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How to be CoolThe 150 Essential Idols, Ideals and Other Cool S***

Format: Hardback

Condition: Standard Secondhand — £1.00
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Cool can't be taught. Or can it?

That's the received wisdom, yet the idea behind this sleek, entertaining compendium by Thomas W. Hodgkinson (author of How to Sound Cultured) is that, on the contrary, anyone can increase their cool quotient by learning from the masters and the methods of the past.

As well as identifying the Nine Defining Qualities of Cool, the book takes you on a tour of the 75 'Idols' (from William Blake to Kate Moss, via Marlon Brando and Lou Reed) and 50 'Ideas and Ideals' (drugs, Buddhism, base jumping, irony, etc.) that have created and embodied those qualities. A slim final section, 'The Real Deal', presents the author's own personal, often surprising selection of the 25 coolest things on the planet.

Uncoolness can be unlearnt, is the implication, but anyone aspiring to true cool must ultimately find it for themselves.

Format: Hardback
Published: 2016
Pages: 356
Publisher: Icon Books, Limited
ISBN: 9781785781605

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Our conditions mean the following:

  • New - a brand new book
  • Almost New - appears new but is actually secondhand.
  • Very Good - only minor imperfections such as minor scuffs to edge or cover or a price written in pencil or shop sticker.
  • Standard Secondhand - Clearly been read before, but not too bad. We do not recommend these for gifting. Spines usually creased. Could also include creases or folds to cover, some writing such as in the cover or elsewhere, underlining or highlighting, but might not do. Possibly some stains or marks. Similar in general to books in any secondhand shop or charity shop.
  • Poor Condition - Usually this will have a specific problem such as writing inside, water damage, missing dust jacket, heavy staining, large creases or cuts. These are readable copies but not nice ones. On other websites this condition is called 'Acceptable' or 'Fair' , but we want to be more honest.
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