Some of the best Twop Twips analysed

The Twitter account @TwopTwips dispenses invaluable advice for life. Now a book featuring some of the best tips from the feed has been published. Here creator David Harris talks about what makes a top tip a Twop Twip....

Let there be no doubt: crafting a Twop Twip is an art form as valid as any other, and when done well they can easily match the majesty of a Bach concerto or a Rembrandt painting. Here I'll offer a few examples of the genre, adding a little commentary on each to help those of you who are new to the concept reach a deeper understanding.

SURPRISE your hamster by smashing through the door of his plastic house at 5am with a cocktail sausage, shouting 'Police!' (via @buschenfeld)

In one pithy sentence the author of this Twip is subtly commenting on 21st century policing methods, as well as making us think more profoundly about the relationship and responsibilities us humans have towards all animal life, not just our beloved pets.

PAINT your house number on your bin to make it easier for binmen to leave it outside the wrong address. (via @wallaceme)

At first read through this appears to be no more than a simple observation on the perceived haplessness of our refuse collectors. And yet, every subsequent re-reading of this Twip rewards us with more depth and insight. It challenges us to consider our throwaway society. Are our lifestyles truly sustainable?

AVOID having to do a best man speech by simply alienating all your friends from a young age. (via @slimtim70)

The existential angst of this Twip is arresting. Taking Sartre's 'hell is other people' statement as a starting point, this Twip follows that logic to its bleakly inevitable conclusion. The reclusive author of this work is believed to live in a poorly-decorated cave in Northumberland, with only a poodle and a lava lamp for company.

MAKE toast seem more exciting by pretending you've rescued a slice of bread from a burning building. (via @MooseAllain)

In contrast to the dystopian nightmare presented by the previous Twip, here the author offers us a glimpse of hope: a chance to free ourselves from the mundane shackles of reality. The author is suggesting that we can break these chains using nothing more than the power of imagination.

WRITE the alphabet around the edge of your ironing board to encourage ghosts to do the work for you. (via @GrahamGoring)

Many authors and philosophers have wondered and theorised about the finality of death, but rarely with such playfulness and charm. This work leaves you with a smile on your face which slowly fades to a puzzled frown as we contemplate the concept of an afterlife, and the myriad implications.

BECOME a successful celebrity lookalike by becoming famous and then pretending not to be you. (via @BisleyT)

'Fame is a mask that eats into the face' said John Updike. What does that say about the hordes of folk who seek fame purely for its own sake? While the author of this Twip doesn't profess to have any answers, he surely presents the question in a uniquely challenging way.

PROVE that you had a really great night out with your friends by uploading 374 photos to Facebook. (via @jayckb)

This author likes to explore the sinister side of technology, and its intrusive impact on our 'always connected' lives. He believes that social media has a deeply corrosive effect on real friendships and family relations. Shortly after writing this, he deleted his Twitter account forever and moved to Rhyl.

SCIENTISTS. Give a 'religious feel' to your conclusions by not showing your working. (via @ClintJEdwards)

At first glance this Twip appears to deftly plunge the sword of reason into the notions of spirituality and religion, before standing back and watching the resulting bloody mess. Or does it? When we discover that the author is a devout Jewish-Catholic, this piece takes on another meaning altogether.

SAVE on expensive patio heaters by simply staying indoors when it is cold and dark. (via @Raspberryuke)

A keen environmentalist, this author begs us to pay heed to the destruction we are bringing to our planet. He also diligently practises what he preaches: every word he uses in his writing has been recycled, often copied and pasted from various online newspapers and blogs.

'Top Tips for Life by David Harris' is published by Ebury Press. Order online