The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn Iggulden, Hal Iggulden
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Book Reviews of The Dangerous Book for Boys
Book Review: Our British Friends Have Heard Your Pleas!
Summary: 5 Stars
I came across "The Dangerous Book for Boys" at one of the behemoth bookstores, where I sat down to read it for what turned into at least an hour. Since Amazon.com beats their rivals' reduced prices, I am going to order copies of the American edition for my grown sons as well as my grandchildren, both male and female.
In the meantime, I ordered the United Kingdom edition on Amazon.co.uk so that I could see what I was missing. I was delighted to discover what constitutes a first-rate conker (a horse chestnut on a string, the object being to conk--and break--your opponents' conkers). I was also delighted to discover that the best cricket bats are made of willow; and that one can tap the bark of the English hawthorn tree in spring for its drinkable sugary sap--three golden nuggets of information amongst a wealth of fascinating topics, most of which are still in the American edition. I was equally delighted to renew my acquaintance with the Kings and Queens of England and to peruse the maps that depict changing Britain from Roman times until the Norman conquest.
This wonderful compendium of unrelated snippets of information (from codes and cyphers to questions about the universe) reminds me of the old Wonder Books and St. Nicholas Magazines (handed down from my older brother) that I devoured as a little girl. Such subjects aroused my curiosity then; they made me ask questions and want to learn more about all manner of things.
And that is the "dangerous" aspect of this book; that a child, be it boy or girl, will have his curiosity aroused, ask questions, and then go on to read more--whether about the seven wonders of the world, the Latin origins of words, or how to marble paper and build paper airplanes. In the process, a child might even come to love learning for its own sake. As a consequence, he--or she--will never be bored!
As for readers who are concerned that girls might left out because of the title, Amazon.co.uk are releasing "The Great Big Glorious Book for Girls" by Rosemary Davidson and Sarah Vine on July 19. It is said that the book will "satisfy the whims of diehard tomboys and [girls who are] devoted [to] flower fairies." So let's not, as the British say, get our knickers into a twist. Help is on the way!
Book Review: It's too dangerous!
Summary: 5 Stars
And great for it!
It's dangerous because it brings back values from a time when personal responsibility was assumed, not assumed to be absent. Hunting with airguns is dangerous, but teaches that meat doesn't arrive on Earth wrapped in clear plastic. Anything to do with spies is dangerous, but codes and invisible inks are fun, can be used responsibly, and are an important part of history (n.b. the role of espionage in the American Revolution). Doing things with electricity like making batteries, electromagnets, and pocket lights is dangerous, but teaches some of fundements of the technologies that drive the modern world. Soccer is dangerous, I've seen kids break bones playing it, but it is good healthy fun, and the kids who broke bones openly and loudly resented having to sit out games while they recovered. Girls are dangerous in so many ways, but when treated with respect can make life better. Grammar is dangerous, especially in the hands of an attorney, but creates quite an advantage for those who master it.
All these things and more are discussed, and alternatives to XBox, Gameboy, PlayStation, etc are offered. This book is incredibly dangerous to proponents of a 'managed society' where everyone is protected from everything, and everyone is free and happy in exactly the proscribed fashion. And I'm OK with this. Because "the Dangerous Book for Boys" also encourages responsibility, manners, education, self-reliance, creativity, and a host of other values that receive lip-service but little actual support in mainstream America.
Several reviewers have expressed their displeasure with the phrase "for Boys". Get over it. Get some perspective; if this is the most important thing you can take a stand about, go visit a third world country and watch children walk half a mile for water every day. Who cares what it says on the cover? I bought it with a blond, blue-eyed, [...] girl in mind, and she loves it. If it is such a heartache to you, quit whining and write "The Dangerous Book for Girls" while my daughter reads this one.
For the rest of y'all, get this for any boy or girl of any age. This book is excellent and an investment in the future.
Book Review: I have been waiting for this book all my life.
Summary: 5 Stars
Back in the 70s when I almost set a marsh on fire on Cape Cod with strike on anything matches I knew I had done wrong. I had also enlisted my younger brother who was more scared than I was when we got picked up by the fire department and driven home in a huge fire truck down a small Cape Cod road. We eventually learned how to be mischievous without it being too dangerous and also still having the perceived allure of danger. It's like walking the edge of a razor.
