Review of Man Mission

[Samuel Onowhakpor]

[Following is a volunteer review of "Man Mission" by Eytan Uliel.]

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4 out of 4 stars

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In their university years, a group of four close knit Australian men arbitrarily hatched a plan to undertake a yearly week long adventure in exotic locations across the world. They called it the Man Mission. This seemingly ill-thought-out plan morphed into an annual tradition that spanned fifteen years and thirteen countries.

In each adventure, they journey from one point to another point tranversing different terrains either hiking, cycling or kayaking. In this period of time, they lived carefree and out of touch of the real world, revelling in this make-believe dimension where only their companionship and the rugged terrains are the only constant. In their journeys the quadrad had a standoff with a dominant elephant in South Africa, took advice from a chain smoking eccentric sage in Japan, and scaled an ice mountain in Iceland. Over the years they graduated from university, found good jobs and got married. They lived by the book, but meaning and purpose seemed far from their grasp. But when cracks started appearing in their ostensibly perfect lives, the Man Mission becomes more than a 'time of their life' but a substructure where they draw solace and support.

The story is told from the perspective of a normal Australian bloke who graduated from law school, initially got employed into a law firm, but who in the quest for financial stability jumped ship for an executive role in a corporation. He experiences the vicissitudes of life: get married, has kids, becomes jobless, then becomes tragically divorced. He and his best buddies try to find their footing in a world where what it entails to be a man has been obscured by the hustle and bustle of modern life, and the traditional pathway of leading simple lives--eating, working, building a family, growing old and dying--has been eroded by time, and now replaced with a life filled with infinite possibilities and choices. Will he lose to his inner demons or find his raison d'être again? Read Man Mission by Eytan Uliel to find out.

The development of the lead character(which, surprisingly, wasn't named in the book) was a very inspirational and heartwarming one. His efforts to go all the way in some journeys, despite injuries he sustained, and at one point the emotional turmoil he was passing through passes on the need to be resilient in the face of life challenges. The side characters were also well-developed. The mutual support derived from each member within the quadrad during despondent times advocates the need to develop healthy friendly ties with people. The read was also an enlightening one as it gave me insights on the unique cultural practices and food of different regions across the world. I particularly enjoyed when the lead character was in a trance-like state and was interacting with his progenitors in a bid to find purpose in this modern world. That moment of introspection appealed to me as it showed the inner struggles that some men, including me, are passing through. Overall, the novel is a masterful blend of companionship, adventure, redemption and self-discovery.

The description of the sceneries was elaborately done in a manner that goads the reader to envisage them as seen through the eyes of his characters. The flashbacks used in this book were adroitly inserted for a seamless reading experience. The outlook and reactions to the issues raised are very relatable to virtually every man. The book is well edited, and to a fine degree free from grammatical and spelling errors. I would rate this book 4 out of 4 stars because of the reasons aforementioned.

This book will thrill fans of the travel genre, as Eytan Uliel takes his readers to a journey around the world. The humorous and adventurous storyline will also make for a great read for generic readers. The nuggets of wisdom in the book can also prove inspiration to the confused man on finding purpose and meaning.

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Man Mission
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[Don Muel]

What a journey these men must have undergone. I have the dream of travelling the world someday, so I am intrigued to know what the characters did during this period (perhaps it will give me some insane idea).

[Peacemann101]

A book that takes us on both a journey of life and the world. A inspiring and visual piece that will urge you to appreciate the diversity of cultures. Good review.

[mashalasha]

What entails a man and what does it take to become one. Sadly all these questions have answers that are getting blurry with time. Chivalry has long died, I look forward how this story will be told.

[Baba2oba]

I envy the characters for travelling round the world. It's only fair that realities of the world catch up to them. Good review.

[sapomatari]

A book that focuses on four men journey around the world and within themselves. Good review.

[kingsmantle]

These men adventures are sure to keep fans of this genre heart pumping. An inspirational read overall. Good review.

[standaviea]

Picturesque scenes, trip around the world and a slice of life from the author, what more could you want from this book. Thanks for the insightful review.

[shedame]

Travel genre books can be better than this. A journey of both self and world. Nice review.

[fashideen]

The men must have the journey in their lifetime that would have lasted several lastimes. A very nice review.

[thomatic]

This book follows from the author's perspective to capture sceneries, ups and downs and life of his various characters. Great review.

[patmanic]

Who would have thought that such a decision might affect their lives to such a degree. I will hopefully be reading this soon. Great review.

[Shademinx]

Anybody can be your support system when the sh*t hit the fan, so it is important to create and maintain meaningful friendships. A good review.

[owoplease1]

With the exciting adventures, you would have thought that their lives must be perfect, but you will be surprised by how it is not so true. Travel genre enthusiasts will find this interesting. Amazing review.

[michaelade]

This is a book that clearly details its theme in an interesting and easy-to-understand manner. The review is judiciously written and brings out the subject matter in an uninhibitive manner. This book looks like one that I am adding to my bookshelf. Good work for both the author and reviewer.