This Book Will Change Your Life

This Book Will Change Your Life by Benrik Boxtree, HK$185

You know Christmas is coming when silly books hit the shelves. This Book Will Change Your Life meets many festive gift-buying criteria, with its tongue-in-cheek tips that readers are advised to follow one day at a time. It is inane, seldom funny, often too wordy and something you wouldn't buy for yourself. Authors Ben Carey and Henrik Delehag, also known collectively as Benrik, have tested the formula in their annual Diary Will Change Your Life series. One can see how that might work; this, however, is just a waste of paper, although some pages are worth keeping for the inventive graphics. Tips include: 'Gaze at everyone wondering whether they might be the one' and 'Hand deliver all your e-mails'. Most other suggestions should probably not be taken seriously, either, for example, that urging readers to apply for a job that is beneath them, like 'Lassie's fluffer'. Readers should probably also ignore 'Today stalk an animal'. The persistent may find one or two laughs within the covers, including the suggested activity for Day 181: 'Call the president! The White House number is 00 1 202 456 1414.' That is possibly the only page worth marking with a dog-ear.