CheapThrills

Tips on how to talk to girls… from a 9-year-old boy

I just stumbled upon an article on Alec Greven, a boy wise beyond his years. He originally hard-wrote his book “How To Talk To Girls” and sold it as a pamphlet at his school’s book fair. Now Harper Collins has published it—perhaps because his advice and commentary are so spot-on.

I read a few snippets from the book on the Harper Collins site, and wanted to share with you a few of my favorites:

“Or sometimes it just doesn’t work out. I had a crush on a girl in preschool. Then my family had to move, so I had to let her wash out of my mind.”

“You also have to be aware that girls win most of the arguments and have most of the power. If you know that now, things might be easier.”

“TIP: To get a girl to like you, talk to her and get to know her.”

(Hmm… I can think of a few boys who may or may not be finding this book in their stocking. I’m sure you can too)

But my favorite thing of all about Alec is this: he plans to be a full-time writer when he grows up and work weekends as an archaeologist or a paleontologist. When I was 9, I wanted to be a hip-hop lyricist and then a paleontologist when I turned 40... so maybe me and Alec were meant for each other?

Teeny tiny snippet from my Age of Conversation chapter - contributors, send me one from yours!

Update: I've started cataloging all of your excerpts here. Check out what your co-authors are writing!

The Age of Conversation 2008 is now on its path to production. Today, 275 bloggers are slated to send their 400-word chapters to Drew McLellan and Gavin Heaton, creators and editors of the book. This year's topic, Why Don't People Get It, will be sure to garner some fiery responses. Of course, we won't be reading chapters in their entirety until August 21st (when the book will be released for sale on Lulu.com), but let's post one- or two-line snippets from our chapters... just for a little taste of the awesomeness to come.

Here's a little bit from my chapter:

Sure, some people disagree with my views. Some commenters call me a moron. A loser. LAME. But so what? It’s hard to get a good game going without engaging your Queen.

Contributors - comment here or e-mail me an excerpt from your chapter and I will post them all on my Age of Conversation dedicated page.

How exciting :)

Hangover prevention

I think Gatorade needs a new consumer insight to play off of, because their messaging really isn’t reaching a large, super-special group of dedicated consumers: Young Professionals Whose Definition Of Networking = Drinking Too Many Cocktails 5 Night A Week. You know who you are, and you know you down a jug of fruit punch Gatorade before passing out to prevent a morning hangover.

Gatorade! Embrace your consumers!

Also, I just think these swirly images are rad. It’s not animated (focus on one football-looking thing and the image will stop moving). Neat! Should totally be used in an advertisement.

For more scary unique ad ideas, check my man Matt Brand’s blog, BrandSpankin’.

Memoirs to stories, from Ryan to you!

Most writers are readers too, aren’t they? Or maybe I’m just a word addict, who knows, but I read a lot. I feel naked without a book in my handbag, like I might get caught sitting at a T station (or subway station, for you non-Bostonians) with nothing to do but look for rats in the tracks. Oh, the horror! – all because I left my book sitting on my bedside table.

I particularly love reading memoirs. More often than not, I find that the real events that take place in a person’s life always trump made up stories. Because this stuff really happened, and these situations, whether they be obstacles or euphoric moments, shaped someone’s outlook. I also believe that any interesting person can craft an interesting story out of his or her life. 

I probably complete one book a month, or maybe every 3 weeks. I’ve read three or four books this summer, but there are two that I’d like to pass along to you.

Smashed by Koren Zailckas – particularly because the author is only about 4 years older than me. I don’t think I’ve ever read a published memoir that takes place in the 90’s, around the same time that I grew up. It was so easy for me to visualize the people, the background noise, and the grunge outfits of the Stone Temple Pilots generation.

Plus, any writer who dares to describe a personal struggle (alcoholism in this case) in raw, honest pros is a winner in my book

The Glass Castle by Jeanette Walls – both funny and heart wrenchingly sad. Jeannette Wells portrays an upbringing of constant uprooting because her parents could not (well, did not), keep steady jobs. When they finally settled—in a FRIGHTENING town in West Virginia—their house deteriorated to the point of frozen-sink-water-in-the-winter.

But somehow, though by all accounts it seems as if Jeannette’s parents failed the family, the tale is uplifting. And by the end, I came to love them all…well,  her father in particular. If you have read this, or plan to, let me know what you think of the “rock sale.” Bestill my heart!

I’ve got a few non-memoirs on deck as well:
The Elements of Persuasion by Robert Dickman and Richard Maxwell (I was actually asked to review this PR book, so look for some comments soon)
Perfume by Patrick Suskind (I’m six pages in, and the book is to eerie and disgusting that I just can’t get enough!)
Lucky by Alice Sebold (I’m a little nervous – the memoir discusses Sebold’s brutal rape her freshman year of college – but I think it’s an important read nonetheless)

If you have any reactions or comments on these books, let me know. I’d also like to ask you for suggestions of books that have inspired you.  Please, list away!

Places to find your IDEAL man

He's out there, and I'm going to help you find him. I think he might be hiding in one of these two places:

1) Manquarium,  brought to you by some of my brilliant friends at Digitas.

Upload a photo of your boyfriend or a random hottie, answer 4 questions about him, and then your guy will appear in a Manquarium and compliment you on demand. Here’s a pretty picture of my Manquarium. If you’d like to tap the tank glass, go here and watch him doggie paddle.

2) Porn for Women

I gave this out as a mother’s day present. Watch the results… they don’t lie.