Back of the book blurb: Being modern and manly in today’s world isn’t always easy.
Do you know how to tie a bow-tie, mix a martini, or make a potato gun?
Do you know when to get married and how to break up, or the difference between a bock beer and a bitter?
Do you know which urinal to choose or how to start a fire with a Coke can?
The answers to every man’s burning questions are within these pages, from the morning wet shave to the whiskey night-cap, from hunting deer with a .30-06 to wooing women like 007. At a time when the sexes are muddled and masculinity is marginalized, THE MAN’S BOOK unabashedly celebrates maleness. Organized by subject in a man-logical way, it’s the go-to guide for anyone with a Y chromosome.
She is Too Fond of Books’ Review: The Man’s Book is a great little book! I expected it to be a parody of sorts, containing lots of silly “manly” tricks and tips. What I found was a wealth of information – lots of it useful, some of it trivial. Trivial in my eyes, that is. I happen to be married to a man who will eat it up!
J will enjoy testing his knowledge of wine, beer, and spirits. I’m sure he’ll bore our son (again!) with knot-tying and the story of the one Cub Scout meeting he attended. He’ll pop the library of “essential films for men” onto our Netflix queue.
Each chapter opens with several quotations about the topic, authored by any man from Benjamin Franklin to the guys from AC/DC. Chapters include:
- health
- sports and games
- women
- dress
- outdoors
- drinking
- smoking (! editorial exclamation from Dawn)
- cooking
- idling
- arts and sciences
- almanac
There were a few sections that I felt were a bit dated and quaint, such as this bit about the first date, from the chapter titled “Women”:
The end of the date is as important as the beginning. The essential thing – and remember we are talking about the first date – is to show no interest in her physically. … A pretty girl considers a man’s affection her due. … When her desirableness is rebuffed, a man becomes more, not less, fascinating to her.
But, of course, I’m a woman, and Fink’s target audience is men! Maybe this is his attempt to show that chivalry is not dead; in any case, I didn’t take offense at it.
The Man’s Book is fun reading, and a good reference to add to the shelf. Where else will you find the rules of Beer Pong and text message shorthand in the same volume? I’d recommend this for gift-giving for all the men in your life. Don’t tell my Dad, but he’ll be seeing it on Father’s Day!
Thomas Fink’s notes in the colophon say he “grew up in New York and Texas. He is a physicist and writer and lives in London. He designed The Man’s Book himself. He is a man.”
Sounds like a fun one – my son might enjoy it.
This sounds like the perfect gift for my brother-in-laws … both the married one and the single one. Thanks!
It’s so long since I had a first date, I’m not sure if I would be flattered or annoyed that he didn’t act attracted to me! There are enough of these books out there for women, its about time the men brushed up their game!
Oh, this one really sounds amusing – perhaps even the kind of must-read-before-your-husband book?
I am not at all sure it is easy to be a man today, however. At least not in Scandinavia where liberation and equality sometimes tend to turn into suppression of men.
This sounds like a fun gift for the men in my life. (ok, ok. I might read it too
)
Thanks for the heads up.
Sounds cute! It might be a fun gift.
This one sounds like fun! We’re going on a driving holiday in July – it might be good for reading aloud in the car.
Also, wanted to let you know I have something for you over at Ms. Bookish
http://msbookish.com/im-a-zombie-chicken/
My friend Steve would love this!
Kathy – There’s nothing a mother couldn’t share with her son in there. The “courtship” section is a bit old-fashioned
Heather – everything from ways to knot a tie, to how to tie a knot!
Sandy – one section even talks about the ideal age difference between husband and wife!
Dorte – that’s a very interesting perspective, kind of a reverse discrimination
stacy – much of the info is useful to both genders.
Marie – I think it would make a fun gift
Belle – just don’t try the drinking games in the car
Lenore – Is there a gift-giving occasion coming up!?
Do you really think men have even a clue about some of these topics?
This reminds me of a book I got my husband a while ago — I think it was called something like “50 Things Every Man Should Know” and had essays on a variety of “manly” things written by “experts” in the field … like Carson Kressley (from Queer Eye for the Straight Guy) on dressing. It was pretty fun to read and get a glimpse into a strange alien world.
Sounds like the Dangerous Book for Boys for men lol. I’d really like to have a one written from the female perspective!
I’m sure my hubby would enjoy some of this… I know I would find a few parts interesting… I hate bow ties and ties I can never get it right…
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