Player-One-Ernest-Cline/dp/030788743X
The first time in a long time I have been so sucked in that after finishing int in 3 days, I wanted to go right back to it. Every child of the 80s I have shared it with, especially those who were extra-nerdy, loved this book.

http://www.amazon.com/A-Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/076790818X/ref=tmm_pap_title_0?ie=UTF8&qid=1347860128&sr=1-1
If you want non-fiction, I finished this recently and it is hands down the best non-fiction book I have ever read. History filled with compelling narratives rather than dry dates and facts, Bryson brings the past to life - the story of how Halley convinced Newton to write the Principia even though Newton would rather have been searching for King Solomon's tomb for the dates of Christ's second coming or practicing alchemy is just one example of the wonderful narratives that fill this book.

u/jsmayne · 1 pointr/AskReddit

How to Win Friends and Influence people simple tips on how to be a better human being

The Richest Man in Babylon Simple tips to keep and grow the money you have

Factory Girls true stories of the modern Chinese migration of young women from rural farm areas to cites to work in factories

Hyperspace "Wil Wheaton recommended" blow your mind with science!

u/jhaddon · 1 pointr/AskReddit

There are people who teach seduction tips. I'm warning you now though, I probably know just enough to make an ass out of myself by talking about it. It's not something that I've invested a lot of time in, myself. From my extremely uninformed understanding, there tend to be two major points of view:

  1. Being a man of "value". This is the theory that most people I know have looked into. Bettering yourself, building confidence, and then being proactive.

  2. Peacocking. From what I understand this is wearing something ridiculous so that woman have a reason to come up to you, versus you cold approaching them. While I know that this theory works (I go out dressed rather unusually, but only because I like canes, tobacco pipes, silly hats, et cetera), from what I've been told most people feel that there is a lot of deception around this method.

    I've never studied any of that myself, I only know what friends have told me. Reddit does have a seduction subreddit, which may be of help. It's not the most active subreddit, IIRC. The Game by Neil Strauss is supposedly the best introduction. YMMV, I only know that it has helped some friends of mine. I believe you can find more info by searching for seduction, pick up artist, real man, peacock theory, mystery method. There appears to be a terrible stigma around all of this, so I stress that it should all be read with a grain of salt. There is no magic, no secret, as far as I'm concerned.

    One friend who did study it told me very proudly that he is finally proud of who he is, and no longer feels the need to hide behind his shell. I guess thats the point of all of it; breaking out of your shell.
u/are_you_slow · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Not sure about series, but Christopher Moore's stuff is really good if you like Satire.

Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal - Is an amazing book.

A Dirty Job: A Novel - was pretty good too.

u/royrwood · 1 pointr/AskReddit

The complete Calvin and Hobbes, hardcover, box-set.


Or how about a big print to hang up? The demotivational posters at ThinkGeek are all pretty great. Or for something a little deeper, I've always liked this one, given how totally human it is (plus the artwork she does is amazing).


P.S. You sound like an awesome gf for doing this kind of research.

u/implante · 1 pointr/AskReddit

oh dear god yes. I bought this for a buddy's bachelor party (he and all of the other guys went to RPI). It was great success.

u/StickleyMan · 51 pointsr/AskReddit

A Rubber Band Shooting Pen

They've actually got quite a few cool things. None of them really useful, but definitely some awesome up in there.

EDIT: Also, a scalp massager.
"It makes you feel like your head is cumming." - /u/The_Horse_Yeller

u/NaturalLogofOne · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Fun Toy that's not expensive. I have one and it's ridiculously fun: http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1321847149&sr=1-1

Other Gifts: In thinking back on gifts I've really enjoyed from my dad, I would say books that he really loved and got for me. Even though I didn't read some of them until years later, I eventually was so glad I got them and we've talked about them on numerous occasions. One that comes to mind was Asimov's Foundation.

But also, helicopter. Fun!

u/doublegreyhound · 0 pointsr/AskReddit

Quit acting like a wuss-bag.

Purchase a copy of The Game by Neil Strauss

I'm not suggesting this book because it will help you become a pickup artist (it won't), but I highly suggest reading it in order to boost your self-esteem and awareness of how women work. Granted, PUA materials aren't completely accurate, and us men will never really know what makes the female member tick... but its a place to start.

I hope that helps.

u/MrFantastic21 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I'll keep it simple, go out and buy this http://www.amazon.com/Game-Penetrating-Secret-Society-Artists/dp/0060554738

Not for the sake of becoming a super smooth ladies man, but there are a lot of anecdotes in there that will help you understand why you feel certain emotions and help you to overcome them. Its an interesting read and if nothing else you might learn a thing or two about the fairer sex.

I never had a problem immersing myself in a social setting or chatting up a woman that I was attracted to, and came upon the book purely by accident. Nevertheless, I've since read it 3 times and every time I do I learn something new about myself.

u/unbibium · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

Upvoted for differentiating proper behavioral therapy, but perhaps you could be more specific.

I'm familiar with the David Burns model of cognitive-behavioral therapy, and the Albert Ellis model of rational-emotive behavioral therapy, and they're both very specific, and only partially depend on talking through things with a therapist. Feeling Good by David Burns is probably the best introduction, though there's also a handbook with lots of blank pages if you're the kind of person who does better filling out forms than writing in a notebook.

The idea is that it takes practice, and there are mental exercises with pen and paper that you can do every day, much more often than you could see a therapist affordably.

u/duble_v · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

A good book about how to maintain social interactions is How to Win Friends and Influence People (link to Amazon).



