The Dangerous Book for Boys

Years ago I found a beat-up old box that contained a stack of musty books. I suppose they must have belonged to my father or grandfather and that they had long since been forgotten. They were interesting books, clearly targeted at boys of a different age. They had stories of pirates, heroic tales of valor and suggestions for activities that would appeal to any boy. It seems that books like this were all the rage once upon a time. Children needed to entertain themselves and this type of book gave them the suggestions they needed to keep busy. The Dangerous Book for Boys looks just like those old books I uncovered. It is hardcover and over-sized with old-school gold printing on the cover. Even the inside covers are covered with that old marbled paper that used to adorn books. It looks like a relic of days gone by and that is clearly exactly as the authors want it. Already a runaway bestseller in Britain, the book has recently been Americanized and launched to great acclaim here in North America where the publisher expects to sell several million copies. The book is for boys. Most girls will find little to enjoy and very little to inspire them. It is dangerous only to companies like Sony and Nintendo (and perhaps the occasional rabbit) as it teaches boys to love the outdoors and to use their imaginations to see the wonder of the great outdoors. It teaches them what they need to know to be busy, energetic, adventurous boys (which is exactly what God intends for boys!). The chapters read like a list of the things I loved to do and to read as a boy: How to Play Stickball; The Greatest Paper Airplane in the World; Fishing; Table Football; Secret Inks (and no, they don't shy away from suggesting that urine is useful in creating secret messages); Extraordinary Stories; Skipping Stones; Juggling; Insects and Spiders; Books Every Boy Should Read; and on and on through 270 pages. The following brief excerpts will serve to provide an idea of the content. The first two come from a section entitled "Essential Gear" which describes things an adventuresome boy will need to keep in his pockets at all times: Handkerchief - "There are many uses for a piece of cloth, from preventing smoke inhalation or helping with a nosebleed to offering one to a girl when she cries. Big ones can even be made into slings. They're worth having." Needle and thread - "Again, there are a number of useful things you can do with these, from sewing up a wound on an unconscious dog to repairing a torn shirt. Make sure the thread is strong and then it can be used for fishing." Later in the book is a section about how to hunt, clean and cook a rabbit: Skinning the Rabbit This is not a difficult process, though it is a little daunting the first time. If you have a heavy-bladed cleaver, simply chop off the four paws. If you are stuck with only a penknife, break the forearm bones with a quick jerk, then cut the skin around the break in a ring. Remove the head in the same way. A serrated edge will cut through the bones, but a standard kitchen knife is likely to be damaged if used as a chopper. The section discussing girls is not only filled with useful advice, but also downright hilarious. And, in fact, that quirky British humor is in evidence from the first to the last. Like most young boys, the book does not take itself too seriously. Christian parents will want want to be aware of a couple of small concerns. When discussing ancient history and dinosaurs, the book turns, as we'd expect, to evolution as its explanation of the world's origins. Also, while the list of suggested reading is really quite good, it does offer a handful of titles, especially for older boys, that may not be entirely appropriate (such as books by Stephen King). There are a few titles that wouldn't top my list of recommendations. Finally, one of the suggested activities involves role playing games (with Dungeons & Dragons heading the list) and this may make some parents uncomfortable. There is no great cause for concern, though, as the book has far more positives than potential negatives. Books like The Dangerous Book for Boys may be just the antidote we need to see boys begin to break the inactivity that seems to plague so many of them these days. There is something delightfully politically incorrect about a book with instructions on how to kill, skin and cook a rabbit. And for a boy, there is something delightfully challenging about trying it. Bound to be a popular gift item this Christmas (and probably this summer as well), I gladly recommend this book and trust it will drag many boys outside to enjoy the beauty and wonder of nature and to just enjoy being boys. Those childhood years don't last long enough. This book is sure to create many great memories of those years.

Great book for boys age 10+. Covers myriad fun, useful and unusual topics. Ex: Flags, how to build a tree house, English grammar (much better than it sounds), How to catch, clean, and cook a rabbit, knots, how to behave with girls. The mind boggles.

