Be Safe!

October 1, 2004
Dude, how much would it stink if you died right now? If you, like, got whacked in the head by a foul ball at a Yankee game? Or if you ate too many apples, cherries and peaches, and OD'd on pesticides? Journalist Heckscher wants to make sure these kinds of disasters don't happen, and has therefore penned this informative, addictive guide to 100 everyday threats. The safest seat at a major league baseball game is directly behind the backstop, under the protective screen. If you want to eat fruit, go with pineapple--its thick skin keeps it safe from pesticides, bugs and surface bacteria. A hypochondriac's dream come true, the book reveals how to avoid dangers at home (which sleeping position is best, which lawn mower is least dangerous), in the kitchen (how long to keep leftovers, what kind of cutting board is safest), while travelling (where's the best place to pitch a tent, which room in a hotel is easiest to evacuate) and more. For all its apparent silliness, however, the book is actually a trove of useful advice; it's bound to remind all readers that they're "better safe than sorry."

November 8, 2004
Dude, how much would it stink if you died right now? If you, like, got whacked in the head by a foul ball at a Yankee game? Or if you ate too many apples, cherries and peaches, and OD'd on pesticides? Journalist Heckscher wants to make sure these kinds of disasters don't happen, and has therefore penned this informative, addictive guide to 100 everyday threats. The safest seat at a major league baseball game is directly behind the backstop, under the protective screen. If you want to eat fruit, go with pineapple--its thick skin keeps it safe from pesticides, bugs and surface bacteria. A hypochondriac's dream come true, the book reveals how to avoid dangers at home (which sleeping position is best, which lawn mower is least dangerous), in the kitchen (how long to keep leftovers, what kind of cutting board is safest), while travelling (where's the best place to pitch a tent, which room in a hotel is easiest to evacuate) and more. For all its apparent silliness, however, the book is actually a trove of useful advice; it's bound to remind all readers that they're "better safe than sorry."

Copyright 2004 Library Journal, LLC Used with permission.