Cigarettes and high heels: the universe of signs -- What does it mean? How humans represent the world -- Makeup: why do we put it on? -- Tell me about yourself: what is language? -- Kisses sweeter than wine: metaphor and the making of meaning -- Now, you tell me about yourself: why do we tell stories? -- At arm's length: the meanings of spaces -- What a beautiful ring!: The meaning of clothes and objects -- Art is indistinguishable from life: the artistic nature of the human species -- There's more to perfume than smell: advertising, pop culture, and meme culture