The advice column has been a staple of newspapers for centuries, offering readers a chance to ask for guidance with questions about almost any topic under the sun. Additionally, advice columns offer a roundabout way for readers to connect by revealing some of the hidden problems that others might be facing, thereby letting people know that no one is truly alone in their struggles. Readers of the Chicago Tribune may be familiar with the writers and columns featured in these Agate compilation titles of popular advice columns.
LIFE SKILLS: HOW TO DO ALMOST ANYTHING
A great resource for the young- and newly-adult, this title offers advice on, well, how to do almost anything. Whether it’s a skill that everyone could use, such as how to fix a clogged drain, or questions that don’t have a concrete answer, like how to end a relationship, helpful tips and solutions of all kinds can be found in this book. Readers will also take comfort in knowing that they are not the first ones to struggle with these topics, nor will they be the last.
EVEN THE TERRIBLE THINGS SEEM BEAUTIFUL TO ME NOW
Mary Schmich is a writer known for winning the Pulitzer Prize in 2012 for her column “Wear Sunscreen”—often misattributed to Kurt Vonnegut—and for originating the famous advice to “Do one thing every day that scares you.” Schmich’s writing delivers a wide range of tone, and her advice covers everything from the humorous to the deeply impactful and philosophical. While she stopped writing for the Chicago Tribune in 2021, fans can find many of her most famous columns in this book, including the 10 that won her the 2012 Pulitzer Prize for commentary.
10 THINGS YOU MIGHT NOT KNOW ABOUT NEARLY EVERYTHING
This book is a carefully curated collection of the eponymous column from the Chicago Tribune, presented in a fun, easy-to-read format. Readers will surely be entertained by these oddball and obscure facts on a variety of topics such as arts, culture, money, food, politics, war, science, technology, language, and more. Even those who aren’t trivia fans will surely find something curious and entertaining in this book.