Put together all of your cub scout and boy scout manuals, your favorite books about masculine activities, and your favorite memories about growing up as a boy, and you'll find them all somewhere in The Dangerous Book for Boys. In addition, you'll find answers to questions you've always wondered about . . . written at a boy's level of understanding.
As I read pages about tying knots, forming and launching paper airplanes, picking out a Swiss army knife, heat at the equator, making a bow and arrows, understanding grammar, making timers and tripwires, reading U.S. Naval flag codes, creating and decoding ciphers, forming crystals, learning to juggle, practicing first aid, star charts of constellations, and famous battles, I was once again eight years old. I didn't know it was possible, but my body felt smaller and suppler. I could remember where I'd first learned about all of those things, in many cases remembering what I hadn't thought of in decades.
As a connection to the younger generation, this book is marvelous because you can create a common territory beyond the borders of video games, MP3 files, and exotic sports. In addition, you can relate to you young friend or relative your own experiences in these areas, fields that young people don't know how to visit otherwise.
After you've looked at this book, I'm sure you'll agree with me that every boy deserves the chance to add this learning and these experiences to his boyhood.
I'm sure there will be another edition of this book someday. When it comes out, Mr. Iggulden, please do me a favor and include a section on the rules of cricket. I've never been able to completely follow that game. Then, you'll have made my second childhood perfect.
