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Name a few things you think boys miss out on today. Could these include history and heroes that inspire them to grow into true manhood? Or adventures in the real world and not just on a screen? Is it the chance to learn in ways that interest them rather than in ways designed by women especially for girls? Whatever you may name, a new book that offers ideas and projects to fill the gap has caused a sensation in the U.S. and in England. Written by Conn and Hall Iggulden, it's called The Dangerous Book for Boys. With the help of The Dangerous Book, a pile of wood might become a workbench, a go-cart, a bow and arrows, or even a treehouse. The book explores such projects as making paper airplanes, secret inks, electromagnets, navigation, and hunting and cooking a rabbit. Each of the more dangerous sections provides calm, practical advice for doing these things safely and well. The less dangerous sections have many charms, including the authors' humor, used effectively throughout. There is even a helpful section on how young boys should treat girls. Interspersed with more active sections are inspiring stories of heroes who explored the world's least hospitable regions or helped win the Battle of Britain; tales of famous battles and other important moments in history, and answers to questions about the world. There are sections about Shakespeare, Latin phrases and poems, the most important rules of grammar, and the Ten Commandments. The Dangerous Book for Boys is beautiful, with careful illustrations and colorful images. It would make a wonderful gift for any American boy. (William Morrow, 2007, 270 pp., $26.95) |
This book is a compendium of activities, stories, and useful information. It hit the top of British and American bestseller lists. The authors said, "We hope in years to come that this will be a book to dig out of the attic and give to a couple of kids staring at a pile of wood and wondering what to do with it."
