Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People

For the newly (or not so newly) unemployed, those who suffer from very real discomforts and disadvantages that we don’t really like to talk about in public discourse, here’s a bit of dark humor: author Amy Sedaris’ Simple Times: Crafts for Poor People. It’s filled with fun crafts one can do under any circumstances (while confied to a wheelchair, while ramped up on amphetamines or even while tripping on hallucinogens) and for every occasion (easing the pain of adolescence, creating unreturnable gifts, and delicious confections).

Sedaris is also quite concerned with safety while crafting, and offers pages of stretches to do both before and after any heavy-duty crafting activities. Some of the crafts proposed are reasonable, most are ridiculous, but all of them are hysterical. Worth trying, actually — then cheerfully give your creations away to loved ones (esp. the one who bought you this book for Christmas).