Not sure how old you are, but I've found Primer Magazine to be a cool website with all sorts of information, ranging from style advice, to how to find a job, investing, dating, etc.). It's targeted at post-collegiate men, but if you're younger than that, hey, you can be the cool dude among your friends.

u/grotgrot · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I strongly recommend reading Made in America by Bill Bryson. In theory it is about the history of American English but in practise it is also American history and as with all Bill Bryson books is very funny in addition to being informative. It covers this whole naming situation, including amusing efforts at regulating spelling. The post office did (eventually!) manage to enforce that there couldn't be duplicate names within a state.

A short history of nearly everything is also a rollicking good read.

u/orandomthought0 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I taught myself how to live, and be myself, something extremely valuable and underrated; something extremely misunderstood.

In the end, all your knowledge and existence is moot unless you share it with others.

One of the things this community (reddit) hates is the study of relationships (the game / the rules). Dating and sex has been a huge passion of mine, both as a study and a hobby.

That feeling you get, the moment you put yourself out there for the acceptance of another, is a culmination of your life experiences and your self valuation. It's a thrill.

I took that journey with 2 of my friends and we all came out extremely content, and our life was immensely richer (in both financial and social aspects). Think of each element in your life as a spoke on a wheel, you can't take one further without the rest growing as well.

There are many bumps along the road and many set backs. You will think your life had much less pain and hardship before you took this journey, and you would be right, but you would also realize just how precious all those memories you have attained are.

If you are already very fulfilled as a person, by all means, ignore this post. But if you thirst for a type of knowledge that stretches to every other type of knowledge; you should start on this as soon as possible.

u/lilgreenrosetta · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Well there's the sequel of course: Superfreakonomics. And everything by Malcom Gladwell kind of falls into the same genre: The Tipping Point, Outliers, Blink... Then there's The Long Tail by Chris Anderson of Wired and Bad Science by The Guardian's Ben Goldacre....

A Short History of Nearly Everything is also absolutely brilliant 'popular science' but not as 'generation now' as the ones above.

That's just top of my head. All of these books are a few years old but still a great read. I'd say they're all typical Redditor reading if that makes sense.

u/HiggityHank · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I'm going to clue you into an amazing thing: The Safety Razor.

Yes, it's $30+ dollars. but it will last you the rest of your days, and unlike cartridge or disposable razors, blades are CHEAP. Like $0.20 a piece cheap, and they last (on average I get a week out of a blade)

There's a learning curve, which basically consists of "You won't get it all in one pass, don't be scared of a second" "let the razor do the work" "no pressure on the razor" and "For the love of god stop pushing on the damned razor! That's why you bleed!"

Once you're there, you'll get a better shave, for less money, and feel better for it (disposable razors fuck up my skin something fierce, safety razors do not 1 blade doesn't irritate as much as 2/3/5/11 blades.)

u/slash178 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

This is what I bought to start out. It is a bit of an upfront investment, but I appreciate shaving way more now (and I don't think it takes longer by much like people say).

DE Safety Razor
http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Long-Handled-Safety-Razor/dp/B000NL0T1G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410294107&sr=8-1&keywords=merkur+long+handle

http://www.amazon.com/Tweezerman-2801-h-Mens-Shaving-Brush/dp/B000G647Y8/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1410294228&sr=8-4&keywords=badger+brush

http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Shaving-Eucalyptus-Menthol-Formulation/dp/B00837YY18/ref=sr_1_2?ie=UTF8&qid=1410294249&sr=8-2&keywords=proraso

http://www.amazon.com/Proraso-Pre-shave-Cream-Refresh-Ounce/dp/B0082BYLS6/ref=sr_1_4?ie=UTF8&qid=1410294249&sr=8-4&keywords=proraso

http://www.amazon.com/Double-Safety-Razor-Blade-Variety/dp/B0038KA5RC/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1410294301&sr=8-1&keywords=double+edge+blades+variety

Now I took the plunge head first but you might want to get a smaller number of blades until you know its for you. I recommend an assortment though as the type of blade make a difference, and there's no way to find out what you like but to try it (for 2 weeks at least).

Read up on /r/wicked_edge for tips, or just the amazon reviews have a lot of tips. It does take some skill/concentration but I'm a clumsy idiot and I figured it out after a week or two.

u/Grammar_Buddy · 27 pointsr/AskReddit

Some of it isn't exactly correct but it is easy and fun to read and you'll definitely learn something:

A Short History of Nearly Everything

u/IHopeTheresCookies · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

I have this and it's big brother. I did manage to break a blade on the larger one but I found replacements for about $12. The little has more flexible blades so it doesn't seem like they'll break as easily, also it seems to handle better. It's actually much easy to fly / control than the bigger.

u/Shrikey · 1 pointr/AskReddit

A Short History Of Nearly Everything*
Science & history & personal anecdotes mixed to make for fascinating
Reading.

H2G2
Learn to laugh.

The Giving Tree
Taught me more about being a kind, friendly person that anything else.

u/pawingo · 1 pointr/AskReddit
  1. BugASalt - $30 - indegogo
  2. Syma s107 RC Helicopter - $17.98 - amazon
  3. Raspberry PI - $35 - newark.com
  4. Lego Prehistoric Hunters - $24.99 - amazon

    Might as well order one of those bugasalt. I'm sure you can put this to good use.. An RC helicopter is always a lot of fun. Try it during your work break. It makes the day go better.. I swear!
    It seems you have an interest in programming stuff, so you can't go wrong with a RaspberryPi. And who doesn't want a LEGO TRex!!!!!!

