Generative AI for Everyday Use: A Beginner's Guide and User Manual

by Michael E. McGrath

Discover the Power of Generative AI — No Experience Needed

Generative AI for Everyday A Beginner’s Guide and User Manual is your essential starting point for navigating the AI revolution. No tech background is required. Designed for beginners, this practical and empowering guide shows how generative AI tools like ChatGPT, Gemini, Claude, and others can become your daily digital companions, enhancing your productivity, creativity, communication, and problem-solving abilities.

While other books about AI focus on the technology itself or business applications, this book is entirely centered on you and your daily life. Every example, explanation, and piece of advice aims to help you accomplish real tasks that matter to you personally. From planning your next family vacation to managing your finances, from improving your health and fitness to advancing your career, generative AI can be your secret weapon for success.

The core of this book is its extensive use of practical examples. You won't just read about what generative AI can do; you'll see exactly how to do it. Each chapter features multiple detailed scenarios with specific prompts you can adapt for your own needs. When you see how April uses AI to plan her family's weekly meals, how John breaks down his overwhelming home renovation project, or how Jessica creates email templates that save her hours each week, you'll understand not just what's possible, but exactly how to achieve it yourself.

These aren't theoretical examples dreamed up in a conference room. They're based on real situations that real people face every day. You'll recognize yourself in many of these scenarios, and more importantly, you'll see how generative AI can solve problems you didn't even realize it could handle.

With more than 100 real-world examples, step-by-step walkthroughs, and clear explanations, this book strips away the hype and complexity surrounding generative AI. Whether you're a student, professional, retiree, or someone just curious about what generative AI can really do, this guide makes the future of technology feel personal and useful. Right now!

Unlike technical guides aimed at coders or thought pieces that dwell on AI's distant future, Generative AI for Everyday Use is grounded in the here and now. It speaks directly to ordinary users who want to do extraordinary things—with no steep learning curve. The book meets you where you are and guides you forward, offering clear instruction, encouragement, and dozens of real-life examples across both personal and professional domains.

Generative AI is not just for techies—it’s for everyone.
This book shows you how to make it work for you, starting today.

333 pages, Paperback

Published August 12, 2025

About the author

Michael has established a reputation as a strong decision-maker and credits much of the success in his life to making better decisions. He also studied decision-making for more than 25 years and developed practical decision-making techniques that he has shared with others. He created DecideBetter! to further develop successful decision techniques and promote these through books and other media to help others. Michael has a B.S. in computer science from Boston College and an M.B.A. from Harvard Business School. His books have been translated into Japanese and Chinese. In addition, he has published more than 500 articles and given more than 1000 speeches at conferences, industry association meetings, and client seminars."