Absinthe & Flamethrowers : Projects and Ruminations on the Art of Living Dangerously

A Selection Of The Scientific American Book Club. Want To Add More Excitement To Your Life? This Daring Combination Of Science, History, And Diy Projects Will Show You How. Written For Smart Risk Takers, It Explores Why Danger Is Good For You And Details The Art Of Living Dangerously. Risk Takers Are More Successful, More Interesting Individuals Who Lead More Fulfilling Lives. Unlike Watching An Action Movie Or Playing A Video Game, Real-life Experience Changes A Person, And Gurstelle Will Help You Discover The True Thrill Of Making Black Powder Along With Dozens Of Other Edgy Activities. All Of The Projects--from Throwing Knives, Drinking Absinthe, And Eating Fugu To Cracking A Bull Whip, Learning Bartitsu, And Building A Flamethrower--have Short Learning Curves, Are Hands-on And Affordable, And Demonstrate True But Reasonable Risk. With A Strong Emphasis On Safety, Each Potentially Life-altering Project Includes Step-by-step Directions, Photographs, And Illustrations Along With Troubleshooting Tips From Experts In The Field.-- Provided By Publisher. Big-t People, Little-t People -- What Is Edgework -- Where The Action Is -- Why Live Dangerously? -- The Most Important Chapter In The Book -- Obtainium -- Thundring Voice -- Playing With Fire -- Inner Macgyver -- The Minor Vices -- The Physical Arts -- Thrill Eating -- Flamethrowers -- The Strange Music Starts. William Gurstelle. Includes Bibliographical References And Index. Written for reasonable risk takers and suburban dads who want to add more excitement to their lives, this daring combination of science, history, and DIY projects explains why danger is good for you and details the art of living dangerously. All of the projects—from throwing knives, drinking absinthe, and eating fugu to cracking a bull whip, learning baritsu, and building a flamethrower—have short learning curves; are human-focused, as opposed to technology-centric; are affordable; and demonstrate true but reasonable risk. The guide maintains that risk takers are more successful, more interesting individuals who lead more fulfilling lives. What would the world be like if Thomas Edison retired after 30 years working for the railroad, it asks, instead of getting fired for blowing up a rail car with one of his experiments? Though the manual doesn’t advocate getting fired, it does reveal that making black powder is pure excitement. Unlike watching an action movie or playing a video game, real, edgy life experience changes a person. Each potentially life-altering project includes step-by-step directions and illustrations along with sidebar tips from experts in the field. Written for reasonable risk takers and suburban dads who want to add more excitement to their lives, this daring combination of science, history, and DIY projects explains why danger is good for you and details the art of living dangerously. All of the projects—from throwing knives, drinking absinthe, and eating fugu to cracking a bull whip, learning baritsu, and building a flamethrower—have short learning curves; are human-focused, as opposed to technology-centric; are affordable; and demonstrate true but reasonable risk. The guide maintains that risk takers are more successful, more interesting individuals who lead more fulfilling lives. What would the world be like if Thomas Edison retired after 30 years working for the railroad , it asks, instead of getting fired for blowing up a rail car with one of his experiments? Though the manual doesn't advocate getting fired, it does reveal that making black powder is pure excitement. Unlike watching an action movie or playing a video game, real, edgy life experience changes a person. Each potentially life-altering project includes step-by-step directions and illustrations along with sidebar tips from experts in the field. Written for reasonable risk takers and suburban dads who want to add more excitement to their lives, this daring combination of science, history, and DIY projects explains why danger is good for you and details the art of living dangerously. All of the projects, from throwing knives, drinking absinthe, and eating fugu to cracking a bull whip, learning baritsu, and building a flamethrower, have short learning curves; are human-focused, as opposed to technology-centric; are affordable; and demonstrate true but reasonable risk. The guide maintains that risk takers are more successful, more interesting individuals who lead more fulfilling lives. What would the world be like if Thomas Edison retired after 30 years working for the railroad, it asks, instead of getting fired for blowing up a rail car with one of his experiments? Though the manual doesn't advocate getting fired, it does reveal that making black powder is pure excitement. Unlike watching an action movie or playing a video game, real, edgy life experience changes a person. Each potentially life-altering project includes step-by-step directions and illustrations along with sidebar tips from experts in the field Big-t people, little-t people Edgework Where the action is Why live dangerously? The most important chapter in the book Obtainium Thundering noyse Playing with fire Embracing macguyver The minor vices The physical arts Thrill eating Flamethrowers The strange music starts.