    Aaand crap... I just read Needs to be able to ship to Australia.
    I'm guessing pick one in this case...
u/resisttheurge · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

Thanks! :D

I base most of my opinions about these matters on a most wonderful and excellent book: Gödel, Escher, Bach. You should check it out!

u/callmejay · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Write it (whatever "it" is) out and take it to your doctor/psychologist/psychiatrist.

I'm not sure why your school has a position on medication or why it matters, but you can just go to your regular GP and get it. Generic medications are cheap. Also, your GP obviously isn't allowed to tell anybody about what you say to him/her.

There are some books by psychologists that are helpful. I recommend Feeling Good and Thoughts & Feelings.

Also, I don't know a lot about this, but you can probably work with your school to take a leave of absence or postpone your finals or retake your classes etc. and not lose your scholarship. You are undergoing medical issues (depression, anxiety) and they usually have policies about that sort of thing.

The good news is anxiety and depression are very treatable! You will almost certainly get much better once you receive the treatment you need. Hang in there. :-) hug

u/mechdelly · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Habits are easier replaced than lost. Find something else you can do with your time and you'll forget video games in no time.

  • Go to the gym (im sure all that sitting around could be worked off, plus this helps with the next one)
  • Get a girlfriend if you don't have one, or a least practice the game. Girls know how to suck up a ton of your time
  • Get a(nother) job to get some extra spending cash
  • Play a sport

    Also, you'll want to make sure the games you were addicted to are far from reach. Uninstall, then put the discs up for sale on ebay or CL or if you're feeling generous, give them to goodwill or something.

    Finally, have someone you can call when you're feeling tempted to return to your habits. Maybe they can talk you out of it, or maybe you two can find something else to do together.

    Good Luck!
u/kufu91 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

A Short History of Nearly Everything

From the introduction:

> I grew up convinced that science was supremely dull, but suspecting that it needn't
be, and not really thinking about it at all if I could help it. This, too, became my position for a
long time.

> Then much later-about four or five years ago-I was on a long flight across the Pacific,
staring idly out the window at moonlit ocean, when it occurred to me with a certain
uncomfortable forcefulness that I didn't know the first thing about the only planet I was ever
going to live on. I had no idea, for example, why the oceans were salty but the Great Lakes
weren't. Didn't have the faintest idea. I didn't know if the oceans were growing more salty
with time or less, and whether ocean salinity levels was something I should be concerned
about or not. ...


> And ocean salinity of course represented only the merest sliver of my ignorance. I didn't
know what a proton was, or a protein, didn't know a quark from a quasar, didn't understand
how geologists could look at a layer of rock on a canyon wall and tell you how old it was,
didn't know anything really. I became gripped by a quiet, unwonted urge to know a little
about these matters and to understand how people figured them out. ...


> So I decided that I would devote a portion of my life-three years, as it now turns out-to
reading books and journals and finding saintly, patient experts prepared to answer a lot of
outstandingly dumb questions. The idea was to see if it isn't possible to understand and
appreciate-marvel at, enjoy even-the wonder and accomplishments of science at a level that
isn't too technical or demanding, but isn't entirely superficial either. That was my idea and my hope, and that is what the book that follows is intended to be.

u/prophet178 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I read the same advice in How to Win Friends and Influence People. It's a great book if you're looking to work on your conversational skills, even more so if you'll be applying it to business.

u/AMZN-ASSOCIATE · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

If you liked John Dies at the End you might enjoy this, this, this or this.

Happy reading!

u/DarthContinent · 0 pointsr/AskReddit

Introduce her to hilarious Amazon product reviews for stuff like Tuscan whole milk, might be fun to put them up on a big screen or projector and read through them at the party.

u/ruberik · 1 pointr/AskReddit

One thing that's cool about math is that sometimes there are easily-understood examples for even the most mind-blowing stuff. In my last sentence I mentioned something that's (probably) true, but cannot be proven. Weird, right? Example:

"This sentence is true, but cannot be proven."

It's true, but go ahead and try to prove it. If this stuff interests you, you should take a look at this book.

u/chakazulu1 · 0 pointsr/AskReddit

Not at all. What has been proven, has been proven. It exists as a base for progress until it is proven otherwise. It is funny that you mention 2+2 because math is axiomatic and can only be proven within a system. Even the most basic math is subject to scrutiny under different circumstances.

Here are a few books you might enjoy:

Hyperspace

A Short History of Nearly Everything


They explore some ideas I think you might like. I'm not an idiot, even though it is clear you think so. I just don't like rational. It is boring.

u/wagnerjr · 1 pointr/AskReddit

As far as the razors thing: go get yourself a double edge safety razor like this. It'll run you about 30 for the razor, 30 for the brush, but the blades are about 10 for $5. It'll save you a lot of money in the long run and give you a much better shave.

u/Pyehole · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I can see you are a huge fan of How to Win Friends and Influence People. Not so much a success story, but obviously a huge fan.

u/tgjer · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

An old-school style safety razor, a pack of 200 blades, a good brush and some nice shaving soap.

Total cost: about $70 if you get the cheeper packs of blades. He will probably not need to buy any shaving supplies for at least a couple years, and when he does it'll probably be just another $12 pack of blades.

Plus you can get nice smelling shaving soap, and it all looks classy. Be a little cautious in how you approach your brother about the Hygiene Improval Project; kids that age can be really self-conscious.

u/minutestomidnight · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

I've been there, man.