As childhood wore on usually all the really big scrapes, hospital visits and the like were all accidental and not attached or associated with any real mischief, perceived or otherwise. Still boys are boys, or boys will be boys, or what ever you want to call it. The perception or flirtation with danger is something hard wired in us. It's not that we want to cause trouble or get hurt but we want to move in that direction to some degree. We always know when we have gone too far and usually we never tread over that line again.
In all actuality it is really more about adventure than anything else. Boys want to seem adventurous and the feel of danger needs to be there for any significant adventure, quest, journey, or trek. After all Indy did not have it easy in Raiders. If it was easy it would have been no fun and surly not an adventure.
This book shows how to experience that sense of adventure and also where danger begins so you can steer clear of it. It is not necessarily a book to hand over to your [...] son, but I would condone sitting with them and going over age specific things depending on the maturity of your child. There are many things in this book that I still do not know and reading them on a case by case basis will be interesting even for an old guy like me.
As far as girls go, well I can only say this: "Na, na na na nah! Go get your own book."
In all seriousness, girls should not refrain from buying this book. If the allure to read it and explore it is there than it was meant for you.
As I read more I will try and update my review to be more inclusive to the details of the book. So far it looks like a gold-mine.
Book Review: Single Mom and Loving It!
Summary: 5 Stars
My son received this book today as a Christmas gift from someone very dear to my heart who happens to live an ocean apart. It was one of the most thoughtful gifts he could've received because of the content within. Being a single mom, I have to play both roles and try my best, but this is a fabulous way for me to share in the wonderful things that will turn him into a man of excellence. This book covers it all and is even filled with things that I loved to do as a kid!
I plan on creating a keepsake box of life lessons in it, from poems and diary pages I wrote about my son, poetry that I feel is pertinent to his view of "manhood", and other things, but this book will definitely be included and will be definitely well worn. As a single mom, I don't profess to have all the answers, and being a woman, don't profess to have all of the knowledge my son needs to grow into a man. But this book will definitely make that journey much easier for me to navigate with my son.
It covers so much...and has the basic foundations laid out. Bravery, Service, Love of Learning, Love, Growth, Dreams, Play, Instruction, etc. This is definitely our newest literary treasure, and one that will continue to create those brilliant fireworks in my son's mind for as long as he lives...when I was told that he would be getting the book, based on the title, I said, oh great, thanks alot for that (joking) and upon reading through and flipping through the sections am so glad that it was given to my son...overwhelmed actually...it is a joy to read and to own, and for those of us old school girls who never were afraid of getting dirty, or going on our own adventures with neighborhood kids, it will be a trip down memory lane as well.
From tying knots, building go-carts, literary treasures, history, tales of bravery, how to fold paper airplanes,and much more, this book is a good read and good reference! This book is excellent, and definitely one that is now a treasured part of a single mom's household that includes one fearless boy rapidly growing before my eyes.
Book Review: Oh, boy, this is a fun book
Summary: 5 Stars
This isn't a dangerous book for boys. It is a required book for both boys and men. Older men will be reminded of the things we all learned as boys and have perhaps forgotten, like how to tie the five basic knots, how to make a tree house or a bow and arrow, Morse code and the naval flag codes. But there is also much to delight both young and old besides what we might remember.
The illustrations of the seven wonders of the ancient world are breathtaking. The description of some of the most famous battles of history and the reasons for the successes and failures are compelling. The list of things every boy should carry in his pocket is fascinating. This book is a must-have resource for any family. Hours can be spent just meandering through the pages marveling at the useful bits of information it contains.
Questions about the world are answered (Why is it hotter at the equator than at the poles? Why does the sun shine 24 hours a day at the poles?) Interesting projects abound within the book's pages (How do you make paper airplanes? Water bombs? Paper boats?) Fascinating bits of information crop up at every turn of the page: The Navajo Code Talker's Dictionary, Understanding English grammar, and Basic First Aid.
Then there are the extraordinary stories: Robert Scott and the North Pole, The Wright Brothers and their First Flight, and many others. And don't forget the many projects: building a battery, making crystals, building a tree house and more.
You can also get wrapped up in Shakespeare and an assortment of inspirational poems every young man should know, and 34 books every boy should read--along with wonderful descriptions of the seven wonders of the modern world.
Fascinating, well written, broad enough to capture every boy's interest, yet with enough depth to be able to actually do things.
Armchair Interviews says: This book belongs on every boy's bookshelf (and Dad's too)!