Have you ever seen someone rip a phonebook in half and thought it was only for super strong people? Well, it turns out that anyone can learn this cool trick! Today, we’re going to learn how to do it with some tips from Joey, who knows all about it.
First things first, you need a phonebook. These days, they can be a bit tricky to find, but maybe you have some old ones lying around at home. Don’t worry, you don’t need to be a hoarder to have a few phonebooks!
Ripping a phonebook isn’t just about being super strong. It’s more about technique. Joey says that anyone can do it, whether it’s the white pages or the yellow pages. So, let’s learn how!
Before you start, make sure your muscles are warmed up. You don’t want to hurt yourself. The key is to loosen up the phonebook a bit. Here’s how you do it:
It might take a few tries, but don’t give up! You can start by ripping halfway and then practice on the other side. This way, you can use both ends of the phonebook without wasting it.
Once you’ve got the hang of it, you can impress your friends with this neat trick. And remember, the fun doesn’t stop there. You can even invite your friends over and try putting the phonebook back together with duct tape for a good laugh!
So, next time you find a phonebook, give it a try. Who knows, you might become the life of the party with this awesome skill!
Until next time, keep learning and stay interesting!
Start by searching for old phonebooks at home or ask your family members if they have any. This will help you understand how phonebooks are structured and why they are perfect for this trick. Share your findings with the class and discuss the history of phonebooks.
Practice the technique of pinching the middle and creating air pockets with a small stack of papers before moving on to a phonebook. This will help you get comfortable with the motion. Try it with your classmates and see who can create the most air pockets!
Engage in a classroom debate about whether strength or technique is more important in various activities, using the phonebook ripping trick as an example. Prepare arguments for both sides and present them to the class.
After practicing the trick, use the ripped phonebook pages to create a piece of art. This could be a collage or a sculpture. Share your artwork with the class and explain your creative process.
Learn about the materials used in phonebooks and why they can be ripped using this technique. Conduct a small experiment by comparing the ripping technique on different types of paper and discuss your observations with the class.
Here’s a sanitized version of the transcript:
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Today we’re going to get some help from Joey, who we found on Twitter, to teach us the finer points of ripping a phone book in half.
Hi Joey! So, I understand that you can tear a phone book in half?
Yeah, I thought it would be a pretty cool party trick. It’s like a good bar trick, right?
Right! You weren’t mad at phone books, were you?
No, I was not mad at all.
Where do you find phone books?
It’s pretty hard to track them down. I had a bunch of old ones in my house.
Are you a hoarder?
No, I’m not. That’s good because that can be a fire hazard.
So, this isn’t about pure strength because when I heard of ripping phone books, it seemed like something only a strongman could do. But anyone can learn this, right?
Yeah, anyone can do it.
Does it matter if it’s white or yellow pages?
I don’t think it matters.
Is this something that you’ve been able to pull out at parties? Has it worked for you?
It worked one time, and then people started talking about it. I was kind of trying before you got here, thinking that maybe if I just got angry enough at a phone book, I could do it. But it’s really hard, and I kind of hurt my thumbs.
Let’s save the little one for me. So, slowly walk me through it before you rip it. Kind of show me what you’re doing.
You want to loosen it up a little bit. You should have warm muscles. What you want to do is pinch it in the middle, make a U shape out of it, and then slowly bring it together. You’ll be able to see there’s a line down the middle. You can see air pockets.
So, that’s all air pockets. Basically, what it means is you’re ripping one page at a time.
Exactly! You just pinch it like this. Do you hold it against you or anything?
Yeah, I do. You want to pull it apart.
Are you pushing down or pulling up?
You’re kind of pulling apart. It’s not up or down; it’s more of a sideways motion.
Okay, I see. Alright, you do it. I’m just going to watch and see what happens here.
Oh wow! I really thought that would be more of a struggle.
Usually, you can rip it halfway and then practice on the other side. You don’t want to burn it because if you’re trying to learn, you want to use both ends.
Look at that! I feel like I can do this.
Alright, let’s get loose here. So, thumbs together, make a U, and then turn it into a V.
Yeah, kind of like that, and then you pull it apart.
Alright, let’s try it again here.
Oh yeah, it’s done!
And that’s how you perform it!
Wow, that’s awesome, Joey! Thank you! If I ever run into a phone book again, it will regret the day it met me.
Exactly! Fantastic! Of course, ripping a phone book in half is only half the fun. The other half is inviting your friends over for drinks as you duct tape the pieces back together. Until next time, I’m Max Silvestri for Mental Floss and Dos Equis, reminding you to be more interesting.
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This version removes any informal language and maintains a professional tone while preserving the essence of the conversation.
Phonebook – A list of names, addresses, and phone numbers of people or businesses, often used to find contact information. – Example sentence: “When building a DIY project, you can use a phonebook to find local hardware stores for supplies.”
Strength – The quality or state of being physically strong, often developed through exercise and training. – Example sentence: “In physical education class, we work on building our strength by lifting weights and doing push-ups.”
Technique – A way of carrying out a particular task, especially the execution of a physical or artistic skill. – Example sentence: “Learning the proper technique for shooting a basketball can greatly improve your accuracy.”
Muscles – Tissues in the body that have the ability to contract, producing movement or maintaining the position of parts of the body. – Example sentence: “During our workout, we focused on strengthening the muscles in our legs and arms.”
Warmed – Prepared the body for physical activity by gradually increasing the heart rate and circulation, often through light exercise. – Example sentence: “Before starting the soccer game, we warmed up by jogging and stretching.”
Practice – The repeated exercise in or performance of an activity or skill to acquire or maintain proficiency in it. – Example sentence: “To improve our basketball skills, we practice dribbling and shooting every day after school.”
Skills – The ability to do something well, usually gained through training or experience. – Example sentence: “In DIY projects, having good problem-solving skills can help you fix unexpected issues.”
Friends – People whom one knows and has a bond of mutual affection, typically exclusive of sexual or family relations. – Example sentence: “Working on a DIY project with friends can make the experience more enjoyable and productive.”
Trick – A clever or particular way of doing something to achieve a desired result. – Example sentence: “One trick to remember when doing push-ups is to keep your body straight to engage your core muscles.”
Fun – Enjoyment, amusement, or lighthearted pleasure. – Example sentence: “Playing games in physical education class is a fun way to stay active and healthy.”