First of all, Adderall's a very dangerous drug and doctors overprescribe it. You build up a tolerance quickly, and the come-down is rough. I fell into a deep depression when I was abusing the 30mg XR's. I would find that as I was coming down, negative thoughts would surge into my head to fill the vacuum that was previously filled by the top-of-the-world feeling that Adderall gave me. I alienated myself from my friends during this time because I was so damn negative and I was a terrible person to be around. Once I realized that the feeling was physiological, I came to expect the feeling that came from this artificial drug that I was taking. I still take Adderall from time to time, but I cycle it to minimize its tolerance and I know very well how it makes me feel and I keep it under control (like by sleeping when I come down off of it).

I'm not sure if you are still on any prescription meds. Since you've been taking Zoloft since you were 11, it may be a good idea to see what it's like without the meds and I do think that anti-depressants are overprescribed as well. However, I only started taking an SSRI last year, and it has made a world of a difference to me. I've long believed that I could control my emotions by will-power alone, but being on anti-depressants finally allows me to curb my wild emotional mood swings. I no longer fight with everyone like I used to. The effects have been enormous. SSRI's like Zoloft are not made to make you happy. The "happy" feeling comes from Dopamine. What SSRI's do is they keep Serotonin flowing in your brain, so you can regulate your emotions. Many sources will attribute serotonin to "happiness", but it is not the same as the euphoric kind of "happiness" that dopamine gives you and many people are misled by this fact.

As for the rest of the issues, you must seek therapy. Depression is best treated with a combination of anti-depressant medications AND therapy. The drugs will help you physiologically stabilize your mood, but since a lot of your problems are based on your perception of yourself and your problems, you will need to tackle them in your mind. Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy is the best option, by and large. If you want a good book on the topic, I highly suggest David Burns' Feeling Good. Your thoughts, or cognition, frames everything that you go through in your life. The majority of your statements in your post are marked by negative perceptions. One thing may be wrong in your life, but you stretch it out and extrapolate that negativity to all of these other aspects of your life. This is a flaw in your thinking, and it can be changed.

Our brain works by creating neural pathways that become denser and increasingly more complex depending on the things you do. The way you've been living your life, from every little thing like the routine of your life, your habits, etc. are connected to the feelings of depression that you have. This rut is fueled by the same feelings of failure and hopelessness that have plagued you throughout your life. If you keep everything else the same, you are not going to have the momentum you need to break out of the rut.

The single-most important thing in breaking out of a rut is hope. You have to believe that you can get out of it, and that no matter how much it seems like nothing has changed and that you aren't making progress, that the future is unwritten and literally anything can happen. You have to be able to take things for what they are, without placing a filter or frame on it.

I'm still fighting the propensity to relapse and return to my rut. It's on-and-off, and I used to hate myself for this. I used to have a week of absolute productivity, but when I would miss one day of my perfect regimen, I would give up for weeks. I had very little faith in myself. But then I would just stop whatever it is I'm doing, breathe deeply and slowly, and do something stupid that is completely new. Like brushing with my left hand, or typing a word backwards or something - anything. It reminds me that my brain is making new connections, and that there is always another path to take. Our brains are plastic, just like we are - we can change, and in a sense your past does not really matter at all. Both good and bad. You have now, and you will always have this perpetual now. Everything is possible in this now, and you can start now. If you fuck up, whatever, start now then.

A quote that I also find that helps me is this: "To become what one is, one must not have the faintest notion of what one is." Frederick Nietzsche.

u/voyetra8 · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

To OP: You should read Godel, Escher, Bach: An Eternal Golden Braid by Douglas Hofstadter: http://www.amazon.com/Godel-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/dp/0465026567

It's a GREAT book. They cover this mental exercise, as well as a ton of others that would likely enjoy.


u/identicalParticle · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

I suggest one of these head massagers. They are pretty much the greatest feeling despite being completely nonsexual. I suggest that if you get him one, you use it on him from behind without telling him. You always remember your first surprise headmassager time.

u/CodeOfKonami · 1 pointr/AskReddit

You need to read How to Win Friends and Influence People by Dale Carnegie.

If you're being sincere about all this, then for your own sake and everyone around you, read the book.

u/NotLikeEverybodyElse · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

A Short History of Nearly Everything with the errata as annotations.

Also, The Hitchhiker's Guide series is awesome, so that's on the list, too.

Plenty more recommendations, of course, but those two are my go-to books.

Edit. To continue:

  • 1984 and Animal Farm
  • The A Song of Ice and Fire series
  • Thoreau's "Essay on Civil Disobedience" (even though it's not a book (and I am very disappointed that I can't find my copy)).
  • The Art of War
  • Ender's Game is good
  • Lord of the Rings, I guess. I rather enjoy the Silmarillion, as well. It doesn't matter, though; both have prose as thick as a dwarf's beard.
  • Any Vonnegut, though especially Breakfast of Champions, Slaughterhouse 5 and Cat's Cradle
  • I need to read Machiavelli's The Prince
  • And probably a bunch more, too, but I can't think of many more.

    Thanks for storing my reading list.
u/Water_Buffalo · 4 pointsr/AskReddit

I was going to say a chunk of uranium ore which is reasonably safe and entertaining, but that's slightly over your price range. Still, check it out. It's awesome.

u/hatboysam · 1 pointr/AskReddit

This RC Helicopter

19.50 shipped, the greatest toy ever. Charges via USB and has a built in gyroscope. It is also indestructible, I crash it into anything and everything but it is also maneuverable enough that within my first hour of flight it got it to perch on top of an iMac. I showed my dad and he immediately bought 5 and gave them to his buddies, everyone can fly it and love it.

u/SnickRDoodle · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Give her Bill Bryson's a Short History of Nearly Everything. It's extremely interesting and well written...and mentions evolution in a thought out way that leads to the conclusion that its pretty much the only way it could have logically happened...not in a smug way...in an explanatory way that just describes how the whole thing works so that its not a vague idea that can be readily dismissed.

