Jonathan Catherman
Nonfiction/ Youth
About the book:
How to GAIN respect,
AVOID embarrassment, and
IMPRESS everyone!
As a man in the making, you'll need to know how to do stuff. You also need a strong moral character to back up your new abilities. But who do you ask? If you want to have it all together, The Manual to Manhood is your go-to resource. With great illustrations and step-by-step instructions for almost everything a guy needs to know, this book shows you how to
- wear cologne correctly
- tie a tie
- grill a steak
- manage a credit card
- plan a date
- interview for a job
- ask for a reference
- clean a bathroom
- change a tire
- talk to a girl
- fold a shirt
- clear a sink drain
- behave during a traffic stop
- throw a football
- find a stud in a wall
- and tons more
My thoughts:
I have to admit that I am completely enamored with this book. If you have a tween or young teen boy in your life you would do them a big favor by getting this manual for them. The content contains just about everything a young boy needs to know about everyday life to ease them into manhood.
I enjoyed reading the opening of the book from the author about why he decided to write the book. It set the tone for the rest of the book and I found it very inspiring from one parent to another. The rest of the book is broken down into different topics that are presented with both humor and relevant information.
For example, in chapter five, Grooming & Personal Hygiene, there is a section on How To Apply Deodorant or Antiperspirant. If you've ever had a pre-teen boy you know getting them to wear deodorant is an uphill battle. Here's an example of how Jonathan Catherman addresses the issue with a wittiness that gets his point across without degrading the boy:
"Applying stick antiperspirant or deodorant isn't difficult. What is difficult is sitting next to the guy who forgets to wear the stuff. Think of it this way. The smell of pungent pits is one of the most powerful female repellents known to humankind. Close behind on the nasty scale is when your arm goes up and a wet pit stain shouts out, "I'm sweaty!" Living with that kind of embarrassment, now that's difficult. But don't sweat it. There is a simple solution Wear antiperspirant or deodorant--or a combination of both." (pg. 99-100)The section then goes on to give a step-by-step tutorial and then it has a section on explaining the differences between antiperspirants and deodorants. It also explains how each works and why you would choose one or the other.
While I'm not a guy I still gleaned some very important things from this book. The section on parallel parking and backing up with a trailer had some good advice that I hadn't thought about before. I think this would make a great how-to manual for every household.
Connect with the author:
No comments:
New comments are not allowed.