Thursday, June 14, 2007

I wish they had sent me a free copy...

No this is not a "paid review". I actually bought this book. OK, I know, technically The Boss Lady bought the book for me, but still...

If you need a hint for Father's Day, I have a good one for you. The Dangerous Book for Boys by Conn and Hal Iggulden. I found it at Costco for about $13.

The book is a great collection of stuff. Stuff that every boy should know. The rules of soccer and stickball, a list of the fifty states and capitals, how to build a tree house, how to hunt and cook a rabbit and loads of info on secret codes and ciphers. After all, where else will a boy learn to use milk and urine as disappearing ink?

OK, up on my soapbox for a little bit. There is waaaaaaaay too much pressure on boys to NOT act like boys. Dirty, smelly, loud and messy boys just don't seem to be tolerated very well anymore. So I am thrilled to see this book. It is kind of like a license for boys to do boy stuff.

Even if your "boy" is just a grumpy old fart sitting in his recliner, celebrating Father's Day with this book will make his day.

Here is a link to the book at Amazon.

But now it is time for me to go. The boy and I are off to make an electromagnet. Yep, that's in the book, too.



Edit: I had to come back to this post. I mis-typed "secret codes" above and it came out "secret coeds". Now if they would give some advice about co-eds, that REALLY would make this a dangerous book for boys!

10 comments:

Idaho Dad said...

Ha! My "not free" copy just arrived from Amazon. At first glance, the book looks amazing. Loads of fun stuff for my son and me.

Mike said...

A blog I frequent wrote about it a while back, but I can't remember who it was.

I had forgotten all about the book until I saw it last night. Good stuff!

Ginger said...

Yes, somewhere I read where all these mothers were offended by the book because of steotyping or leaving girls out or whatever.

Mike said...

People that make that complaint can just kiss off as far as I am concerned. I bet those are the same people that would be screaming if their boys actually GOT messy or stinky.

Not that it is unexpected though. Anything that addresses BOY things is sure to get blasted with that complaint. More evidence that boys can't act like boys...

Mike said...

And for the record, we just tried two projects from the book. And little sister was involved both times.

Anonymous said...

This sounds like an interesting book. Are grown-up girls allowed to read it? Maybe before giving it to the boy in the recliner?

Will said...

Top of the list of books I've been wanting.

Terry said...

milk and URINE??? what is this book you ae referencing, the prequel to the Anarchists Cookbook!
Seriously Gross! but boys will be boys!!

Susan Godfrey said...

Mike,

You might also check out these books.

Sneaky Uses for Everyday Things by Cy Tymony. This book is full of fun and inventive ways to use everyday things in different ways. Very useful to MacGyver-ish boys :-)! Some ideas include: making gel packs for swollen muscles (out of water, rubbing alcohol and a plastic bag) and for making a fire extinguisher out of kitchen supplies (with baking soda and vinegar)and placing bubble wrap underneath a doormat to alert you when someone's standing on the other side of your door, or making a videotape rewinder out of a paper clip and a hanger.

The Boy Mechanic. This is a vintage book published by Popular Mechanics in the early 1900's.

Book Description
It’s vintage boyhood and a miscellany of marvelous ideas: from kites and toboggans to workbenches and birdhouses, this collection of projects from Popular Mechanics’ issues of long ago captures all the appeal of American ingenuity at the start of the last century.

My oldest son has read both of these and loves them! I'll have to also check into the Dangerous Book for Boys, I've been hearing a lot about it and I think he'll like it as well.

Mike said...

Susan thanks for the book suggestions.

But I am kind of bummed. When I saw this book I thought it was YOU who had already written about it on your blog. Now I have no idea where I heard about it.

I think your boys will love it, Especially the oldest of the three.