Also: Pokemon.

http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/0767908171

u/DrScoops · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Who needs a girl when you can get one of these?

All joking aside, this thing is amazing. I know it looks like some weird brainwave concentrator, but it is seriously the best three bucks I've ever spent.

u/smile0my0friends · 1 pointr/AskReddit

It really depends on the psychiatrist. I've been to many and I'd say about 2/3 talk to you for half an hour and then hand out the drugs you need. However I have a separate therapist for hour long appointments. Oh I should also mention, buy "Feeling Good" for more on CBT (addressed to OP here), it seems to help a lot of people. http://www.amazon.com/Feeling-Good-Therapy-Revised-Updated/dp/0380810336

u/wheatin · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Most of the 'tricks' being mentioned here are described in Dale Carnegie's book How to Win Friends and Influence People. I highly recommend it. When I first read it I was worried it was going to be a cynical guide to manipulating people, but that's not really the case. It's more about putting yourself in other peoples' shoes and understanding how building up their egos a bit makes them enjoy helping you.

u/whalesalad · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Nah dude. Life is a game. You learn to outsmart it then it becomes fun. Just enjoy HS, get laid, have fun, etc... don't let it get you down!

Oh and read this: http://www.amazon.com/The-Game-Penetrating-Society-Artists/dp/0060554738

If I had a time machine, I'd go back in time and give it to myself as a freshman.

Or quicker, start lurking this subreddit: /r/highseddit

u/YourMatt · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Seems like a good idea, but it's $78 and doesn't even qualify for super saver shipping.

u/TheBB · 1 pointr/AskReddit
u/Solvoid · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Drive yourself sane

Godel, Escher, Bach

Geometry of meaning

Hypnotic Writing

Holographic Universe

Let me know if any of these sound interesting to you and I can refer you to more similar ones. These books have changed my life and helped me learn a lot, they are some of the best books I have ever read.

u/ThePiemaster · 6 pointsr/AskReddit

Get one of these !

Only $20, they are completely stable and maneuverable in any direction. I've dropped it from over 30 feet and ran them into walls and it still flies like a champ. With blinky lights too! Not sure what else you could want in a heli.

u/diaspora · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

How to Win Friends and Influence People

The title sounds cheesy, but its IMO one of the most helpful books for life.

u/fweng · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I can't offer any realistic help, but you have to know it's irrational. Smells don't stick to you like paint does. In addition if you're depressed and you have this to worry about too, I strongly recommend Feeling Good - I'm reading it now and it's a wonderful book to use as biblotherapy.

u/code08 · 20 pointsr/AskReddit

A short history of nearly everything

While it might not change the way he sees the world it'll definitely help him see it more clearly.

u/jeeebus · -5 pointsr/AskReddit

Read The Game by Neil Strauss. It is incredibly well written and it will get your mind racing with all sorts of ideas to better your luck with women.

u/haiku_from_nantucket · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

This must be terribly frustrating.

Perhaps the first step is to remove the compulsion, which may be more of a medical problem. Have yourself screened for depression and anxiety disorders. These are easily treatable these days.

Next step is to learn how to be with other people. Here's the "user's manual" for this important aspect of life: http://www.amazon.com/How-Win-Friends-Influence-People/dp/1439167346/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1318642527&sr=8-1

Cheesy title, but golden guidance. Read a chapter a week and practice, then the next chapter, and so on. Stick with it and you'll be amazed at the results. But first get the compulsion under control.

Here's wishing you the best ...

u/BLORTH · 4 pointsr/AskReddit

Howard Zinn is one of the best writers when it comes to history and if you let him, he'll change your concept of history.

Check out Lies My Teacher Told Me by James Loewen, we used it alongside some of Zinn's material when I was still beginning my college career. :)

u/Not_Steve · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Lies My Teacher Told Me

Covers a good portion of things that are falsely taught in American history classes. One of the things I learned from it was that Helen Keller was a communist and wrote love letters to Russia.

u/iggyma04 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

> The original claim is that anyone can be great at anything. It's wishy-washy feel-good bullshit.

keep believing this and you are guaranteed to never be great at anything.

> Just because you paint, doesn't mean you are a great painter.

you think anybody thought jackson pollock would be famous? he threw random paint all over a canvas

> Just because you play guitar, doesn't mean a stadium-full of people will pay to hear you play.

nickelback. creed. limp bizkit. billy ray cyrus.

> You can't get up tomorrow and decide to run 100m faster than Usain Bolt - no matter how hard you try, you'll never get there

have you tried? michael johnson ran every day for 4 hours or more.

