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How to Feign Intelligence - a list by jooxi

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About this list:

Intelligence and knowledge are not the same thing, but most people don't care. Here is how to pretend to be smarter than you really are: 1. Get a bookshelf 2. Purchase the books listed below; place in bookshelf; prominently display 3. It would help if you read some of them once in awhile. I've included some 'art' type books to show you are a 'well-rounded' individual. If you find any books with the words 'advanced' , 'graduate-level', and/or 'quantum' , purchase and place in bookshelf immediately.

Qualifications:

I own these books, and I feign intelligence all the time.

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Viewing 1-7 of 7 Items

Shorter Oxford English Dictionary

First to recommend

Description

The Oxford English Dictionary (book-people call it the 'OED') is the most comprehensive, informative, and legible English dictionary in the world. The problem is, it fills up 20 volumes and costs around $1K.

Enter the Shorter Oxford English Dictionary. With a measly 2 volumes, you can easily fit this on your bookshelf. It contains over half a million definitions. Oxford doesn't drop $10 words on you just for the heck of it; each definition is very easy to read. Informative too: You'll find examples of usage, different forms of the word, a pronunciation key (great for bets and arguments) and even the history of the word itself.

All for around $100. Not bad at all.

Updated Feb 17, 2008

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Tools for the Proper Gentleman

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Essential Economics

First to recommend

Description

If you've ever picked up a copy of The Wall Street Journal, or any magazine with any finance section in it at all, you've probably come across some terms you don't know. Or, to put it more bluntly, you have no idea what you just read.

Well, the clear-headed fellows at The Economist magazine created this handy little book to make you look smarter than you really are. It's an A-Z dictionary of just about every standard (and often obscure) economic term. It'll give you just enough info to impress your stock-trading friends at cocktail parties.

Overall, a good reference book - easily approachable and well priced.

Updated Feb 17, 2008

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Oxford Atlas of the World, 14th Edition

2 people recommended this item

Description

When ever someone asks me something slightly intellectual, I reply "I'll have to check Oxford." I'm that geeky. Oxford makes some of the most detailed and intelligible reference materials available.

Their Atlas is no exception. It has a FULL country list including flags and all vital stats. The maps are easy to read, follow order (from a zoomed out view on one page to a zoomed in view on the other) and are easy on the eye. There are even some satellite photos thrown in.

A great gift for the modern, global mind.

Updated Feb 7, 2008

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The Oxford Dictionary of Musical Terms

First to recommend

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One of those great little books that help vaunt you into the ranks of the cognoscenti. The Oxford Dictionary of Musical Terms is a simple dictionary, but with it you can learn the exact meaning and usage of any music-related term you've heard or read about. It's an excellent educational tool, and will help broaden your understanding and appreciation of music.

Updated Dec 5, 2007

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Hokusai

First to recommend

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Katsushika Hokusai (1769-1849) was probably one of the greatest Japanese artists, ever. His work set the trend and style for the Japanese printmaking arts, and gave the western world a first glimpse of their beauty.

This is a beautiful book with sweeping montages of Hokusai's work. From Phaidon Design Press.

Updated Dec 4, 2007

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Phaidon Design Classics (3 Volume Set)

4 people recommended this item

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Design classics - what more can you say? A cool series of books that examines 1,000 items of classic design. They include contemporary items they already consider classics.

Comes with a cool stacked bookshelf, but it's a bit flimsy. Fun to browse through and looks great on the shelf - bright yellow cover with big, black numbers on the sides. Expensive, but cool to own.

Updated Nov 6, 2007

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Biology: A Textbook

First to recommend

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I wouldn't normally recommend an academic textbook. But when a book is this well presented, I can't pass it up. Biology is the study of life, and how we (and our animal friends) work is simply fascinating. This book gets an A+ from me for its easy, non-technical language and wonderfully informative illustrations. The included CD and website provide incredible animations that really let you see how things work. This is one textbook I'm going to keep.

Mad Biologist use: Before you can create life (freakish though it may be), you must understand it.

Also, what the heck? Flora or Fauna? Sadly one must know these terms before becoming a true Mad Biologist. It's kinda like 'Wax on, Wax off' for the mad scientist.

Updated Aug 3, 2009