Equal parts droll and gorgeous nostalgia book and heartfelt plea for a renewed sense of adventure in the lives of boys and men, Conn and Hal Iggulden's The Dangerous Book for Boys became a mammoth bestseller in the United Kingdom in 2006. Adapted, in moderation, for American customs in this edition (cricket is gone, rugby remains; conkers are out, Navajo Code Talkers in), The Dangerous Book is a guide book for dads as well as their sons, as a reminder of lore and technique that have not yet been completely lost to the digital age. Recall the adventures of Scott of the Antarctic and the Battle of the Somme, relearn how to palm a coin, tan a skin, and, most charmingly, wrap a package in brown paper and string. The book's ambitions are both modest and winningly optimistic: you get the sense that by learning how to place a splint or write in invisible ink, a boy might be prepared for anything, even girls (which warrant a small but wise chapter of their own).
Labels: Book Reviews, Gender Issues, parenting
At 5/11/2007 11:42:00 AM, Staci
The author was on The Colbert Report a few nights ago. I felt the same conflict - glad that outdoor adventure is encouraged, but horrified at the disrespect to women.
I recommend an alternative book: "Last Child in the Woods" by Richard Louv. Louv shares a few too many statistics and is not as funny as the Dangerous book is meant to be, but there is much inspiration for reconnecting ALL children (and adults) back to nature.
"the authors say that the book exists "to celebrate boys, because nobody has been doing it for a long while." "
Isn't that the same thing that the KKK says? That they aren't hating "other", they're just for themselves?
I wonder though, how boys and men might lift up one another, and/or be lifted, without that underlying condemnation of "other"?
I heard about this book on the Today show when the author was interviewed. His motives appeared true and when you have boys, you celebrate these sorts of things. However, I could not help thinking he listed all the things I, such a tomboy did as a girl. I was a "wild girl" as my son calls me. He says "Mom, I have noticed some girls are wild and some are not. Mostly, kids are just kids who like different things. I am proud to be a boy and I am proud you are a girl and boy am I glad even in your wildness you liked babies and took tender care of me." I think we make a bigger deal out of these things than kids do--they are wise to look past the titles and marketing schemes grown-ups give...
so......maybe a better title would be the dangerous book for girls ? Yeah, I saw this for the first time on Amazon yesterday. Rolled my eyes and moved on. But then again, my kids are grown so it's easier for me to ignore....