> Practice all you want, you'll never play in a Superbowl-winning team

kurt warner was a grocery stocker and busted his ass in the arena football league to get his start

> ever make scientific contributions on a par with Hawking.

read this book. its filled to the brim with scientists who started out of their garage or workshop and did amazing things that changed the world

> The fact that you think the number of notches on your bedpost is in any way the mark of a great man

great men are made by trying, failing, trying, failing, and trying some more, and none of them had the ridiculous attitude that being great at anything for anyone is wishy washy bullshit. if that is really what you believe, then you have guaranteed you will never be great at anything

u/dropbearphobia · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

Don't know what you like to read so I'm going to go a few ways, but these are good ''stuck in bed'' books. By Author (because thats how i like to read):


Haruki Murakami:

u/cephalien · 1 pointr/AskReddit

http://www.amazon.com/Images-SI-Inc-Uranium-Ore/dp/B000796XXM

We've got a (considerably more expensive) sample in our lab for testing our geiger counters. It's just radioactive enough to register, and perfectly legal to own (since it would take tons of the stuff -- and a bunch of huge centrifuges) to get any fissile material.

u/thebestofme · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

Have someone use a head massager on your head. It feels good using it yourself too, but when someone else is controlling it, the pleasure is almost unbearable.

u/artofwelding · 1 pointr/AskReddit

House of Leaves is always my first suggestion, but it's not for everyone. I suggest pushing through the classics (The Picture of Dorian Gray! Heart of Darkness! Etc!) before you read anything else. Most of the good books published nowadays have references or callbacks to classic lit.

u/shrayshray · 0 pointsr/AskReddit

horse mask

Better yet, buy 4. The lolz will last a lifetime.

u/steveeq1 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Currently only 1/4th through it, but so far it's the most amazing book I've ever read: Godel, Escher, Bach

u/ReverendDexter · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Those type of shirts were typically associated with poverty-class white Americans.

Then a review was posted to Amazon, talking it up like it was the most amazing shirt ever, and it took off from there.

u/shortyjacobs · 6 pointsr/AskReddit

A Syma S107 RC Helicopter. <30 bucks, and friggin awesome. I've been playing with mine for weeks.

If you wanna give money to Reddit, use the link, (and/or read comments), in qgyh2's post

u/VSindhicate · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

I'm not sure if it counts as a thriller, but if you want an excellently written book that will severely screw with your head:

[House](http://www.amazon.com/House-Leaves-Mark-Z-Danielewski/dp/0375703764 "This is not for you.") of Leaves

u/grumpypants_mcnallen · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

No clue what should be there, but I'm pretty certain that 'The Game' shouldn't be one of them.

u/odd_affiliate_link · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

RC cars are fun to play with. I got an RC18 a while back and it is a blast to bash around. If you want, you can get really into upgrading / modifying them. I kept mine stock, to avoid dumping too much money into it!

Edit: If you want something cheaper, this helicopter is pretty rad.

u/evilbadro · 1 pointr/AskReddit

First, thoughts of suicide are something that should be addressed with a competent professional. If the free clinic does not open for several days, consider seeking other care. You may be able to find a competent professional who will agree to help you on an interim basis for free. Asking for a weeks worth of pro bono care when your life may be in danger doesn't seem like a request that's easy to deny.

If you are suffering from depression, have hope in the fact that it is a problem that often responds well to treatment. Depression often has a thought distortion component. Although it is not a substitute for professional help, you can work on eliminating thought distortions on your own. Avoid, amplifying the significance of things that don't go well. Eliminate all or nothing thinking. Focus on the positive etc. The book Feeling Good is inexpensive and very helpful. You need to set up a consultation as quickly as possible to get some advice on how to handle what you are experiencing. Consulting the book might help make the time until you have an appointment easier, but if necessary, go to the emergency room.

u/unikcycle · 99 pointsr/AskReddit

http://www.amazon.com/Lies-My-Teacher-Told-Everything/dp/0684818868

I like how this author puts it. He wasn't the first to discover the America's. He was the last. He was the most historically important because of the impact he had on the America's. Also in the book they talk about the many African boats that sailed the ocean and landed on the southern end of the continent. I believe he wasn't even the first European but he did make it profitable and that's what really mattered.

u/TwEE-N-Toast · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I've read this cognitive behavioral therapy, and there was some pretty good stuff in it.

http://www.amazon.ca/Feeling-Good-The-Mood-Therapy/dp/0380810336

u/MRRoberts · 7 pointsr/AskReddit

Lies My Teacher Told Me is a fantastic resource for this sort of thing. He explicitly mentions Wilson's resegregation in the opening chapter.

>IMO, he makes G W Bush look like a saint.

Let's not be hasty.

u/CruduxCruo · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Check this out:
Complete Calvin and Hobbes

It is easily 20 lbs and contains every single comic and all the extras that were in the collections (poems, water colours , etc). I got it last year, it is fantastic.

u/abandonedangel · 5 pointsr/AskReddit

I think that both of your friends should combine the gift cards any buy a gallon of milk.

Believe it or not, you would need both cards.

u/Druubie · 97 pointsr/AskReddit

You and me are in the same boat. I have one of those fabled Internet jobs so dispensable money comes when I want it to. Here are some of the things I bought just yesterday.

LED light strips to accent stuff in your house, with remote control -Video example

Threadless shirts Seriously these shirts are sweet as hell. Look under clearance, too, the $10 ones are very cool. Nothing like those "LOL I KNOW MEMES!!" type t-shirts that litter most t-shirt sites.

Boon Glo Nightlight Completely, completely unnecessary and overpriced. But cool as hell. Unboxing video

Candy dispensers are fun

Sites like Woot and 1SaleADay post new deals on a daily basis, and they are often really sweet things. Bookmark them if you haven't already.

Buy yourself a sweet looking fish tank

Obligatory head massager post

Edit: Couple of you are asking about the job. I figured I had that coming. Please don't perceive this as dick-ish, but I'd rather not talk about it. Yes, it's perfectly legal and no I'm not flaunting my hot body for money, but there's some quote out there about keeping ingenuity a secret from others so...that. I will say this, though. You can make money doing ANYTHING online. Remember the used socks eBay AMA last year? That dude made thousands. Don't look at some TV commercial about taking surveys online for cash, realize it's a low paying scam, and give up. Those are shallow waters. Keep trekking!

u/runningman16 · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

One Horse Mask and one jousting lance. Put on the mask while giving a friend a piggyback ride. Hilarity will ensue.

u/SomeRandomRedditor · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong might be a good start for you.


