The Book of Useless Knowledge

Save

Triggers automatically for 2 a.m. bathroom runs, casting a gentle colorful glow right into the bowl without blinding anyone. Starts as a joke, ends up life-changing.

Save

A cylindrical mesh basket that rolls right on the grill, crisping up veggies and shrimp evenly without letting anything slip through the grates. Dad just rolls it with the aura of a seasoned pitmaster.

Save

A little ceramic face with exactly one job: separating whites from yolks in the funniest way possible. Nobody ever fights with an egg again.

Save

A mold that turns a couple's (or the whole family's) intertwined hands into a plaster sculpture. Forty-six thousand reviews and zero people who didn't tear up opening it.

Save

A soft, handmade retro controller with a happy face, made for late-night gamers. It will not help you pass the level, but it will guard your desk while you sleep.

Save

A planter with a serene face and little hands making a heart, where the plant becomes the hairdo. Gift it with a succulent and it'll rule her shelves.

Save

Two books filled with gorgeous patterns designed to clear your mind. Spend thirty minutes coloring and watch your nervous system immediately stand down.

Save

Head into the yard and zoom in on a leaf until you see its actual cells on screen. This pocket digital microscope offers 1000x magnification and saves photos, meaning backyard ants might end up in your family photo album. Weighs under half a pound.

Save

Nine granite rocks that chill your drink without diluting a single drop of flavor, complete with tongs and a velvet pouch. For the dad who insists ice ruins good bourbon—now backed by science.