Louis Pasteur* believed that "chance favors only the prepared mind." Given all the he accomplished, one must agree.

And you can leave nothing to chance and be prepared for just about anything if you own a copy of The Federal Citizen Information Center's Consumer Action Handbook. It's not only free, but up to five copies are free, so you can give it to four of your nearest and dearest. And, the 2011 edition has just become available.

The thick paperback tells you what to do should anything go wrong with almost any type of consumer purchase - cars, trucks, refrigerators, electronic items, toys, even bus, train and airline tickets. This everyday guide is also full of tips about preventing identity theft, understanding credit, filing for bankruptcy, finding a lawyer and joining a gym.

It also explains how to... monitor your free credit report and correct any mistakes, put an end to telemarketers, write the perfect complaint letter, activate the consumer lemon law and more.

Seasonal topics include flood insurance dilemmas, winter accidents, cutting the cost of air conditioning, reducing heating expenses and the like.

A section that many OLI readers will find helpful at some point in their lives is the one devoted to planning a funeral, with details on how to avoid being taken advantage of -- an all-too-often occurrence.

Special consumer tips and helpful resources are singled out for members of the military, those in the teaching profession and the disabled.

Physical and email addresses, telephone numbers and web sites for state offices, Better Business Bureaus, car manufacturers, consumer organizations, leading U.S. corporations, federal agencies and state offices are also included.

For your copy: http://www.consumeraction.gov/ or for five copies: 888-878-3256. 

* And for those of you who dozed off in science class... 

Louis Pasteur (1822-1895), the French microbiologist and chemist, is best known for three discoveries. He ran a series of experiments that confirmed the germ theory of disease. He created the first vaccine for rabies. He taught the world how to stop milk and wine from going sour via pasteurization. He would like this publication! 

- Nancy Dunnan