Also if you don't get more/better responses here, you might try an xpost to /r/booksuggestions

Edit: Nearly forgot, there's also /r/AskHistorians, /r/askhistory, /r/history, and /r/historyporn which you might find of interest.

u/My_Other_Account · 66 pointsr/AskReddit

A Short History of Nearly Everything by Bill Bryson.

I haven't quite finished it (it's rather long) but so far it is fantastic.

u/Punkgoblin · 1 pointr/AskReddit

The Siberian tiger is a pretty amazing animal, but the intrawepz told me nothing is as cool as the three-wolf-moon shirt, when it comes to shirts that have animals and moons on them - embrace the epic:
http://www.amazon.com/Mountain-Three-Wolf-Short-Sleeve/product-reviews/B002HJ377A

u/christ_ · 1 pointr/AskReddit

The cheapest ways could be getting sunshine, running and trying cognitive behavioral therapy.
For the CBT I would say torrent ( or buy ) this book.


I tried the CBT before my other suggestions, and it kinda helped, I feel better nowadays.

u/butchdogt1234 · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

How about Godel, Escher, Bach? I currently have the book and have read a good bit of it. I'd highly recommend it to anyone. As a matter of fact, you should buy it for yourself and use it within your class.

u/zapper877 · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Yes, for some guys. Many (socially intelligent) guys are always looking to keep their options open for sex if the relationship goes through a dry spell or turns bad. Men need sex, or they suffer.

See this article here:

http://whoism3.wordpress.com/2012/11/17/confessions-of-a-reformed-incel/


Men usually don't need to cheat if their girlfriend is sexing them up but you can't tell what a persons makeup is because lots of behavior is reflexive or unconscious, see here to get an idea with our minds:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=PYmi0DLzBdQ


Sites you need to check out

http://www.reddit.com/r/TheRedPill

(see the forums on here)
http://web.stylelife.com/

And here:

http://charismaarts.com/

Much of the social theory around the pickup community applies to human relationships generally, so it's useful for both men and women.

If you're a reader and like books you should read this:

http://www.amazon.com/The-Game-Penetrating-Society-Artists/dp/0060554738/

It's a good read.

u/HotRodLincoln · 1 pointr/AskReddit

You might want to look into Lies My Teacher Told Me: Everything Your American History Textbook Got Wrong.

It pretty much details all the wrong that you learned in school. It's pretty surprising.

u/fortnight14 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Our guy was a mountain man type, really kept to himself and was quiet. He had a peculiar way of sticking his lips out/pursing them when he was thinking. He was also very hairy; I'm talking about some serious back hair here. And he was one of those high schoolers who had full-on facial hair. My favorite thing about him was that he always wore wolf-howling-at-the-moon t-shirts. He must have really agreed with the comments here http://www.amazon.com/The-Mountain-Three-Short-Sleeve/dp/B002HJ377A

u/PatricioINTP · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Assuming you mean Nerd = Love Learning, and not geeky. If so, and he likes to read, give him this monster! I consider it the ulitmate nerd book!

http://www.amazon.com/G%C3%B6del-Escher-Bach-Eternal-Golden/dp/0465026567

u/seraph77 · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

If you can get through it, House of Leaves. The comments can summarize it a lot better than I could here. It's, well.. indescribable. Not for all people, but I liked it.

amazon/House-Leaves-Mark-Z-Danielewski/dp/0375703764



u/Crustmuncher · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Before taking therapy again, I feel lots of people tend to let others make them better before helping themselves. This makes you feel independent, and makes it difficult to get out of your negative cycle. I would suggest reading this book. It helped me to put things in perspective and recognize my destructive behaviour. Also comes with real and useful tips to better the quality of your life.

Good luck

u/I_make_things · 20 pointsr/AskReddit

Godel Escher Bach

It's ultimately about the self-referential nature of consciousness, but it explores so many fascinating concepts that I couldn't even begin to do it justice

u/DesCo83 · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Angels and Demons.

I kid I kid. My favorites are probably:

Lies My Teacher Told Me

or

A peoples history of the United States

u/Something_Isnt_Right · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Lies My Teacher Told Me has everything you need to know. I'm sure you can find a free copy online.

u/gear0war · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Having another person use a scalp massager on you. It is truly orgasmic. Those people who have used one before can attest to its wonder

http://www.amazon.com/Head-Massager-colors-may-vary/dp/B001IHXFQK/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1345924619&sr=8-1&keywords=scalp+massager

Do yourself a favor and get one now

u/supferrets · 21 pointsr/AskReddit

I like to put this on at particularly long stop lights. Best purchase I've ever made!

u/skipjim · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Go pick up a copy of A Short History of Nearly Everything

It contains such gems as the fact that the same person who created CFCs was also responsible for creating leaded gasoline.

u/e36 · 4 pointsr/AskReddit

Different people use different razors and blades. I've got a Merkur 180 and a Gillette Super Speed, and Astra blades.

u/koltran · 3 pointsr/AskReddit

Try to break out of the mold. I would suggest reading Feeling Good: The New Mood Therapy by David D. Burns for starters and looking into cognitive behavioral therapy. You sound like someone who is very close to me and both have helped tremendously.

u/Capissen38 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Christopher Moore has done pretty well with his adaptation: Lamb: The Gospel According to Biff, Christ's Childhood Pal.