I have purchased several copies of this book throughout the years. This Christmas I purchased 3 copies. When my 12 yr old great grandson received his book last night, he commented "Now I have my own copy!" I had given his father this same book years ago and the boy had been reading it. It's perfect for 10-12-14 year old boys.

The Dangerous Book for Boys is an entertaining and informative nonfiction book that blends practical skills, classic games, science, and history into one engaging guide. It sparks curiosity and hands-on learning.

Got this for my nephews 13th birthday. I thumbed through it & it seems perfect. It’s got facts & stories & games & adventures that I think he’ll find interesting. I’m excited to gift it to him. I specifically wanted something not video game related & this has plenty of stuff to keep him busy & off the screens for a bit!

I got this book for our three grandsons, ages 7, 5, and 2. I expected the oldest one would be the most interested, and yes, he was fascinated with all the exciting projects. He spent a long time looking through it with his dad, our son, and my husband, Papa. And the adults were just as interested! I could see the imagination wheels turning in our grandson's head. I think this will provide lots of fuel for imaginative, wholesome activities for him and his smaller brothers as they grow! It is also a great way for fathers and sons to connect and create fun adventures and memories together!

Before purchasing the book some time ago for my son, I read the "1 star" reviews first. The complaints there fell generally into one of two camps. Either it wasn't edgy enough or it was like a watered down version of the boy scout manual. Shameful as it is to say, I didn't purchase it based on these reviews. I am an eagle scout and was brought up with a love for knowledge and exploration and yet, I hated much of the scouting program. To my mind it was too diluted and attempted at every turn to turn the mantra "safety first" into "the whole world should be bubble-wrapped but isn't, so don't ever risk anything". Childhood is the time to make mistakes while the stakes is still small and the consequences are generally mild. But due in large part to the litigious and politically obsequious climate in our society, I find myself chafing at the restrictions of our pretend adventures. A watered-down scout handbook was the last thing I wanted. I happened upon a copy in-store and took the time to peruse its pages. I was astonished by the broad expanse of the knowledge it contained. While the book certainly caters to younger minds, I found myself giddy that there were other people in the world who valued the skills of bushcraft as well as the sciences, literature and history. But most of all I found that the book captured an overall narative of the virtues of manliness, which are, contrary to popular opinion, patience, kindness and humility. This narrative is well evinced by a quote inscribed in the first few pages: "Don't swagger. The boy who swaggers - like the man who swaggers - has little else that he can do. He is a cheap-Jack crying his own paltry wares. It is the empty tin that rattles most". I have only returned to leave this review as I needed a copy for my youngest boy as well.

Un superbe bouquin qui fourmille d’activités infos etc, à lire par le père et le fils , dommage qu’il n’existe pas d’édition française

We bought this book for our 9 year old son. He loves it and considers it the best book he has ever owned.

Bereits mehrfach in der deutschen Fassung gekauft, nun erstmals auf Englisch. Das Buch ist einfach ein tolles Geschenk. Wir haben es jetzt schon vier Mal zur Geburt verschenkt ( auch in der Mädels-Variante) und nun für Bekannte in Irland, die drei Jungs haben und viel Outdoor unterwegs sind. Wir verschenken dieses Buch so gern. Es lohnt sich definitiv, die gebundenen Ausgaben zu nehmen, wenn es ein Geschenk sein soll, da es einfach hochwertiger ist. Die englische Version ist im Format etwas breiter, dafür hat es etwas weniger Seiten, als die deutsche Variante. Aber ansonsten gibt es hinsichtlich Qualität und Inhalt keine Unterschiede. Es gibt wenige Dinge, von denen wir so begeistert sind. Von diesem Buch sind wir es allerdings sehr und würden es immer wieder kaufen. Natürlich haben wir es uns auch selbst gekauft ;)

I got this book for my 6 years old son! I couldn't wait till he is 8! It has fun ideas that are definitely necessary to raise a happy child, Boy or girl!

mi è piaciuta la varietò degli argomenti trattati, molto diversi tra loro. tanti piccoli dettagli che attivano la mente del curioso