Review of Man Mission
Posted: 25 Oct 2022, 22:49
[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]
Man Mission written by Eytan Uliel is a book that can be called a memoir. The book describes in part, the story of the author’s own life, and in part, all the journeys the author and his friends embarked on, over the course of fifteen years.
‘Man Mission’ was the name given by the author and his friends to the yearly trips they took together. It was usually a week-long getaway where the men would leave their homes and families, travelling to exotic locations in pursuit of freedom and adventure. Man Mission had humble beginnings. The idea for the annual trips emerged from a simple conversation the author had with Sam, his friend from law school. With time the idea grew into something bigger, gradually developing its own rules and traditions. Daniel and Alex, two of the author’s other friends, were also part of Man Mission. Through the years, the group engaged in activities like hiking, trekking, kayaking, cycling and even ice climbing across countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Iceland.
The 362 page-long book is divided into three sections and narrates a total of fifteen Man Mission journeys. The author has dedicated a chapter for every trip and begins in a way aimed at evoking curiosity within the reader. The narration of each trip is inter-dispersed with short flashbacks or explanations of what was happening in the author’s life that year. The author began each chapter with a quote and a verse from the Bible, and had also added rough maps of the country they were visiting.
The book was more than just a record of the journeys the four friends went on. The book was in reality, a depiction of the author’s journey through his own life. Over the course of several years, the author went from being a young man having dreams of conquering the world to a middle-aged man trying to find himself. The book’s tone varied with time. While it started off as a light-hearted and humorous account of their trips, it slowly shifted to become more serious and contemplative. The book portrayed the general confusion felt by an individual as they struggled to choose between following the path they were placed on, or creating their own.
When I started reading the book, I was expecting a humorous narration of adventure and fun-filled experiences. While the book did provide that, it also gave me food for thought. I found myself pondering about the purpose of life and what it meant to truly live life. I thought about the fast-paced lives we all lead and what it means to be present in the moment.
While it wasn’t exactly what I envisioned, the book was an enjoyable read. I liked how the book was structured. The maps at the beginning of each chapter had small images that were indicative of what had happened in each country. I often ended up examining those images in the hopes of predicting what went on in the next chapter. I also liked the addition of a heading titled ‘Vital Statistics’ at the end of every chapter. This methodically summed up each trip on the basis of a few pre-determined criteria.
I rate the book four out of four stars. There was nothing I disliked about it, and I found no major errors. The book has a noticeable amount of swearing and also deals with topics like cheating and divorce. There is also an instance of animal violence. The book is definitely meant for a mature audience. I recommend the book to readers who enjoy memoirs or travelogues.
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Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
Man Mission written by Eytan Uliel is a book that can be called a memoir. The book describes in part, the story of the author’s own life, and in part, all the journeys the author and his friends embarked on, over the course of fifteen years.
‘Man Mission’ was the name given by the author and his friends to the yearly trips they took together. It was usually a week-long getaway where the men would leave their homes and families, travelling to exotic locations in pursuit of freedom and adventure. Man Mission had humble beginnings. The idea for the annual trips emerged from a simple conversation the author had with Sam, his friend from law school. With time the idea grew into something bigger, gradually developing its own rules and traditions. Daniel and Alex, two of the author’s other friends, were also part of Man Mission. Through the years, the group engaged in activities like hiking, trekking, kayaking, cycling and even ice climbing across countries like Australia, New Zealand, Japan, South Korea and Iceland.
The 362 page-long book is divided into three sections and narrates a total of fifteen Man Mission journeys. The author has dedicated a chapter for every trip and begins in a way aimed at evoking curiosity within the reader. The narration of each trip is inter-dispersed with short flashbacks or explanations of what was happening in the author’s life that year. The author began each chapter with a quote and a verse from the Bible, and had also added rough maps of the country they were visiting.
The book was more than just a record of the journeys the four friends went on. The book was in reality, a depiction of the author’s journey through his own life. Over the course of several years, the author went from being a young man having dreams of conquering the world to a middle-aged man trying to find himself. The book’s tone varied with time. While it started off as a light-hearted and humorous account of their trips, it slowly shifted to become more serious and contemplative. The book portrayed the general confusion felt by an individual as they struggled to choose between following the path they were placed on, or creating their own.
When I started reading the book, I was expecting a humorous narration of adventure and fun-filled experiences. While the book did provide that, it also gave me food for thought. I found myself pondering about the purpose of life and what it meant to truly live life. I thought about the fast-paced lives we all lead and what it means to be present in the moment.
While it wasn’t exactly what I envisioned, the book was an enjoyable read. I liked how the book was structured. The maps at the beginning of each chapter had small images that were indicative of what had happened in each country. I often ended up examining those images in the hopes of predicting what went on in the next chapter. I also liked the addition of a heading titled ‘Vital Statistics’ at the end of every chapter. This methodically summed up each trip on the basis of a few pre-determined criteria.
I rate the book four out of four stars. There was nothing I disliked about it, and I found no major errors. The book has a noticeable amount of swearing and also deals with topics like cheating and divorce. There is also an instance of animal violence. The book is definitely meant for a mature audience. I recommend the book to readers who enjoy memoirs or travelogues.
******
Man Mission
View: on Bookshelves | on Amazon | on iTunes
