Here’s a funny little item that popped up recently in the New Yorker: A book by David Rees on, and we’re not making this up, how to sharpen pencils.
It’s more humor book than actual instructions, but it does have a couple of interesting tips, including how to use a pocket knife to sharpen your pencil and the pros and cons of using sandpaper. Also, oddly, a brief bit on wines that taste like pencils.
As described in the New Yorker piece, Rees actually shot a tongue-in-cheek commercial for his book spoofing late night infomericals and gimmicky Ginsu knife-style commercials. It stars New Yorker copy editor Mary Norris, who frequently writes about pencils, and is playing on VH1, E!, and Comedy Central, among others.
