E-Book Overview
Be amazing Who says you can't? It's time to get off the couch and take your life to the next level. Step one: stand on the shoulders of geniuses What good are the world's greatest geniuses if you can't muddy their shoulder pads and use their accomplishments as a step stool? mental_floss has combed through every success story in history to deliver this ultimate how-to guide for climbing your way to greatness. Step two: bask in the glow of admiring fans Whether you want to glow in the dark, swallow a sword, quit smoking, find Atlantis, live forever, get out of jury duty, buy the Moon, sink a battleship, stop global warming, become a ninja, or simply be the center of the universe, Be Amazing covers all the essential life skills. Just absorb a few pages, then let the hero worship begin! You will need: A hunger for greatness Some duct tape This book You may want: Sidekicks and/or minions An impressive nickname An amazing outfit
E-Book Content
mental_floss presents GLOW IN THE DARK • CONTROL THE WEATHER PERFORM YOUR OWN SURGERY • GET OUT OF JURY DUTY IDENTIFY A WITCH • COLONIZE A NATION • IMPRESS A GIRL MAKE A ZOMBIE • START YOUR OWN RELIGION B y M AG G I E K O E R T H - BA K E R w i t h W I L L P E A R S O N a n d M A N G E S H H AT T I K U D U R To Christopher Baker, for all his support, compassion, and love. —MK IiI Contents FULFILL YOUR YOUTHFUL DREAMS Sink a Battleship Find Buried Treasure . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 2 Outrun Molasses . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 44 Run Away and Join the Circus . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 4 Live Without an Immune System . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 46 Learn to Walk . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 6 Get Well . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 47 Colonize a Nation . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 7 Visit North Korea. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 48 ..................................8 Get Rescued from a Desert Island . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 50 Change Your Name . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 42 . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 10 Capture a Giant Squid . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 51 Be Raised by Wolves . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 11 Be Killed by Soda Water . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 52 Impress a Girl . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 12 Be Two People at Once . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 54 Live Underwater Ski in the Desert . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 14 Talk to the Animals . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 15 Mooch . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 17 Hunt a Whale . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 18 Find America. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 20 Drink Like a Caveman . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 22 Be One of the Guys . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 24 Start an Urban Legend . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 26 Be a Teen Idol . . . . . . . . . . . . . .