“Personality is defined as the qualities or characteristics, personal traits or attributes peculiar to some individual. Specifically, it is that quality which sustains poise through self-control in the face of propitious or unpropitious circumstances,” asserts the preface of H. Laurent’s Personality: How to Build It, which I picked up in Austin last weekend. Do you […]
Recent Acquisitions: Speech and Personality Books
I was in Austin, Texas, for the long, hot, weekend and was mostly spending time with family, so I got only a few moments of shopping in at the amazing Uncommon Objects. I could have spent hours there! But due to my uncanny ability to focus and look for and find advice books in high-pressure situations […]
Causes of Divorce (1950)
It turns out that business advice isn’t terrible amusing, at least not enough to share on the blog. On Thursday, Joyce Dewitt, who is now starring in Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage (the play), rang the NASDAQ closing bell. Finances and the stock exchange not being one of my normal interests, I thought […]
What’s on my bookshelf?
I cleaned up my office this weekend, so that means things have been straightened enough to take some not-so-embarrasing photos of the bookshelves. I like to do this every so often to remind myself of how I organized things at any given time, and how the collection has grown. The current shelves are a bit […]
What Dr. Spock Didn’t Tell Us (1958)
With father’s day this weekend, it seems appropriate to share some advice for parents from a publication that came long before the pretty-darned-hilarious Go the F**k to Sleep that has been in the news and floating around Facebook recently. What Dr. Spock Didn’t Tell Us: Or, A Survival Kit for Parents, was written in 1958 […]
Miss Abigail meets Miss Abigail – Sunday June 5
Just a reminder, I’ll be doing a “talk back” after the Sunday, June 5th 3pm show (that’s tomorrow!) of Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage. I’ll be speaking about my book collection, the website, and the book that inspired the show. Discount tickets for Miss Abigail fans are available here. Hope to see you […]
Recent Acquisition: The Answer Book on Naval Social Customs (1956)
Yesterday a package arrived at the door: a book titled The Answer Book on Naval Social Customs, sent by the mother of a friend who wrote a week or so ago asking if I’d like it for the collection. She said: “It is a first edition, Jan 1956, Military Service Publishing Company. What a kick! […]
Special Ticket Offer for the June 5th Show!
Friends and fans of Miss Abigail are welcome to this special ticket offer, good for the June 5th performance, when I’ll be hopping up onstage after the show and talking about this website, my book, and what I do with those 1,000 or so books in my office. Joyce Dewitt will have taken over by […]
Anniversaries, Gifts, and Anniversary Weddings
Today marks the occasion of my one-year wedding anniversary (time really flies when you are having fun!). While perusing my books on the subject, I was reminded of the usual custom of marking the occasion with a celebration or gifts made from certain types of materials. I was somewhat surprised to learn that these appear […]
Miss Abigail at Miss Abigail’s Guide June 5!
Hey, New Yorkers! I’m pleased to announce that I’ll be doing a “talk back” after the Sunday, June 5th 3pm show of Miss Abigail’s Guide to Dating, Mating, and Marriage. I’ll be speaking about my book collection, the website, and the book that inspired the show. Tickets are available at the show’s website. I’m also […]