update
A polite word for “please don’t turn off your device.”
A FIELD GUIDE FOR MODERN LIFE
Dictionary of Modern Nonsense
Finally, a dictionary for the nonsense we all endure.
From smart devices and corporate speak to bureaucratic rituals and everyday absurdities—defined, illustrated, and finally called by their proper names.
A FEW ENTRIES
Nonsense, properly defined.
If you have experienced it, there is probably a name for it.
ENTRY
Artificial Incompetence
The astonishing ability of a smart device to make a simple task require three apps, two passwords, and a factory reset.
ENTRY
Contractor Vanishing Act
The unexplained disappearance of a tradesperson immediately after the phrases “I’ll be there Tuesday” and “no problem.”
ENTRY
Retirement Time Compression
The phenomenon in which Monday becomes Friday before anything on Monday’s list has been completed.
MORE BY DONALD RUSSELL
Books for making modern tools useful.
AI & PUBLISHING
From Prompts to KDP
A practical path from an AI-assisted idea to a finished nonfiction book for Amazon KDP.
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QUICK COMPANION
From Prompts to KDP: Quick Notes
The concise working edition: test it, reword it, improve it, and publish it.
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PRACTICAL AI
150 Powerful ChatGPT Prompts
Useful, adaptable prompts designed to produce better answers and save real time.
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PROMPT WRITING
How to Write Effective AI Prompts
A clear guide to writing prompts that produce smarter, faster, and more accurate results with AI.
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POCKET COMPANION
The Internet Tip Book
A small, casual browsing companion for a hotel room, guest room, or B&B—with 100 corners of the web to explore.
View on Amazon
CURATED AI REFERENCE
The Ultimate AI Tools Directory 2025
A carefully curated, tested, and organized guide to useful artificial-intelligence tools.
View on AmazonABOUT THE AUTHOR
Donald Russell
Donald Russell writes practical and humorous books about artificial intelligence, independent publishing, and the peculiar frustrations of modern life. A devoted Giant Schnauzer owner and enthusiastic adopter of smart-home technology, he tests modern tools in the real world—usually with Raven nearby. His work favors useful answers, plain language, and the occasional well-earned laugh.