I'm an atheist, and still thought it was a spectacular read.

u/zhaofa90 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

http://www.amazon.com/Scalp-Massager-Colors-May-Vary/dp/B001IHXFQK

This thing is amazing and only costs $3. It gives you that tingly feeling of getting a scalp massage and you don't even need someone else to do it for you.

u/mk72206 · 6 pointsr/AskReddit

The Complete Calvin and Hobbes

My wife got it for my 28th birthday and it was one of the greatest gifts i've ever gotten.

u/legalprof · 10 pointsr/AskReddit

If you are interested in such questions, and science generally, I recommend Bill Bryson's A Short History of Nearly Everything. The book starts off discussing this exact question.

http://www.amazon.com/Short-History-Nearly-Everything/dp/0767908171

u/lailaaaaaaa · 1 pointr/AskReddit

$200 worth of live ladybirds, then set them free in your friend's apartment.

http://www.amazon.com/Orcon-LB-C1500-Ladybugs-Approximately-Count/dp/B000MR6WRG

u/Diabolico · 0 pointsr/AskReddit

This is what everyone used to use to shave before disposables were marketed. You can take it apart to clean it and the razors are cheaper to replace. Also, it has weight to it so you can feel what you're doing while you shave. I recommend them to everyone.

http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Long-Handled-Safety-Razor/dp/B000NL0T1G/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&s=hpc&qid=1253671152&sr=8-1

u/notable_bro · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

Shaving gel with menthol plus a safety razor is the best I've done.

u/FLYBOY611 · 1 pointr/AskReddit

You can find specialty shaving shops. The Art of Shaving is a popular mini-chain but pricey. Here's the razor that I own. I would recommend buying online.

u/case9 · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

I clicked on a couple of those items; the milk has a great "Customers also viewed section"

http://www.amazon.com/Tuscan-Whole-Milk-Gallon-128/dp/B00032G1S0/ref=pd_sbs_a_4

u/homergonerson · 1 pointr/AskReddit

If you have the time, read The Zombie Survival Guide by Max Brooks. It is very informative, as well as interesting. Provides all the (basic) info you need to know about zombies and zombie survival.

u/BamBam-BamBam · 1 pointr/AskReddit

Agreed, this is an absolutely hilarious book.

u/clayola · 1 pointr/AskReddit

A remote controlled helicopter. Good ones are relatively cheap and they are endlessly fun.
Here's a good one, but cheaper on Amazon

u/BirthDeath · 1 pointr/AskReddit

You should switch to something like this Merkur Safety Razor. It is only one blade, and a bit expensive, but the blades last a really long and it is a very close shave.

Also, replacement blades are very cheap (a ten pack costs like $7).

u/pencilears · 1 pointr/AskReddit

you should give a Short History of Nearly Everything a read. he goes over in glorious and awed detail every major discipline of science and does his best to tie them all together and show how perspectives have changed through history.


Bryson has the advantage of not being a scientist, so he asked the sort of seemingly stupid questions you're no doubt having trouble with and then he is a really a very engaging writer too. highly recommended.


also, you can take a community college class on Biological Anthropology, or any beginning anthropology class really and they will teach you all about where you came from. this is also highly recommended.

u/ColdStoneCreamAustin · 2 pointsr/AskReddit

I strongly recommend reading The Game.

Don't accept the information in the book as fact and follow it blindly. You'll become a huge douchebag and look ridiculous. However, reading the book will help you figure out how to develop (or fake) the confidence you need to approach women.

u/Iron_Skin · 1 pointr/AskReddit

One of these

http://www.amazon.com/Syma-S107-S107G-Helicopter-Colors/dp/8499000606/ref=sr_1_1?s=toys-and-games&ie=UTF8&qid=1323797187&sr=1-1

They are cheap, and are utterly mesmerizing to many people. Now, the price I am seeing is $19.99,but the price for you may be different, depending on amazon.

Word of warning however: if you charge from the controller, make sure you have good quality batteries. If not, they will leak trying to charge the chopper.

u/dareads · 1 pointr/AskReddit

A Short History of Nearly Everything basically what the title says;

Where Men Win Glory about the Afganistan War and Pat Tillman, or really anything by Jon Krakauer (I loved his Everest book and the one on radical Mormon religion);

Newjack by Ted Conover, Conover became a corrections officer at Sing Sing prison and wrote about his experiences,

The Ghost Map about the start of epidemiology and how we started tracking viruses.

All of them are great reads where you also learn.

u/drqxx · 1 pointr/AskReddit

This does have some useful information in it. WARNING read and following this book may make you act like a DOUCHE, but hey who care as long as you get the girl.
http://www.amazon.com/Game-Penetrating-Secret-Society-Artists/dp/0060554738

u/mariushm · 1 pointr/AskReddit

I'm serious - try the shaving foams for women, (the sensitive skin versions), such as this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Nivea-Shave-Foam-Women-150ml/dp/B000WP2H4A/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1313375076&sr=8-3

You could be allergic to something in the regular shaving foam/paste/cream or could even have issues with the stuff that's on the blades (the green bands on Gillette razors for example)

Consider using an old style safety razor such as this one:

http://www.amazon.com/Merkur-Model-180-Handled-Safety/dp/B000NL0T1G/ref=sr_1_7?m=ATVPDKIKX0DER&s=hpc&ie=UTF8&qid=1313375256&sr=1-7

You may cut yourself the first two-three times but once you get some practive, that will be history and you'll actually have better results compared to these modern razor blades.